By: Ousman Saidykhan

Principal Magistrate, Omar Jabang said on Monday, 1 August 2022 that his court would not be used as a “sanctuary for breaking, entering and stealing from people,” which he hinted as a fuel of mob justice.

Magistrate Jabang was delivering a judgment where he sentenced one Sanna Camara, 29, who was accused of breaking into a shop of one Mariama Sanyang with a spanner, screwdriver, pliers and a torchlight which were entered as exhibits A, B, C and D.

He pleaded guilty to the charge.

“Thievery is taking a deep root in our society. It is callous and heartless to break into the shops of people and steal therein and even more heartless to break into the shop of a lady. From Exhibits A, B and C; which are the spanner, screwdriver and the torch, I believe the convict is an expert in the trade of breaking,” Jabang said.

The Principal Magistrate said the society needs protection from the likes of Sanna who, even though, is a first-time offender, adding that mob justice is “unprecedented” in the country as a result of the loss of hope in the justice system.

“We need to take charge and correct the situation. By this, we can settle for a civilized society and men of law and not otherwise,” the Magistrate said.

The convict was handed a 5-year term instead of a 7-year jail term after he asked for the court’s mercy in his plea in mitigation as he said his father was sick and he is his father’s only son.

However, Principal Magistrate Jabang said stealing would not have been Sanna’s option had he considered his condition and that of his father.

By: Karimatou Jallow

Vendors at the Serekunda ‘Sandika’ market have said the size of the ‘Sandika’ is not favourable to them as the place is too small to occupy all the vendors. Moreover, they complained about the big trucks that park in the ‘Sandika’ space as this also affects their businesses.

Babucarr Ceesay, a vendor at the Serekunda ‘Sandika’ said the ‘Sandika’ is very tight and small and that being the case, they do not make many sales, especially “if these big trucks occupied the place.”

“Because of the size of the ‘Sandika’, we have no choice but to sell on the highway, however, we are also deprived of that as well because whenever we display our goods to sell we are being stopped by the police and told that it is not a selling point while we are paying taxes every day but we are not giving the opportunity to sell comfortably as we wish,” he told The Fatu Network.

Ceesay said they have been facing such challenges since the era of Yaya Jammeh but no one has ever come to their help. Moreover, he urged the current government to help them increase the size of the ‘Sandika’ market so that everybody will have the opportunity to sell their goods without many challenges.

Nedy Njie, also a vendor, said because of the small size of the place, many of them have no choice but to go around and sell their products because they don’t have permanent seats in the ‘Sandika’. She also lamented that it is from the small businesses they feed their families, which is why they have no choice but to sell in such a condition.

“The only reason we go around in the market and sell our goods is that we don’t have a permanent seat in the ‘Sandika’ and that is a result of the small size of the place. It is always not easy with us because the sun is always hot which can cause us serious sickness,” she said.

Njie also called on the government to intervene and address these issues because they are paying taxes like any other vendors in the ‘Sandika’ and have also the right as anyone of them.

“Sometimes we will be here from morning to afternoon but will not make any sell which is not good for us as business people and that is as a result of the trucks that park in front of our shop from morning to afternoon and no one will say anything because they are permitted by the police to park in front of our shops,” a source told the Fatu Network.

Moreover, the source said to ensure the ‘Sandika’ is free and comfortable for all the vendors, the source suggests the government look for a special place where these trucks will park and display their goods while the ‘Sandika’ be made a place to sell goods only.

Salimatou Foundation for Education (SaFE) is on preparation to organize first-ever Regional and National Spelling Bee competition in the Gambia.

SaFE is a charity foundation in The Gambia established in November 2015. The foundation, over the years, has initiated and implemented a series of educational activities and programs.

This year, for the first time in The Gambia, the country will have its truest form of Regional and National Spelling Bee Competition for Primary and Junior School students. The Bee will reach out and be accessible to students in The Gambia with zero regard to their locality.

This initiative will avail its beneficiaries of a competitive learning environment through the deep culture of reading, critical thinking and spontaneous response to issues.

The winners of the National Spelling Bee competition will have the opportunity to represent the Gambia at this year’s African Spelling Bee Competition in Malawi.

