By Sarjo Brito

The High Court in Banjul has ordered the suspension of the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) inquiry pending the decision of the court.

The Kanifing Municipal Council through its legal representative filed an ex-parte motion asking for the suspension of the commission that was set up by the Local Government Ministry to investigate allegations of corruption and other malpractices at the council.

According to court documents, the council argues the Ministry’s decision to institute the commission is wrong in law in that the mandatory preconditions set out in section 151 (2) of the Local Government Act have not been met, that the decision is ultra vires, illegal and in excess of the powers of the Minister; that the decision of the Minister is unreasonable, illegal and an abuse of power in that part of the subject matter of the commission is pending before another suit at the high court; that the decision of the Minister is unreasonable and contrary to natural justice as the subject matters of the commission were subject of an Inspection and Report which have not been shared with the Applicant; amongst others.

Justice Mahoney who was authorized by the Chief Justice to hear the case has since ordered the KMC Inquiry to suspend all its proceeding until the court gets a response from the Local Government Minister Musa Drammeh and the Attorney General.

The Ministry of Local Government some few weeks ago established a commission of inquiry to investigate the Kanifing Municipal Council on corruption allegations and other related matters from 2018 to date.

In August 2021, the Kanifing Municipal Council under Lord Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda was involved in a huge corruption scandal amid reports that the then Deputy Mayor Musa Bah solicited bribes of up to 1 million dalasis from a company.

The Council’s CEO Sainabou Martin Sonko was also mentioned in these allegations after internal audit discovered she allegedly obtained a loan to a tune of 12 million dalasis in the name of the council’s staff association without their knowledge or consent.

By: Christian Conteh

President Adama Barrow has used his first speech as Gambia’s new president to acknowledge that the tasks ahead are many, complicated, and difficult to tackle but reaffirmed his commitment to deliver for the people of Gambia.

This the president said will be done through the harnessing of resources and building of national knowledge and technology capabilities. This is expected to ultimately energise the country’s development effort.

“Based on first-hand experience, I am fully aware that the tasks that lie ahead are many, complicated, and difficult to tackle. Each of our sectors has huge gaps to fill. We will harness our resources, build our knowledge and technology capabilities with the relevant skills and competencies to energise our development efforts,” President Barrow said.

He further revealed that he strongly believes that with better quality education, institutions will impact the lives of the citizens more significantly, address the technology requirements for the agriculture sector and be more impactful in the fight to eradicate the poverty levels across the country.

Working together President Barrow says can foster understanding and attain national development goals in the mutual interest of the people.

“I am convinced that there is nothing a people cannot attain if they unite and have a common will to succeed. The potential that lies in our human resource is massive and offers a source of optimism, courage and determination to succeed,” the president said.

He used the opportunity to pledge his commitment to putting more emphasis on uplifting the status of all Gambians, especially the under-privileged and vulnerable Gambians in underserved communities. Whilst promising that under his administration development will be distributed within all the regions of the country.

The president climaxed by making a rallying call for collective, decisive and positive participation of all Gambians, irrespective of ethnic or political affiliation, gender, or religion.

Secretary General of Commonwealth, Hon. Patricia Scotland has pledged her organization’s support to The Gambia.

She made the commitment on Friday 21 January 2022 at an engagement with President at his State House office in Banjul.

Hon. Scotland heads the Commonwealth delegation to President barrow’s second inauguration ceremony held on Wednesday 19 January.

Ex-president Yahya Jammeh pulled The Gambia out of the Commonwealth in 2013, a decision that was reversed by President Adama Barrow upon defeating Jammeh in the 2016 presidential election.

The Commonwealth Secretary General applauded the conduct of the presidential election which she referred to as free and fair, commending President Barrow’s inaugural speech of being inclusive of all Gambians. She also praised Gambia’s reengagement with the Commonwealth as a positive that will benefit the country and its people in many ways.

In another development, Emperor Naruhito of Japan is amongst the latest world leaders to extend a message of well wishes and happiness for H.E President Barrow and the prosperity of the people of the Gambia.

The Japanese Prime Minister His Excellency Kishida Fumio also congratulated President Barrow for his reelection.

Also, President Barrow received another message of best wishes from His Excellency, Alassane Ouattara President of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire.

The Five Continents Museum in Munich on Friday announced that it had identified some 50 objects of questionable provenance in its collection.

That determination was made by a team of researchers, led by Albert Gouaffo of the University of Dschang in Cameroon and Karin Guggeis of the Five Continents Museum, who have been investigating some 200 objects from the institution’s Max von Stetten collection since 2019.

