By: Christian Conteh

It seems clear that Momodou Sabally has given up on his bid to run for the National Assembly Seat in Busumbala Constituency, this comes after his unsuccessfully legal battle to be part of the race.

Having lost the case to the IEC at the High Court Muhammed Kanteh one time Police Commissioner and Chief of Operations Brikama Division, West Coast Region (WCR) an independent candidate has received the backing of the UDP, an audio by the UDP Youth Wing Secretary-General suggests.

Kemo Bojang in the audio thanked Momodou Sabally for his good work but noted that at this point since it is obvious that he (Sabally) cannot contest in the upcoming elections the party will throw its weight behind Muhammed Kanteh another UDP member who had earlier filed his nomination papers as an independent candidate.

The decision according to UDP party stalwarts was tactical, confirming that it was envisaged that Sabally’s nomination bid may fail.

“We have all agreed that Muhammed Kanteh is a UDP member and has sacrificed for the party. He also has the competence to work in the parliament. This is why we all came to a consensus to support him,” Bojang said.

He used the opportunity to inform all UDP members and supporters that Muhammed Kanteh is the party’s new candidate.

Muhammed Kanteh was at some point in time arrested a few days after blaming the police for a crackdown on peaceful protesters on 26th January 2020.

He was charged with two counts of abuse of office, one count of false information and one count of communicating with the press without clearance. He was later acquitted and discharged.

By: Christian Conteh

The new US Ambassador to The Gambia Sharon Cromer has described her arrival in The Gambia as a home coming, noting that her family is delighted with the welcome they have received so far.

“My arrival in the Gambia is actually a home coming. Many years ago, I experienced the warm hospitality of this country and vowed to someday return,” Ambassador Cromer said.

She further noted that serving as Ambassador to the smiling coast truly is the most exciting responsibility in her 35-year foreign service career.

“During my tenure I plan for us to further our work with our Gambian partners to strengthen democratic institutions, support good governance, advance human rights and further country led development,” she said.

Sharon Cromer has an extensive experience with development policy and programs in Africa and has over the years demonstrated her ability to lead her teams effectively in a complex interagency environment.

The honourable Minster of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, Dr. Mamadou Tangara has on Tuesday 5th April 2022 received credentials of the new Country Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Ms. Ndeye Rose Sarr.

During the meeting, Hon. Minister Tangara congratulated Ms. Sarr on her appointment and assuming duties in The Gambia. He welcomed her to the country and assured her of the Government of The Gambia’s commitment to continue collaborating with UNFPA to realise sexual and reproductive health for all and ensuring that the country fulfills its international obligations to protect and empowerment women and girls.

Ms. Sarr recognised the government for over four decades of cooperation with UNFPA and assured the Hon. Minister of her agency’s continued commitment to support The Gambia in achieving its development aspirations. She commended the country for ratifying various international instruments aimed at protecting the rights and welfare of women and girls and seized the opportunity to reiterate the need to implement the provisions of these legal frameworks and create an environment where women, girls and other vulnerable groups can thrive in dignity and health.

Ms. Sarr highlighted that UNFPA will continue to invest in attaining better health and development indicators, particularly in improving maternal health care, promoting sexual and reproductive health for all and addressing Gender-Based Violence and harmful practices in The Gambia.

UNFPA is currently developing its 9^th Country Programme with the Government of The Gambia. The Country Programme Document will align with the country’s development priorities and contribute towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Prior to her appointment, Ms. Sarr served as the Regional Desk Specialist for West and Central Africa, where she provided leadership, policy advice and strategic partnerships building for the region.

Operatives of Drug Law Enforcement Agency of The Gambia (DLEAG) in Kanifing Municipal recently conducted an operation that resulted in the arrest of four people, including a minor, for the possession of suspected cannabis sativa and hashish. The suspects were arrested at different locations dubbed to be notorious for the dealing and open abuse of prohibited and controlled drugs in the Municipality.