This timely initiative will be implemented through partnership and collaboration with the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE) and KarPowership.

Our doors are still open to more partners and sponsors.

Follow our social media at Salimatou Foundation for Education on Facebook and Instagram. Or contact us at our official email: [email protected]

By: Dawda Baldeh

Fakebba Susso a 33-year-old Gambian professional barber residing in Basse has called on youths to acquire skills to make them self-dependent and reduce the rate of dependency on others, unemployment and crime. The 33-old barber said he chose not to further his education because of the passion he has for barbing.

The Basse born barber said he wants to be a role model to many young people in his community through his barbing skills.

“I wanted to become either a doctor or lawyer as it is mostly the dream young persons in school, but I have a great passion for barbing which motivated me to challenge myself to venture into the profession. I was the only Gambian barber in my area while the rest were non-Gambians,” he said.

He said many people perceive skills as something meant for school dropouts, this he added is hindering many young people to acquire skills.

“I am calling on young people to acquire skills to reduce dependency and avoid engaging in crimes. Sometimes, many Gambian youths want to venture into skills but the societal perspective is hindered them to do so.

If other people can leave their countries to come here and make lot of money from barbing, why not Gambians? It is very difficult because Gambians mentality and attitude towards skills is different,” Fakebba Susso explained.

“It was very frustrating when I started barbing after my graduation because many people were thinking I was a failure. My colleagues were furthering their studies in different institutions, but today I am happy and self-dependent while my family depends on me. I learnt from those non-Gambians before establishing my shop. Many of my customers encouraged me to take barbing very seriously after they realized my potentials.”

Mr. Susso said his mother was not supporting him when he informed her that he wanted to pursue barbing as a career but noted that his brother has always believed in his ability and supported him.

“I was psychologically traumatized by what people normally said about me, especially when I met with my classmates. This was really challenging to me, but now I have conquered the negative criticisms made against me. It was very discouraging whenever I saw my colleagues going to Universities while others travelling to different countries, but I choose barbing which I have always strongly believed will change my life,” he explained.

He told this medium that he was lucky to undergo GIZ training program after which he was certified and given a sum of D50,000 which he used to set up his business.

“Now, I don’t depend on anybody for help and my family is really benefiting from me. I need support because I want to expand my business and train more young people in barbing so that they can be self-reliant and independent.”

The young barber stated that not everyone should work in office while encouraging other young people to learn skills that will benefit them.

“Gambians need to be serious about skills because every year thousands of students are graduating from universities and other institutions and government cannot employ all of them. If you have quality skills, you cannot be jobless if you have useful skills and you will make money. We need to change the narrative now and learn skills to contribute to the development of the country. We cannot blame the government always. I urge the government to provide more skill centers for the young people. If youths from other countries are making it here, why not us?”

He said if Gambian youths acquire skills, the money they earn remains in the country rather than allowing it to go to other countries.

By: Ousman Saidykhan

Association of Public and Environmental Health Officers of the Gambia (APEHOG) are said to resume work today 1st August 2022 as the Health Ministry lifts the suspension a month after it was imposed on them.

In July 2022, the Ministry suspended three hundred and seventy-one (371) health workers who were on a sit-down strike. The suspension was supposed to last for two months but after serving a month, the decision has been rescinded in a document seen by The Fatu Network.

“This office would like you to convey to all the affected staff that in connection to the decision of the Public Service Commission lifting the suspension, the Ministry of Health wishes to call on all concerned Public and Environmental Health Officers affected by the suspension to return to their duty post with effect from 1st August 2022.”

“It’s true, the suspension has been reduced to 1 month instead of 2,” the President of APEOGH Nuha Fofana confirmed to this media via WhatsApp.

APEHOG embarked on a sit-down strike in June over demands that the Health Ministry include them in the new allowance scheme. The Ministry proposed a specific allowance for medical doctors and others, which the association deemed discriminatory to other cadres within the health sector. They demanded this be suspended.

“Once again, this office wishes to reiterate that it is open to dialogue and believes it is the only way to resolving issues of personal and national concern or interest,” the Ministry added in a statement.

After the suspension was imposed on them, the association set up a task force to dialogue with the authorities over a possible reconsideration of their decision on the suspension as well as their demands. They are still holding fast to their demands.