Von Stetten had been a commander in the Imperial German Army and stationed in Cameroon — where experts say the pieces likely originated — in the late 19th century. Von Stetten later donated some 200 objects to the museum.

Researchers say that most of the objects von Stetten donated had likely been acquired legitimately, but roughly 50 others may have been stolen during military campaigns known as “punitive expeditions.”

Among the objects researchers have identified as problematic are two sacred figures, three horns, two bark beaters and numerous weapons.

Difficult to Research

Scientists say research in Cameroon, in an effort to identify the provenance of a particularly well-known object — a carved wooden post fancied by Munich’s famous Blauer Reiter (Blue Rider) expressionist artists — has become nearly impossible due to unrest in the country.

Recently, three Cameroonian researchers scheduled to visit Munich as part of the project were denied visas for Germany. Authorities from the Foreign Office in Berlin cited irregularities in their travel documents.

Museum representatives hope the situation can soon be rectified, noting that coming to grips with the highly sensitive issue of colonial injustice demands intense, personal cooperation, which a spokeswoman at the institution said is “the heart of postcolonial provenance research.”

The Five Continents Museum, Germany’s first ethnological museum, was founded in 1862. Representatives say it is unclear what the institution will do with the objects when research is complete.

By: Christian Conteh

President Adama Barrow has reiterated his commitment to ensuring he facilitates the process leading to a new Republican Constitution.

The president spoke boldly about this and other governance issues as he delivered his Presidential Inaugural Speech at Independence Stadium on January 19th

“Good governance, transitional justice, rights, freedoms and the rule of law are matters of great importance to us.

My government recognises justice as an essential component of good governance, since it fosters participation, transparency, and accountability while preserving the rule of law. As such, the Law will continue to guide whatever we do,” President Barrow said.

He further noted that The Gambia Truth Reconciliation and Reparation Commission completed its work and submitted its report last month. The report he said is being studied carefully for appropriate action.

“To break the deadlock surrounding the draft Constitution, the new government will work towards building consensus for the establishment of a new Republican Constitution,” the president said.

He advised all stakeholders to be open-minded for this [Constitutional Review] to succeed.

On the foreign policy front, President Barrow noted that Gambia’s foreign policy is now robust and fruitful enough to build on.

“The Gambia has regained her position in the international community, and we have successfully expanded friendship and cooperation around the world.

We will pursue this with vigour, beginning with our friends and neighbours in the sub-region and the African continent,” he said.

He thanked the Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) for providing a platform for dialogue, cooperation, joint ventures and collaboration on regional and global matters.

“We are greatly indebted to ECOWAS for standing by us, providing the most needed support, most especially during and after the 2016 political impasse. Their guidance and support to establish and maintain peace and stability during our transition programme contributed to the successful conduct of the last Presidential Election,” President Barrow noted.

The presence of ECOMIG he said signifies the relevance and competence of ECOWAS as a regional body.

President Adama Barrow has singled out infrastructure, alongside energy and technology as his government’s development priorities for the next five years.

He made this known during his Presidential Inaugural Address delivered on 19th January 2022 at The Independence Stadium, Bakau.

“In outlining my government’s development priorities for the next five years, infrastructure, energy and technology have to be at the core of our development efforts, not as ends in themselves, but a means to attaining our development targets,” President Barrow said.

He went on to note that over the past three years his government has made remarkable achievements in infrastructure development.

Indicating proudly that while most of the construction works of the targeted eight hundred-kilometre (800 km) Primary Road Network, on the North and South Banks, have been completed, work is progressing on the remaining lot.

“My administration also constructed essential bridges, totalling 2.3 kilometres in various parts of the country. These include the famous Senegambia Bridge and the new ones in the Upper River Region.

Our development orientation will continue to be people-centred, people-driven, inclusive, and wisely targeted for progress, growth, and stability,” the President said.

He promised to construct one thousand, two hundred kilometres (1200 Km) of quality roads among several other infrastructural developments in the next five years.

Dozens of people have been killed in a stampede at a religious event in the suburbs of Liberia’s capital, according to officials.

Local media reported on Thursday that the overnight disaster took place at the gathering held on a football field in New Kru Town, just north of Monrovia. It was not immediately clear what had caused the stampede.

Police spokesman Moses Carter said at least 29 people were killed in the disaster but that the toll was provisional and “may increase”.

The country’s deputy information minister gave the same death toll.