The ongoing patrol is aim at addressing public concerns and complaints regarding people who are hellbent on openly abusing drugs with total disregard for the rule of law, the rights, health, wellbeing and safety of others as well as the multiplying implications of their conduct, actions and behavior.

Peter Jatta, Lamin Gitteh, Mbemba Jadama and Lorence Gomez were arrested on the 31 March 2022 between 13:00 hrs and 16:00 hours GMT onwards. The arrest were effected at Latrikunda, Manjai Kunda, New Jeshwang and Kotu in the Kanifing Municipality.

17-year-old Lamin Gitteh was arrested at Manjai Kunda with twenty seven wraps of suspected cannabis sativa. He has been handed over to the Agency’s Gender, Children and Human Rights unit for further processing and investigations because he is an alleged child offender.

In a similar but separate development, operatives recovered a bundle of suspected cannabis sativa in an operation in Lamin Babylon in the evening hours of 28 March 2022. The person of interest in the matter is currently at large.

DLEAG

By Sainabou Sambou

In his capacity as one of Gambia’s moral guarantors, President of supreme Islamic Council Sheikh Alhaji Essa Darboe has encouraged Gambians to uphold peace and tolerance before, during and after the forthcoming parliamentary election.

In an exclusive interview with The Fatu Network, Sheikh Darboe said election is in the Constitution, saying that it is the right of every eligible Gambian to vote during polling.

He prayed for the said election to be peaceful, noting that there is only one Gambia whose peace should be the concern of all Gambians.

“We can’t go about our normal business if there is no peace in the country. People should be mindful of what they say and do to consolidate and maintain peace.”

Sheikh Darboe said he is convinced that there is going to be a peaceful election as he didn’t think someone will decide to create instability during the holy month of Ramadan, describing the month as a period of peace and blessings.

He advised people to vote in peace and avoid doing things that will cause discord and disturb the observance of the holy month.

By Dawda Baldeh 

Staff of Bundung Maternal and Child Health Hospital are demanding the unconditional return of Kebba Manneh, the Chief Executive Officer of the Hospital who was recently transferred to Bwiam General Hospital. At a press conference held at the health facility in Bundung on Tuesday 5th April 2022, the staff expressed concerns over the transferred of Mr. Manneh who served as the hospital’s CEO for nearly two decades.

Senior Public Relation Officer, Omar Ceesay said the transfer of the CEO will have a huge negative impact on service delivery in the hospital, adding that Mr. Manneh had worked greatly in the transformation of the hospital.

“Since the news broke out, a task force of Heads of Units/Departments was formed with the sole aim of engaging the Minister of Health to reconsider his decision and let the staff continue working with the CEO to continue delivering quality health care services to women and children of The Gambia,” he said.

Fatoumata Nyalin Saidykhan, a retired health worker at the Bundung Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital explained the contributions of Mr. Manneh to development of the health facility.

“I have never worked anyone like Kebba,” Madam Saidykhan said. “He was very down to earth. I have worked with him for some years he has so much respect for elders and his staff. He has done a lot in the hospital and transferring him is not a good decision. Whatever you see in this hospital was due to Kebba’s commitments in serving the nation. He helped many staff to obtained scholarships.”

Awa Jassey, a patience at the hospital, called on authorities to return Mr. Kebba to the hospital.

“I am urging the government to return Kebba to the hospital. Kebba has been very instrumental in the service delivery of the hospital. He always interacts with the patients before attending to their needs.”

Saikou Sonko, a resident of Sukuta who has been accompanying his wife to the hospital said the transfer of Kebba to Bwiam was not a good decision, adding that Kebba has been instrumental in the hospital.

“The hospital has protocols that any woman who came with her husband for nursing will be given privilege to be attended first,” he said. “Kebba has been very supportive to the patients who are coming to this hospital. The hospital was recommended to me by a friend but since I started coming here with my wife I have seen the great work they have been doing. The decision to transfer Kebba is not a good one.”