“Yeah, it [the allowance scheme] has been approved at the cabinet level and it is now left with the approval of the National Assembly,” Mr Fofana said.

By: Modou Touray

Passengers who routinely travel from Serekunda to Banjul and other urban settlements have frowned at the behaviour of commercial drivers towards the country’s legal tender. Both the old and new denominations are currently in circulation.

In a random interview with this medium, passengers complained about commercial drivers preferring them to pay their fares with new banknotes.

“I gave D50 dalasi to the driver but he refused to accept it, saying it was damaged. My note was mutilated in the middle and because of that he couldn’t accept it. They need to understand that the same mutilated or damaged banknotes are given to us by other business people,” Kekuta Sarjo, a commuter said.

Most of the banknotes in circulation easily gets rough. Commuters said it’s not their poor handling of the currency causing such.

“I bought a kilo of meat at Serekunda market, and the butcher gave me a rough banknote as change. That was the money I used as fare from Serekunda market to Westfield. If drivers are not accepting damaged Gambian dalasi, that is surprising to me,” Ndey Cham, a housewife from Ebo town expressed.

Saikou Njie is a businessman who owns a fashion shop at Serekunda. He told this medium that the dalasi is the country’s legal tender and that he never rejects it from customers.

“People come to buy with rough and damaged banknotes, but I however accept them. If the business people are not rejecting the money from customers; why then are drivers doing that?” he questioned.

Westfield junction in Serekunda is a busy commercial area where vehicles plying Manjai, Banjul, Tabokoto and other urban destinations stop over to pick up passengers.

The Fatu Network engaged a number of drivers at Westfield junction. They defended their action, blaming commuters for what some described as “reckless attitude in keeping banknotes”.

“Many of them do not use wallet; they just fold the banknotes and put them inside their pocket. If they keep doing that, the money can easily get torn and some important features on the legal tender could be affected,” said Demba Bah, a commercial driver.

Lamin Joof and Dam Gaye are also commercial drivers plying Westfield to Bakau. The urged commuters to pay them with clean notes.

“They have good money, but it is the rough money they deliberately give us” Gaye claimed.

“Anytime I get a lot of these notes from commuters, I take them to the gas station to exchange them with clean ones,” Joof noted.

In his reaction, The President of Gambia Transport Union, Omar Ceesay, reiterated that dalasi is the legal tender. He however clarified that drivers don’t deliberately refuse damaged banknotes.

He said people should not give drivers damaged or torn notes, saying that such is of no use to drivers because they wouldn’t be able to spend it.

When contacted for his response, Mr Ebrima Ceesay – communication officer of the Central Bank of the Gambia, warned that rejecting the country’s money is an offence and anyone found wanting will face the law. “Unless the serial numbers and the figures are no more visible, but to say the middle is torn or old doesn’t warrant any rejection,” he said.

The responses from interviewees were similar, all calling for positive handling of the Gambian currency.

Damaged banknote usually causes fracas between passengers and drivers.

By: Alimatou S Bajinka

Mr Ismaila Badjie, Program Manager at the National Youth Council, while speaking at the launch of the first She-Climate Leadership fellowship on Friday 29th July 2022 at the National Youth Council, talked about the need for climate change to be incorporated into the country’s educational Systems.

“The Gambia’s formal education is directed by the 2016-2030 education sector policy which acknowledges that environmental issues such as climate change needs to be incorporated into our educational systems including curriculum and trainings,” he said.

Mr Badjie further spoke on the timelines of the event, saying “this launching is a very timely step in the right direction; it is in alignment with the government’s vision for climate action. We therefore commend and as well as encourage you to continue doing this in the best interest of national development.”

The She-Climate Change fellowship is aim at training 1000 eco-feminists in the country by 2030.

While there is no sovereign climate change communication and education strategy in the Gambian, a number of education policies and plans integrate climate concerns.

Miss Amie Fye, the fellowship coordinator said they believe that the fellowship would close the gender gap in climate adaptation and climate policies.

She added that, at the end of the fellowship, participants will be connected with mentors who will coach them as they embark on their climate activism journey and community projects.

25 fellows were selected out of 161 applications from young women across the country to be part of the fellowship.