“The doctors said 29 persons died and some are on the critical list,” Jalawah Tonpo said, calling into state radio from a nearby hospital. “This is a sad day for the country,” Tonpo added.

Local media reports said children were among those killed in the Christian prayer gathering, known in Liberia as a “crusade”.

President George Weah is expected to visit the site on Thursday afternoon, his press office said.

The two-day event was staged by Pastor Abraham Kromah, a popular preacher, and attracted large crowds, according to images circulating on social media.

Robbers wielding knives and machetes attacked the worshippers, local media reported, suggesting that this may have triggered the stampede.

Eye witness Emmanuel Gray, 26, told AFP he heard “heavy noise” towards the end of the event, and saw several dead bodies.

Accidents and disasters are relatively common in Liberia.

A stampede at a similar prayer event in the centre of Liberia in November 2021 killed two infants, and hospitalised several others, according to local media.

Seventeen people were also reported missing after a shipwreck off the country’s coast in July last year.

And about 50 people died in a mine collapse in the northwestern Liberia in May 2020.

Liberia, Africa’s oldest republic, is an impoverished country that is still recovering after back-to-back civil wars between 1989-2003, which killed about 250,000 people.

It was also ravaged by the 2014-2016 West Africa Ebola epidemic.

According to the World Bank, 44 percent of Liberia’s population lives on less than $1.9 a day.

The UN’s Human Development Index, a barometer of prosperity, ranks Liberia 175th out of 189 countries and territories.

Credit: Aljazeera

Yesterday, Aljazeera reported that a vehicle carrying explosives used in mining collided with a motorcycle and blew up in a town in western Ghana, leaving at least 17 people dead and injuring dozens, according to the government.

Videos from the scene posted on social media on Thursday showed a large blast area in Apiate, near the city of Bogoso some 300km (180 miles) west of the capital, Accra, with dozens of buildings reduced to piles of wood, brick and twisted metal.

“A total of 17 people have unfortunately been confirmed dead, and 59 injured people have been rescued,” Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said in a statement released overnight.

Seji Saji Amedonu, deputy director general of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), said 500 buildings had been destroyed. A regional emergency official told local media he had seen 10 dead bodies.

The explosion occurred when a motorcycle went under a truck carrying explosives that was on route to the Chirano gold mine, run by Canada-based Kinross.

A Kinross spokesperson confirmed the incident, saying it occurred 140km (87 miles) from the mine.

Francis Abeiku Yankah, a NADMO coordinator for Prestea Huni-Valley, told TV3 brodcaster: “I saw complete devastation of the community called Apiate. As we speak, the community is dead, it cannot be inhabited by anyone.”

The police released a statement advising the public “to move out of the area to nearby towns for their safety while recovery efforts are under way”.

Nearby towns have been asked to open up public spaces including classrooms and churches to survivors, the police said.

“It is a truly sad, unfortunate and tragic incident, and I extend, on behalf of Government, deep condolences to the families of the deceased, and I wish the injured a speedy recovery,” President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo tweeted.

Source: Aljazeera

The country’s Ministry of Transport, Works and Infrastructure has as part of its agenda to combat road traffic accidents provided The Gambia Police Force with road traffic equipment including speed radars (the most common police speed measuring devices) and breathalyzers (a device used for estimating blood alcohol content from a breath sample).

This is in direct response to the growing rate of fatal road accidents. The ministry made the presentation to The Gambia Police Force at a ceremony held at the ministry’s conference room in Kanifing.

The items include three speed radars or speed guns, five breathalyzer or alcohol detectors and 500 copies of accident reporting templates for data capturing.

The equipment is expected to help capacitate the Force’s mobile traffic unit, as they seek to professionally fight road traffic offences and minimise road accidents.

The presentation was done by the Permanent Secretary in the Transport Ministry Mod K. Ceesay and received on behalf of the Police by Commissioner Police Mobile Traffic Lamin King Colley.

Three Marabouts: Basiru Bah, Sulayman Bah and Alkali Sallah appeared in court today 20 January before Magistrate E. J. C. Colley of the Kanifing Magistrate Courts.

Marabouts are religious people belived to have mystic power and insight in solving life challenges.

They are jointly charged with conspiracy to defraud and obtain money by false pretense.

In his testimony, second defense witness, Sulayman Bah testified that he is a marabout by profession, and that he lives in Nema Kunku.

He recounted his ordeal saying that sometimes in May 2016, a group of police CID officers came to his house and told him that he was needed at the Serekunda Police Station. “I went with them but I did not know why I was arrested because they did not give me any reason for my arrest. When we reached the station, I was asked to do a finger thumb print and I refused, and I was then compelled to do so which caused me to sustain hand injury,” he explained.

