Former nominated national assembly member Ramzia Diab, states her reasons for endorsing Independent Presidential Candidate, Dr. Isatou Touray.

MY REASONS FOR ENDORSING HER.

To be more precise I am endorsing Dr Touray, for the following reasons.

1. She is a mother therefore has proven to me that her parenthood can be transformed into services for an entire nation.

2. She is a highly educated person therefore the value of knowledge will never be secondary in any government she leads.

3. She is a human rights activists and has been there for us the women, our children and all those who feel the sharp edge of society’s compelling forces.

4. She is a scorer and a team player that virtue will make a good head of state whose gravitas and aura will galvanize powerful international players in favor of The Gambia.

5. Dr Touray is the right person at the right time.

By: Madi Jobarteh

 
Endorsement

 
Let me say upfront that I fully and wholeheartedly endorse the candidature of Dr. Isatou Touray for President of the Republic of the Gambia in the presidential election on 1st December 2016. Dr. Touray has the capacity in every sense of the word – education, expertise, experience and values to lead the Gambia particularly at this most crucial juncture never experienced by our people since independence. The Gambia faces an existential threat of violent disintegration like many other African nations under tyranny before us. Therefore at this very moment as the nation bleeds and seeks to salvage itself, it needs a person of compassion and commitment and with a clear track record of selfless service and dedicated involvement in the protection of the human rights of Gambians to lead that process. By standing as an independent and a non-partisan candidate, Dr. Touray therefore towers above partisan and individual power struggles that have been the major obstacle preventing the opposition parties and leaders from uniting since 1996 to end this military misrule couched in a semblance of democracy. By this endorsement, in the name of national salvation, I call on the leaders of the opposition parties to rally their full support behind Dr. Isatou Touray to be the only single and unifying opposition candidate in this most important election. Her candidature and personality therefore are both a symbol and a tool for unity and liberation that all Gambians and political parties and leaders must seize upon.
What is at stake?

 
What is at stake is our very lives, individually and collectively and the future of the nation. Going by the 1997 constitution and all its amendments and the laws of this country vis-a-vis the decisions and actions of the government, it is clear that the leading violator of the constitution and the rule of law in the Gambia is the Government of the Gambia itself. The spirit and intention of the 1997 constitution is to produce a democratic dispensation in the Gambia, by law and practice. Yet since 1997, the Executive arm of the State has not only interfered with the rule of law and the separation of powers principle as laid out in the constitution, but the Executive went even further to undermine that very constitution as a whole by butchering it so as to seize all powers from the people and hand it over to a single individual as president. The president in turn continues to disrespect the constitution, subvert our sovereignty and personalise public wealth as well as state institutions and processes which are being used to kill the rights and lives of citizens according to his whims and caprices.
What is at stake therefore is the very existence of the Gambia as a unified and harmonious nation, and the sovereignty of the people to live in freedom and dignity as intentioned by the constitution. Gambians face the historic task and a national duty to therefore salvage our motherland from the clutches of tyranny and live up to the creed of our nation and the dreams of our forefathers led by His Excellency Edward Francis Small when they fought for the independence of this nation from colonialism since 1920.
What is to be Done