Mrs Fatou Ndey Gaye, lead negotiator on climate change, advises participants of the fellowship to read so to better enhance their understanding on issues regarding climate change.

“Read any document you come across on climate change because the more you read the more you understand and the more you are aware of what is going on in the world as far as climate change is concerned.”

The fellowship will last for 5 months with fellows trained by professionals/experts in the climate change space.

According to the world Bank, The Gambia is vulnerable in variations of weather, river flooding, water scarcity and coastal flooding, which constrain agricultural production.

By: Dawda Baldeh

Hon. Omar Ceesay, former opposition Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC) National Assembly Member for Niamina East has reacted to the 30% salary increment approved recently by the country’s lawmaking body.

In his overall assessment of the approved salary increase, the former lawmaker said the move is to make the rich become richer while the poor become poorer.

Speaking to The Fatu Network, the former GDC NAM said the government has betrayed the civil servants at the highest level.

“This government will continue to fail us. They announced restructuring salary pay scale, but they have failed in delivering that promise,” he claimed.

Hon. Ceesay said the 30% salary increment will only favour the officials who are already receiving good salaries.

He said the 30% salary increment is not a good method, saying it is a way of enriching top officials while the poor continue suffering.

“The rich will get richer, and the poor will get poorer,” he noted.

Hon. Ceesay further stated that some people have already started increasing their house rent, noting that it will affect the low-income earners.

“Now, fuel price will be increased; transportation will increase; vendors at the market will also increase the prices of commodities and the poor will continue suffering. This will not benefit the low-income earners at all,” he narrated.

He added that government should have come up with a proper method by restructuring the pay scale to upgrade the low-income earners.

The former Niamina East representative said those getting small salaries will not have any means to save money because they will have to spend all their monies on rent and basic commodities.

“I don’t see any benefits in this 30% salary increment but many people will thing otherwise. This government is here to manipulate citizens and enrich themselves. They have failed the citizens drastically. They will never fulfill any promise they made.”

He added that the strategy is to play with the minds of citizens to believe the government is doing well.

“They should have done a proper assessment of the country’s economy before announcing the salary increment to see if the economy is sustainable to cover the cost, but they failed in that. I know this is a failed government.

They failed to do their homework very well. This is a total betrayal and dishonesty to the highest level from this government,” he explained.

By: Jankey Touray

The African Leading Women Conference and Awards (ALWCA) on Friday 29th June 2022 in Nigeria awarded two Gambian women, among other African women, for their contribution in politics and standing as strong voices for other women. They were the only nominated members to represent the Gambia.

The awardees are activist, politician and social worker, Nenneh Freda Gomez, country representative of Global Hearts of Medical Mission (Global HOMM) and not until recently spokesperson of Citizens Alliance party and Fanta Ceesay, protocol officer at the Gambia National Assembly and CEO of Fanta’s Healing Foundation.

The 6th International Women Power Conference and Awards is a corporate unit activity of the African Leading Women Magazine. It is an annual event packaged by Goodwill Ambassador Events Agency to bring together women of substance in the continent and beyond to share their testimonies, experiences, advice, challenges, problem-solving skills, and contribute to the process of recruiting more successful women that will add to the productivity and social-economic and political advancement of the continent.

The event is themed: Revisiting Global Agenda 1995 for Gender Equality. It is aimed at recognizing and celebrating the exploits of leading women who have broken through the glass ceilings and taken their seats at the tables of authority in all sectors. It also recognizes the efforts of the HEs for SHEs in advancing gender parity in every sector of life. The IWPC also aims at empowering other women and upcoming generation to aspire to and achieve greatness.

The International Woman Leadership Conference and Awards is an initiative of Ibukun Awosika Leadership that brings together women across Africa and the diaspora in a place of knowledge, empowerment and entertainment.

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

Representing the Gambia government in Guinea Bissau, the Deputy Gambian Ambassador to Bissau, Lamin Camara, has said the embassy is currently faced with transportation challenges in executing their functions in addressing and finding solutions to a mixture of challenges Gambians are faced with in Bissau.

The former Permanent Secretary in the ministries of Finance and Agriculture, told The Fatu Network that the embassy has been helping Gambians in Bisaau on a variety of issues. However, he bemoaned the shortage of vehicles that hampers their functions as representative of the government of the Gambia in Bissau.

