By Dawda Baldeh

Ansumana Kinteh, Police Commissioner for Human Rights & Professional Standards at Police Headquarters, has cautioned officers against engaging in torture, stressing that the Inspector General of Police’s office will take allegations of torture seriously.

Commissioner Kinteh encouraged law enforcement officers to manage cases by the law.

The Gambia has implemented the Prevention and Protection of Torture Act, 2023, aimed at preventing and penalising acts of torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.

This act reflects the Convention against Torture, which Gambia ratified in 2018, and establishes a legal framework for prosecuting torture cases.

Commissioner Kinteh made these statements during the opening of a two-day capacity-building training for police and security personnel organised by the Women’s Association for Women and Victims Empowerment (WAVE Gambia) at the Police Intervention Unit Headquarters in Kanifing on Monday.

The training with supported by the Global Human Rights Fund through the Legal Empowerment Fund.

The seasoned police officer urged officers to practice patience and discipline while performing their duties.

“Torture-related matters are off-limits for the police, and the office of the IGP will not take it lightly,” Commissioner Kinteh warned.

“As officers, we must not fall short,” he emphasised, adding that under the Anti-torture Act, any officer found negligent will face consequences.

Priscilla Yagu Ciesay, WAVE Co-founder and Senior Technical Adviser, noted that the goal is to provide police with a clear understanding of the legal frameworks that prohibit torture, including the Prevention and Prohibition of Torture Act, 2023, and international human rights standards.

She highlighted that this training, facilitated by WAVE, is vital as it aims to promote a culture of respect for human rights within law enforcement, enhance accountability, and ensure the protection of human dignity at all times.

“Beating someone you arrest is unacceptable, and no officer should consider such actions,” said OC Esq Musa Camara, advising his fellow officers to always adhere to due process when dealing with alleged offenders.

“If you arrest someone and they insult you, simply charge them but do not beat or slap; the law forbids that,” he added.

Adeline Basangeh, Commissioner of the Police Intervention Unit (PIU), stated that the training is part of ongoing police reform programs and highlighted the importance of transforming the police to be more professional.

“As police officers, we interact with people daily, and often, knowingly or unknowingly, we violate their rights… we must not continue with business as usual. We need to change.

Take this program seriously to understand people’s rights and how to avoid violating those rights,” he stated.

Commissioner Basangeh reminded the officers of their responsibility to protect people’s rights at all costs and encouraged participants to be attentive, ask questions, and seek clarity on any uncertainties regarding the Prevention of Torture Act.

By Michaella Faith Wright

The Deputy Managing Director of the National Roads Authority (NRA), Sulayman Sumareh Janneh, has lauded Gambian contractors for demonstrating impressive innovation, technical know-how, and commitment to quality in the ongoing EPC Lot 1 and Lot 2 projects across the Central and Upper River Regions.

During an inspection tour led by the Minister of Transport, Works, and Infrastructure, Hon. Ebrima Sillah, Janneh expressed satisfaction with the progress and workmanship displayed by local engineers and contractors on these vital road corridors.

“My impression has been good,” Janneh stated.

“This is a contractor that’s Gambian [and] understands the methods and innovation required for constructing durable roads. From what we are seeing, they are even ahead of schedule, which is impressive.”

He emphasized the importance of delivering not just roads, but quality roads that can serve the country for decades.

“When you look at the quality of work they are doing, it’s commendable. The contractor is ensuring all critical standards are met through rigorous testing. He has also personally assured that Gambians will receive the good and durable roads they deserve,” Janneh noted.

He further disclosed that the contractors are building for longevity, with the roads designed to last at least 20 years. “In addition to the main pavement works, they are also investing in proper drainage systems to protect the roads from erosion and environmental damage, which is critical in this region,” Janneh explained.

By Mama A. Touray

After the Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Seedy Keita, submitted the first quarter budget performance report to the National Assembly, Tuma Njie, the National Assembly Member for Banjul South, expressed concerns about the report.

Njie urged the Minister to provide a more detailed budget performance analysis in the future. While speaking, he appealed to Minister Keita to prepare a breakdown of the report instead of just a summary.

“I will appeal to the minister [to] send the breakdown of the individual ministries’ expenditure so that we can monitor as per our committees to make sure that what they were allocated and approved has been given accordingly,” she said

Njie stated that during each bilateral meeting, ministers express that they have underperformed in their ministries because the allocations are not provided on time.

She also mentioned that since it is now the second quarter and the minister is presenting the report for the first quarter, it would have been more effective if he had combined the reports for both the first and second quarters, along with a detailed breakdown of expenditures for the various ministries.

Njie further emphasised that this is a summary report. As per the provision, the minister should present a comprehensive statement on the entire implementation and monitoring process, rather than just a summary report.