 
At this juncture, Dr. Isatou Touray must set up a broad-based campaign team to engage with all sections of the Gambian population. At the top of this engagement is for herself to lead direct and personal engagement with the leaders of the various parties to seek their support to rally behind her. Isatou needs to absolutely understand that by standing alone no amount of qualification and experience guarantees her victory in a two-decade long infested environment under a regime and an incumbent that have distinguished themselves by their utter disregard of the legal and political obligations placed on them by the laws of the land. Therefore Isatou needs to do urgent rapprochement towards these parties to discuss the terms of the coalition behind her and the composition of the unity government that is to emerge and the objectives of that government within a specified duration and work plan.
At the same time, the leaders of the opposition parties must come face to face with reality and to accept the fact that the emergence of Isatou is a golden opportunity for them to finally contribute to a process that will salvage our country. For two decades our opposition had several opportunities, and the conditions have always been ripe and the cause never more justified to come together for the sole interest of the freedom, unity and development of the Gambia. Yet they proved unable to seize the moment and the opportunities to respond to the deep yearnings of our masses to save them as Moses saved his people from the clutches of the Pharaoh. Where Moses succeeded to take his people through the Red Sea, our opposition faltered uncountable times to take us across Denton Bridge. The time for hard truth telling is now. The fact is that the opposition will never unite because they will continue to bicker and fight one another. PDOIS, GDC and NRP will not allow a UDP led coalition and UDP, GDC and NRP will not allow the idea of primaries proposed by PDOIS and none of them will rally behind Mama Kandeh who has also not shown any intention to go behind any party or coalition. So we are in a stalemate as far as these parties are concerned. Thus the only and best option is for the parties be urged to rally around Isatou while maintaining their own parties.
Thus the coming of Isatou serves to solve the incessant infighting over the methodology for coalition. The parties and their leaders as well as their surrogates especially in the Diaspora must be reminded that the Gambia is at its most critical historic moment. For that matter, these parties and leaders, more than anyone else must place themselves on the right side of history and not on the wrong side. The right side of history is that Isatou represents the deep aspirations of the masses of the people who have suffered untold crimes and atrocities for 22 years and they want to be free, now. The opposition parties themselves have been major victims of these crimes and atrocities as there is no opposition party or leader who has not borne the brunt of the tyranny that is enslaving us. No party is in any position of strength or armed with any options with which it can generate change on its own or in small groups. We need 100% opposition unity behind a single candidate: Dr. Isatou Touray.
All Gambians and particularly supporters and surrogates of these opposition leaders must put pressure on them to look towards Isatou with the view to work out an arrangement to rally behind her and salvage this nation. These leaders must be told that Gambians are no more interested in vain technicalities and rationalizations only to seek to stifle once again another golden opportunity for national salvation. Our human rights and lives are being destroyed daily thus we do not have the luxury of politics as usual.
Special Appeal to UDP

 
In this endorsement I wish to make a special appeal to the UDP because it is the biggest opposition party and the party that has suffered most in the past 22 years in the Gambia. Currently the very top leadership of the party is in jail led by its Secretary General Ousainou Darboe and scores of other leaders and members. Many have been tortured and the two blessed Solo had already passed away. The very experience of this party and the circumstances that characterized this most dastardly experience is the single major factor why UDP, more than at any time in its history, should demonstrate leadership and strategy today. By its experience especially since the April Protests, UDP has gained lot of sympathy and support from diverse people some of who would not have supported the party otherwise. One of such people is my humble self. But we have reached a situation where UDP must not be driven by emotions but to look at the facts in the face and act accordingly. Fundamentally it must ask itself how do we ensure that Ousainou and the other political prisoners are freed and their lives saved? What power and options does the party have to ensure that? The fact remains that UDP and in fact no political party has such powers and options in the Gambia. The only source of power and option available is incontestably a coalition as a means to effect regime change. Since at least 2003 when the first-past-the-post or simply majority rule was introduced in our elections, the drums for a coalition started beating because it dawned on everyone that without a coalition there is very little, if any chance to unseat the incumbent. Yet a coalition continues to
elude the opposition fantastically.
My appeal to the UDP therefore is to throw their backing onto Dr. Isatou Touray. The party would do that because it does not wish to allow the opportunity for a coalition to slip through our fingers again as it has always happened for the past decade and at great cost to the UDP in particular. By supporting Isatou, by default UDP and all Gambians will also put pressure on the major parties, NRP, PDOIS, NCP and GDC to also rally behind her. I am sure they would positively respond because they would want to be seen on the right side of history. Secondly by coming to support Isatou, UDP would have helped to solve the longstanding impasse in the opposition camp over the formation of a coalition. But failure to also back Isatou means potentially there will be multiple opposition candidates from two up to 6 or more. In such a situation, not only will the opposition allow the re-election of Pres. Jammeh, but they would as well guarantee the continued incarceration of Ousainou and his colleagues. These are old men and women with health conditions and faced with the appalling conditions in prison, the unfortunate possibility of some of them succumbing becomes high. Furthermore, failure to coalesce and defeat the incumbent, the opposition would have therefore easily facilitated the further oppression and violent disintegration of the country.
In light of the above, I wish to call on the UDP leadership at home and in prison to rally behind Isatou which would demonstrate their leadership and wisdom that can only serve to gain the party much more support. We must realize that leadership can be provided from the top or from behind or from within. In this case, I am calling on the UDP to serve from within and from behind.
Who is Isatou Touray