The transfer of Mr. Kebba to Bwiam General Hospital has been frowned at by staff and patients who described him as a hardworking, generous and dedicated man, and therefore demand his unconditional return.

International watchdog Human Rights Watch (HRW) has condemned the summary execution of an estimated 300 civilians, including suspected members of armed groups during a military operation conducted by Malian forces and foreign fighters.

The alleged massacre, described in a Tuesday statement by HRW as “the worst single atrocity reported in Mali’s decade-long conflict”, happened in the central Malian town of Moura during a military operation that started on March 27.

“Abuses by armed Islamist groups is no justification at all for the military’s deliberate slaughter of people in custody,” said Corinne Dufka, HRW’s Sahel director.

“The Malian government is responsible for this atrocity, the worst in Mali in a decade, whether carried about by Malian forces or associated foreign soldiers,” she added.

Mass killing is a breach of international law that prohibits abuses against captured combatants and detained civilians, according to Article 3 of the Geneva Convention.

On Friday, Mali’s defence ministry issued a statement saying that 203 “terrorists” were killed during an air-land military operation from March 23 to April 3.

The rights group gathered the account of 27 people, including community leaders, diplomats, security analysts and witnesses from Moura – a town of about 10,000 residents that has been the epicentre of violence waged by armed groups since 2012.

HRW concluded that Malian soldiers and foreign fighters, which several sources identified as white non-French speaking soldiers, executed several hundred people in the city in small groups, over the course of several days.

“Over the four days, the soldiers ordered the detained men in groups of four, six, or up to 10, to stand up and walk for between several dozen and several hundred meters,” the HRW report cited a witness as saying.

“There, the Malian and foreign soldiers summarily executed them,” the witness said, adding that some victims were shot in the head, while other groups of men were sprayed by gunfire.

“The sound of gunfire rang out in our village from Monday to Thursday,” one resident reportedly said.

Residents also told HRW that since January many armed foreigners, believed to be Russians, were taking part in military operations in and around the central Malian towns of Sofara, Ségou, Mopti, Diabaly, and Belidanédji among others.

The vast majority of those killed by the Malian military and allied forces, read the report, were men from the pastoralist Peuhl, or Fulani, an ethnic group from which armed groups have heavily recruited in the past.

“The Malian government should urgently and impartially investigate these mass killings, including the role of foreign soldiers,” Dufka said.

“For such investigations to be sufficiently independent and credible, the authorities should seek assistance from the African Union and the United Nations,” she added.

Al Jazeera

By: Christian Conteh

“Political parties have not done much sponsoring female candidates,” a recent report from Gambia Participates a civil society organisation that religiously observes elections in the Gambia has said.

According to the pre-election observation report 1 none of the 12 political parties have sponsored more than 10 female candidates. 

The United Democratic Party (UDP) came close by sponsoring 6 female candidates with the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) and the (PDOIS) having three (3) female candidates.

There are only three (3) independent female candidates and the remaining parties 1 each. This suggests that female participation will be generally low for the 2022 Parliamentary elections with only 7.5% of the total participating candidates.

However according to Maurice Engueleguelu, Head of Project International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), Africa and West Africa Bureau, for the first time in the history of The Gambia, 19% of National Assembly Candidates are women. 

This he says is a huge increase in women’s participation in the country’s national political arena. Nonetheless everyone agrees there are still a lot of gaps within the internal party set up to put women in the forefront to run for elective offices.

By: Christian Conteh

Gambia Participates a youth-led civil society organisation that focuses on enhancing transparency and accountability in the public sector has in its recent report on election observation pointed out instances of the misuse of government property to organise political rallies or candidate rallies or a political party dominating the state-owned media outfit among other anomalies. 

According to the organisation during the second reporting period (March 08-14), their observers were instructed to indicate whether government vehicles had been used to organise rallies, including the transport of materials to or from a rally site or for candidates to travel and make campaign speeches, nomination or if a party is dominating the scene using the state-owned media.