“For a whole government, we are in the sixth month of the year, to come and give us a report in seven pages is concerning. I think we expect a thorough statement next time. I am appealing to the minister when he comes, let him give us a thorough statement because some of us are not financially learned; so, we need an explanation in everything,” she said.

Njie, however, praised the minister’s effort in putting the spending in a table form, naming it “a consolidated table, quarter one actual and quarter two budget, fine, which is excellent, but we need a breakdown.”

“If you say actual, each minister is allocated a budget. We need to know, for example, how the Ministry of Gender is struggling: what they have been allocated, how far they have implemented it, what is allocated, and the challenges. This way, we can have mitigating factors to help them,” she told the minister.

Njie continued, “You don’t have to wait until the end of the year to tell us that our women are suffering because we did not have money. Please give us a full report so that we can have a real understanding of how our people are suffering, enabling us to help them suffer less.”

Njie also referenced the standing order, which states that the minister should come at least once every session to report to the assembly.

“I recall that for the 2024 budget, even though it has been passed, he did not report to us. He needs to monitor every government expenditure whenever and wherever. So, we are appealing that he comes at least every session. We had an extraordinary session, and he did not give us a report, and it states that every session, including an extraordinary session, is a session,” Njie said.

Meanwhile, Tuma expressed concern about total tax revenue, stating, “The fact that the total revenue for taxes has gone up and the implications are not good for our citizens because it means that the citizens are paying more in taxes. The standard of living is also very expensive, and the fact that the non-tax revenue has underperformed is also not good because it means that there is a lack of foresight and initiative within this government to ensure that there are alternatives.”

She added, “So the only means of revenue is to milk the citizens of this country, which I think we should try to change so that we can provide our people with a better standard of living.”

In response to the concerns raised by Njie, Minister Keita said, “Our understanding of the standing order request is that the oral intervention and, in such a type of financial intervention, is not a financial statement presentation. This is very typical even in the corporate world, where you give quarterly briefings, and in this presentation format, you don’t blow it out to pages.”

Keita explained further that quarterly presentations are done in June, which, he said, is not yet due. “Normally, you present the June quarter in the months of July and August, but we will endeavour during ordinary sessions of the assembly to come and brief the assembly on the implementation and monitoring of the budget.”

Responding to the tax collection issue, Keita explained, “In terms of tax collection, claiming that we are taxing the Gambian people more, I think that’s quite the opposite of what has happened. If you look at the income tax bracket this year, we have moved the tax bracket base starting from D24,000. Previously, if your earnings were up to D24,000, then tax would kick in, but we have moved that to D36,000.”

Keita said they have provided every Gambian citizen or employee with an additional D12,000 in tax-free income. “So, it doesn’t represent that we are taxing people. The Sub-Saharan African average tax-to-revenue GDP ratio is 16%; we are at 10-11%, which means we are below the Sub-Saharan Africa average in terms of tax burden.”

By Michaella Faith Wright

The Minister of Transport, Works and Infrastructure, Ebrima Sillah, has continued his nationwide infrastructure tour, stopping in several regions to assess the progress of key road projects that aim to boost connectivity, ease mobility, and improve the economic livelihood of rural communities.

The minister, accompanied by senior officials from the ministry and the National Road Authority, began the inspection in the North Bank Region, where significant work is ongoing on the 84.5 km Niumi Hakalang Loop. The first section, Buniadu–Kuntaya, spanning 55.7 km, is fully completed, marking a major milestone for residents who have long struggled with poor road access.

At Albreda–Faas Omar Saho, the second section covers 15.14 km, and construction is nearing completion, with 76.2% of the base course laid. Locals expressed satisfaction with the developments, noting that improved roads will reduce travel time and enhance safety, especially during the rainy season.

Section three, Bangally–Bafuloto (13.71 km), is now fully finished with double surface dressing completed. Residents like Kabba Conteh and Fatou Sowe welcomed the project, emphasising how it will ease market access for farmers and fisherfolk in the area.
Deputy Governor of North Bank Region, Dembo Samateh, lauded the government’s focus on rural development and confirmed plans for upcoming inaugurations in Hakalang and Salikenni.

The minister’s delegation is now pushing further inland to the Central River and Upper River Regions, where additional road projects are underway. Minister Sillah reaffirmed the government’s commitment to completing all phases on schedule, assuring citizens that road infrastructure remains a top priority in the drive for national development.

By: Michaella Faith Wright

The Minister of Transport, Works, and Infrastructure, Hon. Ebrima Sillah, has continued his nationwide infrastructure tour with stops across several regions to assess the progress of key road projects aimed at boosting connectivity, easing mobility, and improving the economic livelihood of rural communities.

The minister, accompanied by senior officials from the ministry and the National Roads Authority, began the inspection in the North Bank Region, where significant work is ongoing on the 84.5 km Niumi Hakalang Loop. The first section, Buniadu–Kuntaya, spanning 55.7 km, is fully completed—marking a major milestone for residents who have long struggled with poor road access.