“Our main challenge here is transportation.  We are short of vehicles. Most of the time, we will be top busy with our vehicles moving to Banjul. We have been having that challenge here. Last year we bought a vehicle but that is not enough. This year, we have put two in the budge. I hope that government approves that”, he stated.

Been serving for close to two years as the Gambia’s deputy head of mission in Bissau and briefly as the head of mission until Wednesday July 2, Mr. Camara asserted that the  Gambia and Bissau has a smooth and cordial bilateral relationship which he said will be strengthened in due course.  He explained that the two countries relationship in diplomatic tie will continue to be strong.

He further told the Fatu Network that the embassy has been supporting Gambians ranging from accommodation to health issues and financial services in Bissau.

“We have issues where Gambians will be hired to work here but they will not be paid. We would intervene and solve it. We have been helping Gambians here to get treatment at home and many others”, he said.

The former Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Amie Fabureh, is the new Gambian Ambassador to Guinea Bissau. She presented her certificate of credence in Bissau to President Omar Sisohore Mballow on Wednesday, July 27 to begin her work as the Gambia’s head of mission. She is expected to fulfil the two countries’ mission in creating partnerships.

By: Modou Touray

Victims of last year’s flash flood at Brikama Jambar Sanneh neighborhood are calling for emergency support to reconstruct their destroyed houses.

Malang Manneh, a household head of an affected compound, spoked extensively on the devastating impact of last year’s heavy rainfall on his livelihood.

“Life has not been easy since the collapse of our house last year due to flash flood. At the time of the disaster, my family members were inside the house but quickly escaped unharmed.”

Mr Manneh could not ascertain the monetary value of the destruction in his household but said their beds, chairs, clothes and other valuables were all destroyed beyond repair.

“The beds we were using each cost more than D5,000 and the chairs were costly too. Currently, I stay with my family at Brikama Kunta-Kinteh at a temporal residence which we rent. The collapse of our house made us homeless.”

He pleaded for supports to enable his family return to their home which was destroyed by the flash flood.

Malang Manneh is a carpenter and his carpentry workshop is situated at the same premises. Malang’s residence is located on the new 400-meters highway being constructed by the Brikama Area Council.

Apart from Malang, Bubacarr Gisseh is also a household head in the affected compound. He is a radio mechanic who also moved with his family to Brikama-Madina in a temporal settlement.

“We are homeless. The temporal structure we currently occupy is not spacious. We are just like homeless people. I am appealing for assistance, because looking at the economic situation, its not easy. I am very traumatized by this situation. I have been doing some maintenance work here, but due to the location of the house, it’s difficult to avert such destructions. We welcome the construction of the new highway in Jambar Sanneh which we hope will minimize such problem often caused by flash floods.”

Mr Gisseh’s family members are scattered due to lack of a bigger house to accommodate all of them.

There are other affected persons who we could not speak to, however, some of their household materials destroyed were shown to this medium.

Jambar-Sanneh neighborhood is headed by “Alkalo” Dembo Karang Nyima Bojang. His son, Abdou Magid Bojang, is currently executing his function as head of the locality.

In his reaction to the plights of victims, Mr Bojang confirmed the incident and said the head of the settlement is fully aware of the unfortunate collapse of their house.

“When it occurred, we were aware and assessment was conducted. The problem was that submission of the list of disaster victims to regional disaster office was late. That was what affected the support package for some victims in our locality.”

This medium quickly contacted the regional disaster office in West Coast Region concerning the issue, however, we were informed that the issue is subjected to verification by checking whether victims complaining are captured in their database.

By: Alimatou S Bajinka

Drug Law Enforcement Agency of the Gambia (DLEAG) operatives, stationed in the Lower River Region (LRR), on Friday 29th July 2022 arrested a drug trafficker with suspected cannabis sativa concealed in plastic buckets containing groundnut paste.

The burst caused the discovery of suspected prohibited drugs concealed amongst bags of onions by DLEAG operatives stationed in Sibanor, WCR.

According to Ousman Saidybah, the PRO of DLEAG, the arrest and similar other recent landmark seizures including the seizure of kush happened at the heels of a special operation aimed at disrupting the supply and trafficking of prohibited and controlled drugs.

