APA-Dakar (Senegal) Anta Babacar Ngom is the only female candidate vying to be Senegal’s fifth president next Sunday.
By Abdourahmane Diallo
The head of the Alternative pour la ‘Releve Citoyenne’ or New Generation of Citizens, (ARC) movement positions herself as the “new path to real change” to which her fellow citizens aspire.
“We Senegalese citizens are tired! The burden of high living costs weighs heavily on our shoulders. The education and health sectors are deteriorating at an alarming rate. Bad governance is keeping us in a permanent state of artificial tension, characterised by repeated attacks on fundamental rights, threatening the very foundations of our shared desire to live together. In response, the violence that emerges from this situation gives a sinister image of what was once the Senegalese exception, thus dangerously jeopardising the peace and stability of our country.”
With these incisive words, Anta Babacar Ngom, the lone woman among the 19 contenders for the presidency, paints a picture of a Senegal “in bad shape” to justify her candidacy for the presidential election on 24 March 2024.
She has drawn up a programme based on a series of themes ranging from political governance to the economy and social inclusion. If elected on 24th March, the daughter of famous businessman Babacar Ngom plans first and foremost to bring about a profound change in the way Senegal is governed.
“We are tired of political stagnation and the absence of a viable social project. It is time to adopt a new and dynamic approach to meeting the challenges facing our country,” she declared.
Industry at the heart of her vision
An accomplished businesswoman, the Managing Director of the poultry company Sedima gives pride of place to the secondary sector. In her political offer, she stresses the importance of industry as a driver of economic growth and sustainable job creation.
“Drawing on my experience as a captain of industry, I, Anta Babacar Ngom, as President of the Republic, pledge to unleash our country’s full potential for growth and transformation before 2029: my solution is industry! Industry is my culture,” she states in her manifesto.
She is convinced that “industry is the key to our economic future (and that) we must invest in this sector to unlock our country’s full potential for growth and transformation.”
In addition, the president of the ARC movement intends to lead the fight against corruption and bad governance, which she believes undermines the foundations of Senegalese society and hampers its development. “We must take vigorous measures to eradicate this scourge and restore citizens’ confidence in their institutions,” she stresses.
Ms. Ngom, 40, wants to involve women and young people more in Senegal’s political and social life.
“As pillars of our society, their voices must be heard and their contribution recognised,” she argues.
These various proposals are broken down into three pillars (the next generation for national harmony, the rule of law and good governance; the next generation for restructuring the Senegalese economy and accelerating growth; and the next generation for inclusive and equitable social well-being); nine strategic axes and 39 actions to be carried out.
Who is Anta Babacar Ngom?
Born in 1984 in Malika, on the outskirts of Dakar, Anta Babacar Ngom is the current director of Sedima, the country’s leading poultry company. With a solid academic background, she holds a Master 1 in Economics from York University in Toronto, a Master 2 in International Project Management and NTIC in Paris, and an Executive MBA in Communications from Sciences Po Paris.
She began her career at Sedima in 2009, where she quickly rose through the ranks from Executive Assistant to Managing Director in 2016.
Under her leadership, the family business has consolidated its position as a leader in its field.
Anta Babacar Ngom also reconciles her professional career with her role as a married mother of three.
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