 
Isatou Touray is the most qualified individual among all the current politicians in the Gambia. She has a PhD. There are some who seek to downplay education and experience in this election. While it is true that the world has produced many terrible tyrants with high educational degrees, yet education offers us the single most important and tangible guarantee that an individual is not ignorant even if he or she turns out to be a dictator. After all the fact of intellectual dishonesty or intellectuals without conscience is a reality of life. A Masters degree to a PhD exposes the mind of a human being, by theory and practice to multiple and divergent and even conflicting ideas and sources of information to go beyond common sense, dogma and faith in understanding phenomena. A Masters degree, much more a PhD builds one’s ability to engage in objective observation and critical analysis of raw data, phenomenon and evidence in order to arrive at and develop a body of knowledge therefrom. Higher education trains and equips the degree holder with the tools of research and analysis that are always useful in every aspect of one’s life. Thus when a Masters/PhD holder is imbued with the values of honesty and justice, these ideas, skills and exposure created in the process of getting these advanced degrees enable this person to make not only informed decisions but also to be amenable to divergent and dissenting opinions. When such a person is further inspired and guided by universal human values of humility, honesty and a sense of justice it is such individuals that become high achievers in any endeavour they are engaged with. Thus the value of education cannot be downplayed in anyway, rather it must be promoted and demanded as a first test of political leadership.
In light of the above, Isatou is the most qualified candidate because she has a PhD and this is extremely important. Having worked with her, I found her to epitomize the most passionate professional who believes in the correctness of her work and cause. I found Isatou to be also highly charismatic and humble with a strong personality and as well as highly committed to her vision and mission. Above all, Isatou is close to, and empathetic to the issues and concerns of the masses of Gambians. While we have politicians engage their constituencies and tour the country mainly during elections, but here is a woman who is constantly and continuously engaged all year round across the country. Every week Isatou is going around communities in this country and has such close and passionate connection with the masses that her name is a household commodity in every part of the country. The evidence of this connection can be noticed during her persecution in 2010 during which the State brought various witnesses to court from even the farthest points of this country yet these witnesses, regardless of everything stood up to vindicate Isatou Touray and her colleague Amie Bojang in broad daylight.
Isatou is a hard working person. Within the NGO community, she is among a very few NGO leaders who have worked tirelessly to lead her organization with such consistency and strength against all the challenges confronting her and her cause. Isatou’s involvement in development work is directly inspired by her conscience to stand against injustice in all its forms. Through her work for the liberation of Gambian women, she confronts head on diehard feudalists and Islamists on the hard and sensitive issue of harmful traditional practices which demonstrates the fearlessness and resoluteness of this woman. How many individuals would have the courage of their convictions to stand in the midst of their community, as conservative as Gambia to speak out directly and bluntly against deep-seated cultural practices such as female circumcision, wife inheritance, early and forced marriage and wife battering? For more than two decades Isatou stood her ground as she faced jeers, doubts and threats from the State itself as well as from colleagues, imams and traditional leaders, public officials, feudalists and conservatives because of her determined stand against the very foundations of her culture and society. Yet the woman never relented and she never ran away. The abolition of FGM in 2015 had already found Isatou and her team on the path of making the Gambia an FGM-free nation by 2020. Which better Gambian is there to therefore lead this country out of the lion’s den than Dr. Isatou Touray?
As a human rights defender, Isatou’s work on women’s rights speaks directly to the very core of the political malaise confronting the nation and she has been heavily involved in the democratization process of the Gambia. I have engaged and worked with Isatou in various processes and activities with various national and international stakeholders for the protection of human rights and the good governance of the Gambia. This women has not only worked to promote her cause and defend our mothers, sisters and daughters and as well as the boys and men of this country, but she is one of the few NGOs who have constructed a massive office complex as the headquarters of her organization, Gamcotrap. She has provided mentorship to numerous Gambian men and women, inspiring and encouraging our young women to build their self esteem and confidence to become dignified leaders of their society.
Detractors and Distractions