He added that the sophisticated and constantly concealment methods employed by traffickers are very difficult to detect without information, intelligence, narcotic detecting gadgets and or special skills and thorough search used by operatives.”

The DLEAG PRO, therefore, urges the public to be cautious.

“We must all remain alert and be willing to participate and contribute our quarter towards our collective safety and security.

In order to strengthen and reinforce these ongoing special operations, we reiterate our call for the public to remain vigilant, alert and share information concerning suspicious drug-related or criminal activities with law enforcement operatives,” he said

Alimatou S. Bajinka

The General Legal Counsel has on Friday 29th July 2022 enrolled 45 people as Barristers and Solicitors of the Supreme Court of The Gambia at a ceremony held at the High Court complex in Banjul.

The newly enrolled legal practitioners are from the 10th batch of lawyers who were enrolled at The Gambia Law School, including 27 men and 18 women.

Mr Salieu Taal, President of The Gambia Bar Association, urged the newly enrolled members to jealously guide the legal profession and uphold the principles of law.

“As legal practitioners, you are first officers of the court and therefore duty bound to promote justice and uphold rule of law, it is the responsibility you must not take lightly,” he emphasised.

Mr Hussain Thomasi, Solicitor General, while speaking on behalf of Attorney General Dawda A Jallow, said the enrolment has increased the number of legal practitioners enrolled in The Gambia from 430 to 483.

He further stated that the legal practitioner’s sole responsibility is to administer justice for the benefit of society, adding that “society is watching you and remember that you have to set the tone on how they will perceive you throughout your career,” he advised.

By: Jankey Touray

According to the revised budget approved by the National Assembly on Thursday 28 July, civil servants are said to have a salary increase of 30%.

However, the approved 30% salary upsurge appears to elevate high-income earners over low-income earners.

On the amended budget, no increment or deduction was made for the National Assembly, National Audit Office, Judiciary, and the Independent Electoral Commission. Pensioners were also excluded.

The budget reveals that the President, his ministers and other senior government officials will earn high pay as against low earners between grades 1 and 8.

The President’s salary will have an increase of D76, 500, and cabinet ministers D15,000 while civil servants from grades 1 to 8 will have an increase of D750 for those receiving D2500; D900 for D3000 earners; D3000 for D10,000 earners; and D6000 for D12,000 earners.

Seedy Keita, Minister of Finance, disclosed that the 30% salary increase is to develop a revenue of 222.5 million in the survival of the remaining six months of the year.

He said government agreed to cut expenditure across MDAs to subsidize salary increment.

The Minister added that both domestic and global economies have commenced recovering from the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic in 2022, and the Russia-Ukraine conflict which he said brought about a surprising change in global economic conditions.

He stressed that the occurrence causes poor performance of domestic resources mobilization, affects oil-related taxes as well as putting increasing pressure on governance spending needs. He also cited the creation of additional two ministries and the decision of the government to increase the salary of civil servants which necessitated the revision of the approved 2022 budget to adapt the changes.

By: Ousman Saidykhan

National Assembly Members yesterday July 28th 2022 approved the Revised Estimated Budget tabled by the Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Seedy Keita in the first extra-ordinary session in the 2022 Legislative Year seeking a 30% salary increment for the civil service.

While tabling the document, the Minister told parliament the need to adopt the revised budget, saying it was meant to improve the lives and livelihood of Gambians but of the civil servants specifically, as it is the reflection of the Gambia’s current economic realities.

He told lawmakers that the 30% salary increment only applies to civil servants, including ministries and departments likewise subverted hospitals and schools under the ministries of Health and Basic and Secondary Education.

The Minister explained that pensioners are excluded from the increment simply because they benefited from a 100% increment in 2018, causing an income mismatch between pensioners and active employees.

However, many people say it is a discriminative budget as high-income earners like the President and his ministers will earn more compared to low-grade earners like teachers and nurses.

The President who receives a monthly salary of D255, 000 will now get D331, 000 which means D76,000 has been added. In the same vein, the ministers will get D65, 000 as a monthly salary, a D15,000 increment on the D50, 000 they used to get. However, low-income earners like teachers and nurses and also junior civil servants will still receive low salaries compared to their more senior colleagues.