It states authoritatively that positive responses indicate a violation of the electoral code and abuse of elected office. 

“Nationwide, 6% of GP observers reported witnessing or hearing of such misuse of government vehicles. The reports were received from Banjul Central, Banjul North and Banjul South Constituencies. From the Greater Banjul, observers reported the use of state-owned vehicles by the NPP delegates at the nominations of Sammy Njie, Mohammed Ndow and Ousman Wada on March 10, 2022,” the report stated.

It further noted that “the Minister of Fisheries, Mr James Gomez was also seen attending the nominations, during official working hours using state-owned vehicles. Abuse of state resources was also reported in the third reporting period (March 15-21). 8% of observers witnessed the use of public resources during political campaigns, mostly state-owned vehicles.” 

These incidents according to Gambia Participates were most frequent in Foni Bondali, Illiasa, Kombo South and Old Yundum. 

“We observed that the constitutionally mandated meet the people tour was sometimes used by the President to campaign for his party candidates. The electoral cycle was the perfect timing for the president to use state resources to conduct what was fully supposed to be apolitical. This has created power inequalities and provided unfair political advantages to the incumbent’s party and candidates.”

The civil society outfit emphasised that the meet the people tour is a state-funded activity whose objectives were partly defeated for political propaganda thus violating section 91(b) of the Elections Act and section 222(15) of the 1997 constitution.

Last year, Emmanuel Tuloe, who was struggling to earn a living as a motorbike taxi driver,  found Fifty Thousand United States Dollars ($50,000) in a mix of US and Liberian notes, wrapped in a plastic bag by the side of the road.

He could have easily pocketed this life-changing amount. But he gave it to his aunt to look after and when the rightful owner appealed on national radio for help in finding the cash, Emmanuel came forward.

Mocked by some for his honesty – people laughed at him saying he would die poor – his act earned him generous rewards including a place at Ricks Institute, one of Liberia’s most prestigious schools.

President George Weah handed him $10,000 and a local media owner also gave him cash, some of which was raised from viewers and listeners. And the owner of the money that was found donated $1,500-worth of goods.

On top of those and perhaps most significantly, a college in the US reacted by offering him a full scholarship once he had completed his secondary education.

‘Enjoying the academic discipline’

And that is what he is focused on at Ricks, a boarding school set up 135 years ago for the elite of Liberian society descended from the freed slaves who founded the country. Its two-storey buildings sit on a beautiful, lush campus 6km (3.5 miles) from the Atlantic coast.

“I am enjoying the school, not because Ricks has a big name but because of the academic and moral disciplines,” Emmanuel said, chuckling and playing with the collar of his shirt as he talked.

Like many Liberian children from a poor rural background are forced to do, he dropped out of school at the age of nine in order to earn some money to help his family out. This was shortly after his father had died in a drowning accident and he went to live with his aunt.

He became a motorbike taxi driver just a couple of years later.

After such a long time out of education, he needs a lot of extra support at school.

When Emmanuel first joined the sixth-grade class “he was feeling a bit inferior; he could not voice himself in the classroom, but day-by-day we worked on him”, his main class teacher Tamba Bangbeor explained to the BBC.

“Academically, he came with a low foundation, so we tried to put him in the enrichment programme. That has been helping him.”

He now has six years of secondary school ahead of him and will be 25 when he graduates. But he does not mind the age gap with his classmates and describes them as “friendly”.

Emmanuel also enjoys boarding, saying that “dormitory life is good because this is a way of learning to live on your own someday”.

Looking at the future, he wants to study accounting at university “to prepare myself to help guide the use of the country’s money”.

His prudence and honesty were seen as examples to follow in a country where allegations of corruption are rife and where officials are often accused of stealing state resources.

‘Good to be honest’

Reflecting on the way that some people made fun of him for returning the money, he acknowledges that he could have used the funds to improve his material situation “but it was never going to get me the opportunity I now have”.