 
The candidature of Isatou Touray will face challenges from opponents and those who are not so clear about issues and the significance of this moment in our history. There will be those who are apprehensive as to whether the masses of voters will support a female candidate. Some will seek to drag her name into the mud as they disingenuously highlight her personal weaknesses or family setup and the mistakes she must have experienced in her career. I recognise that each and every human being inherently has biases, weaknesses and will commit mistakes in the course of time and career. However I am also aware of the fact that a human being is not defined only by the sum total of personal weaknesses and mistakes. I found in Isatou that this woman is not a person of vanity and greed interested basically to satisfy her ego and desires.
The argument that Gambian voters are not ready for a woman leader is akin to the baseless argument that colonialised African nations in the 1960s were not yet ready for independence. Was the Gambia not labelled an improbable nation? Aside from unjust socio-cultural and misconceived Islamic ideas, there is nothing inherent in a woman that incapacitates her to lead especially a woman as well educated and experienced like Dr. Isatou Touray. Thus instead of one seeking to re-echo and highlight such chauvinistic views, all must rather be prepared to continue to educate and dispel feudalistic ideas that women cannot be leaders.
There are some who argue that Isatou is late to show up and the other opposition leaders have been there longer and will not support her. Yet others will claim that she has no political experience. What we need to highlight is that so long as the nomination is not closed, no candidate is late in declaring his or her interest particularly someone of Isatou’s calibre. With already a clean and strong track record, Isatou is a household name who is fully connected with the people. Thus if she has a good two months of effective campaigning with the formidable force of the opposition parties and leaders fully and actively behind her, one will realize that she is not late indeed. After all the Gambia is just a space of 11000 square miles divided on both sides of a river with a voting population of less than one million.
Secondly we must not view issues from the point of political parties and individual leaders and their interests including Isatou herself. Rather we must view issues from the point of what is at stake if we fail to rally around Isatou as a single candidate from the opposition. As I said, our very lives and future are what is at stake. Already the country has witnessed several acts of insurgency – the armed attacks on Farafeni in 1996, and against Kartong Barracks in 1997 as well as on State House in 2014, and also the recent firebombing of the APRC headquarters and the increasing war rhetoric by various Gambians calling for a violent overthrow of the regime are major cause for concern. On the other hand, the ever-growing violent and deadly repression by the regime as well point to the fact that this country has already lost its democratic trajectory and is now fast on the path of losing its innocence. From the point of conflict analysis and early warning, no one should be in doubt that any further prolongation of the APRC regime is certainly leading the country into a bloody violent crisis. Thus anyone who speaks of the opposition not going to support Isatou must be reminded of the stakes, as well as the fact that these very opposition parties have already failed to unite among themselves before. Why then should they find it difficult to unite behind a non-partisan and credible person?
Finally, the argument that Isatou does not have political experience is an empty rhetoric because there is not yet any school anywhere in the world where one can go to learn about how to run for president. All the great democratically elected presidents of the world where mere individuals like Isatou, and for most of them, Isatou is even far more qualified and well experienced than them. For all of them, it was mere circumstances that compelled them to step up and assume their historic national duty knowing the critical juncture in which their people were. Yet they proved to be great leaders eventually. It is those same circumstances that have also produced Dr. Isatou Touray in our lifetime.
Way Forward