The government announced its intention of establishing a new grading system and pay scale to match the “increasing” cost of living in the country.

By: Alimatou S Bajinka

For many years, griots have played an important role in local functions in our communities. They have not only served as entertainers, but also custodians of oral history. The trade has existed for centuries mainly to preserve people’s genealogies, historical narratives, oral traditions and important events in society.

However, it appears that their functions and recognition especially in today’s generation are slowly diminishing.

Alhajie Mbye is a renowned griot in the Greater Banjul area who served as the lead griot for the most prominent politicians in the country. Mr Mbaye expressed dismay with the low regard accorded to griots, acknowledging that the issue may be attributed to their attitude.

“I blame certain griots for the disrespect accorded to me and my fellow griots, some of whom just walk to peoples’ events without being invited.”

Griots, he added, have held quite a significant position in African cultures, most especially in local ceremonies.

“They translate historical facts, transfer moral issues, explain the mystic world surrounding us and particularly share past experiences.”

However, some believe that this depleting recognition of local griots is due to the changing nature of society; as communities become more divided about the need to have them on special occasions.

Mariama Dampha, who celebrated her wedding two years ago, explained her decision not to invite griots to her well-planned event, saying griots nowadays use the trade as a form of begging instead of doing the task.

“Griots in recent days do not even do their job that is relating you to your past or even tell you about your history, but instead they throw money or cloth at you just to have the money they looking for without even knowing your name.”

Houssoum Ceesay, a renowned historian who has written extensively on traditional Gambian societies said the image people have toward griots today is the direct opposite of their important status in the past.

“The presence of a griot in one’s ceremony used to qualify such event as one that is of class and every family sought for them in all important events.”

The role of a griot, he added, involves a lot of skills and effort, and therefore griots were supposed to only focus on how they do this important job while the patrons focus on the upkeep of the griots.

“Traditionally, the feeding and clothing of griots should be the sole responsibility of their patrons, however, the trade has become so profitable that everyone now ventures into it, mainly for economic reasons.”

He, however, believes that the reason many young people have low regard for griots is mainly that griots are no more as skilled as they used to be. He also said most of the efforts are now put on how to make money instead of learning the real history and the skills necessary to entertain their patrons.

The griot profession is hereditary and has long been a part of West African culture.

By: Ousman Saidykhan

Saihou Drammeh and Lamin Gassama, former General Manager and former Operations Manager respectively of Gam-Petroleum, have both been acquitted and discharged by Justice Roche of the Banjul High Court for lack of prima facie evidence in respect to all the 8 counts levelled against them.

“In the interest of clarity, and to conclude, the accused persons are hereby acquitted and discharged on all 8 counts in the absence of prima facie evidence to support a conviction on same,” Justice Roche in a ruling that took her over two hours on Thursday, 28th July 2022.

This came after the lawyers of the accused persons brought their “no case to answer submission” which was objected to by the prosecution citing section 3(2)(a) of the economics crimes which says “the court shall hear all evidence by the prosecution and or on behalf of the accused.” His objection was overruled giving way to the defence in their arguments.

On all 8 counts, the seasoned judge said the prosecution failed to provide prima facie evidence, “evidence upon which a reasonable tribunal properly directing its mind on the law and evidence will convict the accused if no evidence or explanation was set up by the accuse.”

The accused persons were jointly charged with economic crimes amongst others but the Judge ruled that there is no evidence to show that the accused persons’ actions or inactions resulted in economic loss to the Government of the Gambia, saying the prosecution was just relying on conjecture.

Twelve prosecution witnesses were called to testify in the case, some of whose evidence according to the Judge was contradictory. Specific evidence is that of PW7 on count 2. “In this case, the only evidence before the court regarding this count is the glaring, totally contradicted evidence of PW7 under cross-examination,” said Justice Roche.

Saihou Drammeh and Lamin Gassama were both arrested in October 2021 in connection to, among other things, an alleged missing twenty million dollar ($20, 000,000) worth of fuel products at the Gam-Petroleum Company depot, in Mandinary.

By: Jankey Touray

In October last year, the Burufut highway was among the roads identified to be constructed together with the OIC roads construction for the OIC summit later this year.