He added that he was then taken to the Jeshwang Prison where he spent 3 years 9 months without bail. “While I was in detention at the Jeshwang Prison, my house was broken into by unknown individuals, taking away D150,000 and about 125,000 CFA which I had kept. My three new mattresses, a suitcase full of new female clothes plus one kilo gram of gold were all taken from my house” he revealed to the court.

The accused persons were charged with two counts. The first count stated that Basiru Jallow, Sulayman Bah and Alkali Sallah sometimes in May 2016 at Serekunda and diverse places in the Kanifing Municipality of the Republic of the Gambia conspired to commit a felony therein to wit, obtaining money by false pretence, thereby committing an offence.

Count two stated that the three accused persons obtained money by false pretence contrary to section 286 of the Criminal Code Cap 10. 01 Volume III laws of the Gambia. It further stated that sometimes in May 2016 at Serekunda and diverse places, the trio frauded and obtained the sum of D700,000 from one Modou Lamin Jarju with the pretext that they were going to change his financial status and his life to a better living standard which representation they knew or have reasons to believe that such representation is false and they knew it to be false at the time of making such representation thereby committing an offence.

The matter was adjourned to 7th February 2022 for the continuation of testimony. The IGP was represented by sub-inspector Lamin Jammeh while Lawyer Edward Gomez represented the accused persons.

A day after his second inauguration as President of The Gambia, president Adama Barrow has constituted a caretaker cabinet which will administer the affairs of the country until further notice.

In a notice from the Office of The President issued on Thursday 20 January [just a day after his inaugural ceremony], the President says with immediate effect, all Ministers who were serving in such capacities immediately before his inauguration will continue to hold such positions as ministers.

“The public is hereby informed that His Excellency the President of the Republic of The Gambia, Adama Barrow has with immediate effect from today, 20^th January 2022 constituted a caretaker cabinet until further notice. The caretaker cabinet consist of all immediate past ministers who will continue to hold the same portfolios,” the notice stated.

It disclosed that as required by the constitution, the caretaker cabinet will be sworn in on Thursday 27^th January 2022 at the State House in Banjul.

Though the Constitution of The Gambia empowers the President to hire and fire, many women and youth led organizations are anticipating to see more youths and women in President Barrow’s cabinet as he officially begins his second term in office.

Gambia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has confirmed the arrival of the remains of Gambians who died in the New York fire incident on Sunday 8, January 2022. The corpses are said to have arrived on Wednesday evening at the Banjul International Airport.

The Ambassador and Permanent Representative of The Republic of The Gambia to the United Nations, H.E Lang Yabou, and the Director of the Diaspora and Migration Directorate under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Musa Camara were at the foot of the aircraft to receive three (3) escorts of families that came with the four (4) deceased.

The Ministry further confirmed that fifteen (15) escorts from the United States of America also arrived on Tuesday 18 January 2022, adding that the remaining Gambian victims were laid to rest in Bronx, New York on Sunday 16 January 2022.

Speaking at the airport, Ambassador Yabou expressed heartfelt condolences to the grieving families for the tragic loss and assured them of the government’s continuous support in these trying times.

Mr. Momodou Baldeh, who was also part of the escorts, thanked The Gambia Government for the support accorded to the families since the tragedy.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry noted that some of its senior officials left for Soma and Gambiasara in the early hours of Thursday 20 January to attend the funeral of the four (4) deceased, stating that the deceased families and loved ones will be accorded all the necessary support to give a befitting burial to their loved ones.

The Ministry prays for God’s infinite mercy and forgiveness on the souls of the departed and further prays that God grants the families the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

By Amara Thoronka

President Adama Barrow has committed in his inaugural speech that his government is poised to construct 1,200 kilometers of roads across the country.

“As promised our target for the next five years is to construct 1,200 of quality roads,” he noted.

He made this disclosure on 19^th January at the Independence Stadium after subscribing to his oath of office and being duly inaugurated as President of The Gambia for the next five years.

President Barrow described his election victory on 4^th December 2021 as a proof of confidence bestowed on him by the people of Gambia over the last five years.

“My election victory was a vote of confidence in my government, a vote of acknowledgment of my achievements, a vote of endorsement and acceptance of the democratic values of this country under my administration. It is also a vote of appreciation of who we are as a people and how we have decided to come together, work together to achieve our aspirations”

The President said his next five years will enhance sustainable development across the board.