Emmanuel thanked God for giving him the rewards and he was also “grateful to my parents for teaching me to be honest”.

“And my message to all young people is: It’s good to be honest; don’t take what does not belong to you.”

The teachers at Ricks appreciate Emmanuel being there.

“Not only have we recently benefitted from his honesty as a school, he’s the second-choice goalkeeper for the school’s football team, ” Mr Bangbeor said of the die-hard Chelsea fan, who plays in the team alongside students closer to his age.

Emmanuel’s classmates also welcome him being there.

Bethlene Kelley, 11, called him “a great friend that we like sharing with and caring for because he’s quiet and doesn’t talk too much. [He is] loyal, respectful and truthful”.

Caleb Cooper, 12 appreciates Emmanuel for his conduct in class and in the dormitory.

“He doesn’t steal from friends,” Caleb said laughing.

“If Emmanuel finds something that does not belong to him, he reports it to the teacher. If the teacher is not around, he puts it on their desk,” he said.

And from the life Emmanuel left behind, motorcycle taxi drivers do not appear to begrudge his new prospects.

One of them, Lawrence Fleming, 30, told the BBC he dropped out of school in the ninth grade as a teen and he had closely followed Emmanuel’s story.

“It’s a good thing that Emmanuel has gone back to school, we thank God for him,” he said.

Standing by his Chinese-made Boxer motorcycle at the busy crossroads town of Brewerville, west of Monrovia, he passed on a word of advice.

“Let him remain in school for his future and the future of his children… he now has an opportunity that some of us don’t have.”

BBC

The Executive Director of Gambia Participates has said that the lack of political will from both the executive and legislative arms of government is responsible for the stalling of progress in the Anti-Corruption Bill in The Gambia.

Marr Nyang noted that citizens must ensure they vote for reputable individuals on 9th April 2022 to represent them at the National Assembly. Only with reputable individuals he says will there be an Anti-Corruption Law.

“There is a lack of political will in the legislative and executive arm of government to pass the Anti-Corruption Bill,” Nyang said.

Gambia Participates is a youth-led civil society organization that focuses on enhancing transparency and accountability in the public sector. 

The organisation works in the area of Anti-corruption, fighting against corruption in The Gambia by leveraging modern digital tools and other methods to track the expenditures of the government, and to engage people on these expenditures. It also works on elections observation.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has renewed its commitment to continuing and expanding its engagement in the Gambia. Ivohasina Fizara Razafimahefa, the IMF Chief of Mission to The Gambia made this commitment during the official opening of the new IMF office at Senegambia.

According to Razafimahefa, “the IMF is committed to continuing and expanding our engagement in The Gambia for the benefit of The Gambian population. This office is part of our long-term vision of establishing a strong presence in The Gambia with a view and renewed commitment to continue serving the government and people of The Gambia.”

The IMF Chief went on to commend the progress The Gambia has made so far, noting that the visible progress progress is the fruit of strong efforts by all Gambians and their leaders, in collaboration with development partners.

He expressed delight at what he described as ‘impressive progress from the social, political, and economic perspectives. The IMF in recent years started a re-engagement with a staff monitored programme.

“In early 2020 we have approved an Extended Credit Facility of $ 47 million, added $28 million, subsequently provided a Rapid Credit Facility of $21 million, provided debt service relief under the CCRT for $11 million and concluded three reviews of the Extended Credit Facility.”

By Amara Thoronka

On Friday 1^st April 2022, high court judge Justice Apongabuno Achibonga ruled against the United Democratic Party (UDP) strongman Momodu Sabally in the case between him and the country’s elections body.

Early last month, Mr. Sabally was disqualified by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) on the basis that adverse findings were leveled against him by the Janneh Commission of Inquiry. Dissatisfied with the decision of the IEC, Sabally went to court.