At Albreda–Faas Omar Saho, the second section covering 15.14 km, construction is nearing completion, with 76.2% of the base course laid. Locals expressed satisfaction with the developments, noting that improved roads will reduce travel time and enhance safety, especially during the rainy season.

Section three, Bangally–Bafuloto (13.71 km), is now fully completed, with double surface dressing finished. Residents like Kabba Conteh and Fatou Sowe welcomed the project, emphasizing how it will ease market access for farmers and fisherfolk in the area.

The Deputy Governor of the North Bank Region, Dembo Samateh, lauded the government’s focus on rural development and confirmed plans for upcoming inaugurations in Hakalang and Salikenni.

The minister’s delegation is now pushing further inland to the Central River and Upper River Regions, where additional road projects are underway. Minister Sillah reaffirmed the government’s commitment to completing all phases on schedule, assuring citizens that road infrastructure remains a top priority in the drive for national development.

By: Dawda Baldeh

Modou Lamin Bah, the National Assembly Member for Banjul North, has expressed concern over the ongoing environmental damage at the Tanbi Wetlands, located on the outskirts of Banjul. The area is vital for safeguarding the city against flooding and other natural disasters.

In 2022, following significant flash floods that affected numerous families in Banjul and surrounding areas, the government promptly suspended construction activities at the site to reduce harm. However, Bah believes that the same government that chose to halt construction at the Tanbi Wetlands is now accountable for the current destruction.

He recalled that the 2022 flooding in Banjul was caused by illegal construction activities at the Tanbi Wetlands, inadequate drainage and sewage systems, as well as the malfunctioning of the bund polder station (Pa Machine). “Unfortunately, this destructive activity is still occurring at the Tanbi Wetlands today,” he said. “They are intentionally cutting down and damaging the mangrove ecosystem and backfilling the wetland with rocks, stones, and sand near the bund polder station (Pa Machine) without proper communication regarding their intentions for the area.”

Like many others, Bah warned that such actions will further endanger Banjul. “Both the central and local governments tasked with protecting the Tanbi Wetlands are not taking sufficient measures to safeguard it,” he asserted. He emphasized that those responsible for the destruction are collaborating with the authorities.

“I reached out to several organizations, including the National Environment Agency, to determine whether they were aware of the situation and who is responsible for the destruction of the wetland, but they promised to follow up with me. I am still waiting with my community to figure out our next steps,” he added.

The Banjul North lawmaker called for an immediate cessation of these activities. “We will not permit our Tanbi Wetlands to be destroyed in this manner. Let’s contribute to the solution rather than the destruction,” he stressed. He pledged to continue advocating in parliament and engaging the appropriate authorities to tackle the issue.

By Dawda Baldeh

At the ongoing Regional Youth Congress in Basse, chaos erupted following the arrest of one Omar Drammeh, a Cannon Youth Development Association representative who also serves as a congress delegate.

Drammeh, who also serves as the chairperson of Activista URR, was arrested following an altercation that erupted overnight due to alleged election irregularities by the National Youth Council and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

He condemned what he described as an unlawful arrest, physical abuse, and torture that he endured at the hands of security forces during the Basse NYC congress on Saturday.

“I was arrested, tortured, and maltreated after speaking out against election malpractice involving local registered youth groups,” Mr. Drammeh said.

Drammeh’s arrest was connected to the chaos that erupted during the congress as various delegates raised alarms regarding serious irregularities in the ongoing youth electoral process.

In a statement obtained by The Fatu Network, Drammeh claimed that some youth groups forged certificates to participate in the congress oversight by the National Youth Council and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

According to him, the exposure of these irregularities is backed by “verifiable documentation” and told the NYC that the congress cannot proceed if the 26 flagged certificates are accepted to vote.

“During this push and pull, the PIU Commander intervened and made a final decision that the congress shall be conducted whether we like it or not.

“I interjected his speech and to him that we were not listening. Immediately after speaking, I was subjected to an arrest without any crime,” he said.

He added: “I was physically assaulted and tortured while I was taken out of the hall to police custody.”

A video clip obtained by The Fatu Network shows how PIU officers forcefully arrested Drammeh and put him behind a pickup truck.

“They used their baton to hit my head multiple times, dragged me on the floor to the vehicle, strangled my neck, and even put their hands inside my underwear,” Drammeh recounted.

He condemned these actions as a blatant violation of human rights and an attack on democratic principles, including freedom of expression and the right to participate in transparent governance processes.

“Despite the gravity of the fraud, the final decision by the authorities allowed 14 of those individuals to proceed and vote, while 12 were disqualified,” he revealed.

According to a post on Basse Multimedia, Drammeh was charged with prohibition of conduct conducive to breach of peace and was later released on bail.

However, The Fatu Network couldn’t obtain a comment from the police by the time of this publication.