“I will be a president for all Gambians and will be tolerant to diverse views to enhance peace. My next five years will be characterized by sustainable development in infrastructure, agriculture, technology, education and more”

Making a statement on the Truth Reconciliation and Reparation Commission (TRRC) report, the just inaugurated President said the report is being studied carefully for appropriate action.

On international relations, he said The Gambia has rebranded its image overseas, thanking ECOWAS for supporting the peace and security of the country.

President Barrow continued that tourism, which is a major source of revenue of The Gambia, will be diversified.

Speaking on the civil service, the president emphasized that there will better conditions of service for personnel, noting that merit based promotion was and continues to be crucial in reward for performance.

On human rights, he said all citizens are now equal before the law, committing himself to continue promoting and protecting the fundamental human rights of all Gambians.

The President promised to create more jobs for youths.

He added that he will work to realize sustainable electricity, self-sufficiency, food security, national security, and good governance.

He concluded by thanking Gambians for what he calls “strong confidence reposed in him to serve for another five years.”

President Adama Barrow also thanked and appreciated all local and international development partners for contributing to the peace and development of The Gambia, assuring them of continued partnerships.

By Amara Thoronka 

In his inaugural speech at the Independence Stadium, President Adama Barrow has pledged that he will be a President for all Gambians and will enhance sustainable development in various sectors as he officially begins another five-year mandate.

“I will be a president for all Gambians and will be tolerant to diverse views to enhance peace. My next five years will be characterized by sustainable development in infrastructure, agriculture, technology, education and more”

The President committed that his government would construct 1200 kilometer roads across the country.

He added that he will work to realize sustainable electricity, self-sufficiency, food security, national security and good governance.

Making a statement on the Truth Reconciliation and Reparation Commission (TRRC) report, the just inaugurated President said the report is being studied carefully for appropriate action.

On international relations, he said The Gambia has rebranded its image overseas, thanking ECOWAS for supporting the peace and security of the country.

President Barrow continued that tourism, which is a major source of revenue of The Gambia, will be diversified.

Speaking on the civil service, the president emphasized that there will better conditions of service for personnel, noting that merit based promotion was and continues to be crucial in reward for performance.

On human rights, he said all citizens are now equal before the law, committing himself to continue promoting and protecting the fundamental human rights of all Gambians.

The President promised to create more jobs for youths.

He concluded by thanking Gambians for what he calls “strong confidence reposed in him to serve for another five years.”

President Adama Barrow also thanked and appreciated all local and international development partners for contributing to the peace and development of The Gambia, assuring them of continued partnerships.

By: Christian Conteh

Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio has sacked Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Anthony Yeihwoe Brewah and replace him with Mohamed Lamin Tarawalley, who until his appointment was Solicitor General of Sierra Leone and is a barrister with over twenty years standing.

Brewah was sacked after a group picture of Baimba Moiforay (LAC), Attorney General and Minister of Justice and Minister of Information and Communication emerged on social media leaving many people with questions about why top government officials would take a photo with a convicted herbalist and murderer immediately after his controversial presidential pardon

“The General Public is hereby informed that it has pleased His Excellency the President, Brig. (Retired) Julius Maada Bio to announce the following appointment Mohamed Lamin Tarawalley Esq Attorney General and Minister of Justice,” a statement from the office of President read.

Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio had earlier revoked the Presidential Clemency granted to herbalist Baimba Moiforay who had been convicted for the murder of Sydney Buckle aka DJ Clef in 2015.

LAC Chocolate as he is popularly called was granted a Presidential pardon on New Year’s Day, a constitutional right accorded the president as provided for in section 63 (1)(a) of the country’s 1991 constitution.

Upon his controversial pardon, LAC took to social media flaunting wealth and affluence. He also went to a local church to give testimony. His (LAC) release got tongues wagging. It is no surprise that president Bio decided to revoke the pardon with immediate effect.

A press statement from the Office of the President indicates that the president has instituted an investigation into the process leading to the granting of pardon to Baimba Moiforay on 1st January 2022.

Meanwhile Information Minister Mohamed Rahman Swarray was quick to clear the air. His Facebook post read:

“My attention has been drawn to this photo which was taken in the AG’s parlour in Tiama where I had stopped over to pay him a courtesy call as I usually do when passing through Tiama. I have never met LAC before, let alone have any dealings with him. It was purely coincidental that I met them there and they requested a photo opp which politicians hardly reject,” Minister Swarray wrote.