Below are key highlights of Justice Achibonga’s ruling:

“Section 90 (1) (e) of the 1997 Constitution of the Gambia states: No person is qualified for election as a member of the National Assembly if he/she has been found by the report of a Commission of Inquiry, the proceedings of which have held and published in accordance with the relevance laws to be incompetent to hold public office by reason of having acquired asset unlawfully or defrauded the State or misused or abused his/her office or willfully acted in a manner prejudicial to the interest of the State; and the findings have not been set aside on appeal or judicial review”

“From the above, the grounds for which a person can be said to have been found to be incompetent to hold public office are when a Commission of Inquiry finds:

1. That the person has acquired asset wrongly
2. That the person defrauded the State
3. That the person misused his/her office
4. That the person abused his/her office
5. That the person willfully acted in a manner prejudicial to the interest of the State”

“In this case there is no dispute that there was a Commission of Inquiry set out to inquire into the financial activities of corporate bodies, enterprises, and offices as regards their dealings with former President Yahya A.J.J Jammeh and connected matters. There is also no dispute that the Commission submitted its report to the Government, and there is no dispute that the Government issued a white paper accepting the findings and recommendations of the Commission”

“In the said report [page 270], the following finding was made against the applicant: Former Secretary General Mrs. Mobugbu L. Bah and Momodu Sabally facilitated the processes for ex-president Jammeh to withdraw sums of money from numerous accounts. The proceeded that Mr. Momodu Sabally withdrew One Hundred Thousand United States dollars from the national youths government fund on 13^th February 2014 and One Million United States dollars from the international gateway account and monies should be refunded by him”

“From the above, there is specific finding made against the applicant (Momodu Sabally) by the Commission of Inquiry which findings in my view qualify the law under the basis for which a person can be incompetent to hold public office. I am therefore satisfied that there are specific findings made against the applicant by the Commission of Inquiry which qualifies the basis upon which the applicant has been said to be incompetent to hold public office. The Commission recommended that the applicant should not serve in public office for ten years.

“As to whether the findings and recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry are right or wrong is not for this court to determine as it does not have the jurisdiction to do so. There is no evidence before me that shows that the findings of the Commission of Inquiry have been set aside or the enforcement of same has been suspended”

“Having found that there is a commission of inquiry report that has made adverse findings against the applicant so as to make him become incompetent to hold public office and debarring him from serving in public office for ten years, the next issue is whether or not the 1^st Respondent (Independent Electoral Commission) can rely on the findings and recommendations of the said commission of inquiry to reject the applicant’s nomination. The resolve the above issue, guidance should be heard through the Elections Act. Section 39 (2) od the Elections Act provides that: a person who desires to be nominated as a candidate for any elective office shall before the acceptance of his/her nomination papers must satisfy the requirement in the Constitution, this Acts [Elections Act] and any other Act.

“Section 47 (1) of the Elections Act provides as follows and I quote: Where a Returning Officer finds that the particulars of the nomination do not comply with the legal requirement for nomination, he/she shall reject the candidate’s nomination papers. This empowers the Returning Officer to scrutinize the nominee to ensure that he/she is qualified under the Constitution or any other law to be so nominated for that elective office”

“I find that the Returning Officer acted within the remit of his power by law in rejecting the nomination papers of the applicant and was right in law in rejecting the nomination paper of the applicant. The decision is in accordance with law”

On behalf of the Party Leader and Secretary General Hon. Bakary B. Dabo, and the party Central Committee, we write to convey blessed Ramadan greetings to all Gambians, and the greater Muslim Umaah.

Ramadan is the month when Muslims submit to Allah (SWT) in prayer and fasting, while extending kindness and generosity to their neighbours and communities. With that in mind, we pray for your good health, happiness, and continued prosperity.

In the same vein, it has not escaped our attention that the previous Ramadan’s of 2020 and 2021 were observed by Muslims under the heavy burden of a global COVID-19 pandemic. GFA advised Gambians to pray, persevere, and practice medically advised measures designed to limit the impact of the deadly pandemic. This was a natural calamity which, though not yet over, is apparently reducing in intensity.