Residents of the area and drivers plying the route have expressed their dismay at the slow pace of work by contractors.

Ramatoulie Suso, a resident, said the mud and stagnant water make it difficult to cross to the other side of the road, especially during this rainy season.

“Even if you stand out here, your clothes or body can get wet and dirty because of the water and mud on the road,” Suso expressed.

Rohey Sarr also said the contractors should fasten the pace of the construction because children sometimes play in the mud or dirty water on the road which is not healthy.

She also said the more they slack off in constructing the road the more it gets spoiled and it will be a waste of time and resources for the government as it will only affect the economy of the country as they will pay to reconstruct the road.

Alpha, a driver, said the poor road conditions are why most drivers do not go to Brufut, saying they prefer the Highway to the Brufut heights or Tanji.

“When there is heavy rain, our cars got stuck in the middle of stagnant water and mud. They only pour muddy sand, level it, and leave it here for months without doing proper construction and this is not favourable to us.” Alpha stressed.

The aforesaid road is expected to have streetlights, drainage, and sidewalks.

By: Dawda Baldeh

The Gambia River Basin Development Organization (OMVG) with support of the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) under the Blue Peace Financing Initiative have organized a three-day regional consultation workshop with stakeholders on Phase 3 of the development of its Integrated Development Master Plan (PDDI). The event was held from July 19 to 21, at Coco Ocean Hotel, Banjul.

The consultation workshop brought together a variety of participants including, members of the OMVG High Commission team, the different directorates (technical, finance, administration); representatives of the member states; the International Consultants of the 3 Lots; the technical and financial partners (DDC, GWH and UNCDF), etc.

The objective of the Blue Peace Financing Initiative is to create new ways for non-sovereign regional managing natural resource entities, such as river basin organizations, to access financial capital for investments in cross-border and multi-sectoral water cooperation.

Preliminary exchanges with key financial stakeholders, including potential investors, have confirmed that the market has a strong appetite and interest in an innovative financing instrument such as the Blue Peace Bond.

The initiative was launched in December 2019 with the signing by the President of the OMVG Council of Ministers of a resolution announcing OMVG’s partnership with Blue Peace partners on the exploration of innovative financing mechanisms including the Blue Peace financing initiative, to implement projects within the framework of its Master Plan (PDDI).

The capacity-building activities including the development of OMVG’s masterplan (PDDI), a Technical Assistance Program, and a Legal and Institutional Review are ongoing. In December 2021, the diagnostic report of the OMVG’s Master plan (PDDI), which presented the major transboundary issues and development opportunities associated with the natural resources of the OMVG area and the sectoral economic uses were validated (Phase1).

In June 2022, the development of the six sectoral master plans was presented and validated (Phase 2). The sectors with the highest potential and priority to start with for the joint investment plan (portfolio) have been identified and include energy, agriculture, drinking water and sanitation, navigation, forestry as well as municipal infrastructure.

The workshop was supported by UNCDF and the SDC, OMVG to build the capacity of the participants and launch the last and third phase for the development of the PDDI which aims at defining possible development scenarios for the OMVG area, modelling these scenarios to compare them based on hydrological, environmental, social and economic indicators, then defining the PDDI (Phase 3).

Rohey John Manjang, Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources said the implementation of the master plan initiated by the OMVG High Commission will have a positive impact on the improvement of the living conditions of the populations of the basin areas through its programs and projects, adding that the consultation forum is significant.

“The issue of financing remains a major challenge for basin organizations. Currently, the OMVG draws its financial resources for its projects mainly from the contributions of its four member states. There is no financial instrument capable of channelling funding directly to the supranational entity which is the OMVG. The innovation of the Blue Peace Financing initiative aims to develop a sustainable financing mechanism that will allow non-sovereign entities or basin organizations such as OMVG to access financial markets directly,” declared Ms Christed Alvergne, UNCDF Regional Coordinator.

“This master plan will be the strategic planning framework for the sustainable development of all the basins, of a coherent development program for integrated and concerted management of water resources and ecosystems. Therefore, the participation of all the stakeholders of the basins in the definition of the scenarios is essential,” said Ababacar Ndao, Secretary General of the OMVG High Commission.