Unfortunately, as sacrifices made by Gambians are about to bear fruit, we are now regrettably hit by another man made one; unprecedented inflationary trends in the country, that is causing unbearable economic hardship for Gambian families.

In what looks like scenes out Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors, government officials have abandoned their responsibilities in managing the economy, and are openly blaming the public for policy failures that are taking the country to the brink.

The GFA party sympathizes, and stands in solidarity with the Gambian people in these challenging times. We call on the authorities to put in place policy measures that will reduce the cost of living for Gambian families. That is a duty and responsibility they owe to the citizens of our country!

Ramadan Mubarak to all

Communication Cell, Gambia For All (GFA)

Ma-Jonka House, Block 6a, Kanifing Estate

By: Christian Conteh

The Association of Public and Environmental Health Officers (APEHOG) a registered non-profitable association of Public Health professionals in the Gambia has threatened to lay down tools if their promised allowances are not paid before the 5th of May 2022.

In early 2021, the Ministry of Health proposed to create a specific allowance for the Health Minister, PhD holders and Medical doctors serving the Ministry of Health. This APEHOG believes was very discriminatory and has caused unprecedented chaos not only within the public health cadre but within the entire Ministry of Health. 

The leadership of the association, therefore, deemed it fitting to collaborate with other sister cadres who are been unfairly excluded from the new allowance scheme.

According to the association because they all (Medical Doctors, Directors, Program Managers, Program Officers, Health Facility staff and front liners) provide the same services to the population they (APEHOG) are not to be seen and treated differently than their sister cadres. This they say is in contravention of the General orders and civil services code of conduct. 

“The general membership of the Association of Public and Environmental Health Officers has agreed that as an Association with mass representation in the Ministry of Health we strongly recommend that the allowance issue be solved before the 5th May 2022. Contrary to meeting demand by the aforesaid date, Public Health Officers across the country will lay down their tools,” a statement read by the associations president Nuha Fofana states.

The association further reveals that it has sent several letters to the authorities concerned but has not had the expected outcome. In the first letter addressed to the Secretary-General and Head of Civil Service dated 2nd March 2021, the association in collaboration with the National Pharmacy Staff Association (NPSA) highlighted their dissatisfaction regarding the bizarre decision and asked for the immediate suspension /reversal of the decision on the approval of allowances for few selected individuals, a decision they consider discriminatory and unfair to the hard-working Directors, Program Managers, Program Officers, Health Facility staff and front liners.

It further suggested that the authorities use the proposed allowance to initiate the appointment of health labourers, watchmen and orderlies across the country as soon as possible, pointing out that some have been volunteers for over 2 years without getting a salary. APEHOG also called on authorities to initiate a review for allowance increment for all cadres in the Ministry of Health.

This letter it says was followed up by numerous follow-ups and consultations with the Ministry of Health. One letter to the office of the Secretary-General and Head of Civil Service Ref: GAPHO/SG/01/21 was dated 28th September 2021.

According to the association on 6th October 2021, Amadou Daboe the Principal Secretary in the Health Ministry on behalf of the permanent secretary wrote to the Vice President of the Association of Public and Environmental Health Officers of The Gambia. The said letter bore the following reference. AD260/418/01PART1(87) and read. 

“Relative to the above captioned subject matter and to further convey that the ministry is seriously working on paying equal allowance to that cadre and calculation already done.” 

To the association’s dismay, after five months since receipt of this letter, no Public Health Officer within the country had started benefiting from the said allowance even though a specific cadre started benefitting from a new allowance scheme since September 2021.

It is for this reason that the Association of Public and Environmental Health Officers has decided to raise concern about what is considers an ‘unjust treatment’ and hopes that a consensus can be reached to avoid any disruption to its services.

The association’s statement noted that although they as public health officers will lay down tools if their allowances are not paid before 5th April 2022 they will in the meantime endeavour to keep all their members calm and focused on delivering quality health care services to the people.

Meanwhile, they wish to reassure all their members that as long as they align with the decisions of the association, the executive and the entire association will guard them against any unforeseen circumstances.

Drug Law Enforcement Agency of The Gambia (DLEAG) has arrested a minor and an adult -all Senegalese – for trafficking prohibited drugs.

17-year-old Abdoulie Joof of Jurubel in Senegal was arrested in the morning hours of Friday 1^st April 2022 at Kalaji checkpoint with ten ten big bundles of suspected cannabis sativa. The Senegalese teenager was onboard a commercial vehicle BJL 6195 W heading to Brikama from Jarra Soma.

He is being held in custody while investigations continue. As an alleged child offender his matter is said to be forwarded to the agency’s Gender, Children and Human Rights unit for further processing and investigations.

32-year-old Bubacarr Barry who is also a Senegalese national residing at Old Yundum was apprehended in the morning hours of 31^st March 2022 at Mandinaba Police Checkpoint with two big bundles of suspected cannabis sativa. He is also in custody helping authorities with investigation.

DLEAG

By: Christian Conteh

The Chief Executive Officer of Gambia participates a youth-led civil society organisation that focuses on enhancing transparency and accountability in the public sector, Marr Nyang has said that it is wrong for President Adama Barrow to use his constitutional privilege to access state resources and embark on a campaign tour which would give the ruling NPP Coalition undue advantage in the upcoming National Assembly Elections. 

Nyang was answering to questions by pressmen at the Metzy Residence Hotel. He noted that although it is a constitutional provision that the president visits the Gambian people across the country to interact with and hear from them, it must not be used to campaign and give undue advantage to the National Peoples Party (NPP) led coalition.

“Constitutionally the president has the authority to make national visits to interact with the people. But since it is a state-funded activity the president should not use it to embark on political propaganda as it is bad and against the law,” Nyang said.

This he added will create a non-level playing field for opposition parties. 

“The meet the people tour is a state activity, but it has been used and misused for political propaganda. State-owned vehicles and public resources should not be used for political party campaigns,” he reiterated.

By: Christian Conteh

The United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) is a multi-year standing trust fund for post-conflict peacebuilding, established in 2006 by the UN Secretary General at the request of the UN General Assembly.

In Gambia the fund has invested a total of US $26 million in the past five years, funding 13 projects.

The fund was established out of the recognition that among the impediments to successful peacebuilding is the scarcity of resources, most notably financial resources. The fund aims therefore to extend critical support during the early stages of a peace process.

Projects supported include: security sector reform, women and youth participation in decision making processes, transitional justice, resolution of land conflict, the rule of law and community policing, returning migrants and climate change etc

Speaking at Tamala Beach Resort during a two-day review and coordination workshop organised by the UN Peacebuilding Fund in collaboration with the Office of the President, Noah Touray, Secretary General and head of Civil Service revealed that the fund has supported the transformation of the former Policy Analysis Unit (PAU) into the Department of Strategic Policy and Delivery (DSPD) under the Office of the President.

The theme for the workshop was ‘Learning Together to Harmonize Peacebuilding Initiatives for Better Results’.

“We have so far registered commendable progress in sustaining peace, particularly in the areas of transitional justice, constitutional review, security, judicial reform, women and youth empowerment and participation and in the integration of returning migrants,” Noah Touray said.

He registered his appreciation to the Fund for the assistance rendered and applauded the UN agencies for their technical support.

Ms. Seraphine Wakana is the country’s UN Resident Coordinator, she noted that since the democratic transition in 2017 the UN Peacebuilding Fund was one of the first respondents to support the government in its aspirations towards democratic reforms and transitional justice,” she pointed out.

“This is part of the global UN support to the government and people of The Gambia as it continues to strengthen democracy in the work after years of autocratic rule,” Ms. Seraphine Wakana said.

She encouraged those implementing the various projects to ensure visibility of the positive results of the initiatives so as to attract interest and mobilise more support from other donors to sustain the peace and stability of the country.