 
Having worked out proper arrangements with the opposition parties, the Isatou Campaign must be set in motion without delay. A robust campaign strategy must be developed. The strategy should be able to identify which parties and leaders will cover which regions and towns and villages so that there is multipronged campaigning. There must be a communications strategy anchored on the campaign manifesto and the state of affairs in the country. All forms of media must be utilised while media packages such as audio and video drama skits are produced and disseminated. Leaflets, brochures, posters and billboards must be produced carrying various forms of message such as 10 reasons why one must vote for Candidate Isatou and change. There must be routine planning, monitoring and reporting mechanisms to oversee the use of resources and methods of the campaign in line with strategic planning processes and analysis. These analysis should look at the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats within the environment in order to further strengthen the campaign. These are not normal times and the opponents are not normal citizens. Given the profile of the population, all forms of media must be utilised to reach each and every individual voter with a message.
Dr. Isatou Touray has sworn to serve for only one five-year term during which she will embark on constitutional, legal and institutional reviews amidst reshaping our social and economic environment in order to bring back smiles to our faces. All Gambians must therefore hail her. Each and every one of us must make our contribution to this crusade to restore the Gambia where there is justice, freedom and peace. We must not allow our beautiful country to drift into the abyss of misery, but to stand up to salvage ourselves. This is not a campaign by Isatou. This should a crusade by all Gambians.
I hereby endorse Dr. Isatou Touray. Forward with the Gambia.

By Alhagie Jobe

A lead women’s rights activist in The Gambia today, Friday, September 2, 2016 officially launched her candidacy for President of The Gambia at a well-attended ceremony held at the famous Kairaba Beach Hotel in Kololi.

Dr Isatou Touray, who is the Executive Director of The Gambia Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children (GAMCOTRAP) is Gambia’s first female to declare her intention to stand for president and will be standing as an Independent Candidate with Motto “Equality and unity for change and progress”.

In 2014 on International Women’s Day, she was named among the world’s ‘Bravest Women’ and spent more than three decades campaigning against female genital mutilation (FGM). Due to her great job, FGM has finally been outlawed in The Gambia since 2015.

In a statement on her official website earlier, Dr Touray said “if elected, I will restore the sovereignty of the people, end impunity and decentralize authority and power”. She added “I intend to serve only one term, during which period, I would work with all the existing parties and Gambians ready and willing to steer The Gambia towards a direction that will enable it to respond to the needs and aspirations of the people.”

Hundreds of supporters, well-wishers and Gambians from all walks of life attended the grand launching with hope for change in the upcoming December 2016 presidential elections.

Amie Bojang-Sissoho who introduced her long time friend and co-worker Dr Isatou Touray to the Gambian people, described her as honest and loyal, qualities she said made is behind their friendship for the past decades. She thanked Gambians in The Gambia and the diaspora for the support and trust bestowed on Dr Touray.

Bojang-Sissoho narrated what she called a true fact about Dr Touray saying “what am saying today is between me and Allah. I am telling you Dr Touray has the highest regards for everyone and she stands for the advancement of all Gambians. She helped the destitute young or old. She always makes sure that everyone is given the right to survive. She has done this work throughout her life. Isatou Touray is not only an activist but a female activist who always address the issue of women”.

She recalled her unlawful imprisonment ordeal and the morale support she received from Dr Touray during those difficult. Passing through those difficult times she said gave both her and Dr. Touray the strength to help restore democracy and rule of law in the country. She then apologized to the diplomatic guests at the event for not using the diplomatic language in the various speeches saying they are activists in their own rights.

According to her, Dr Touray is not divisive and she believes that The Gambia belongs to all men and women saying if we do not stand up, our dilemma will not be resolved. “If it is about human rights, Dr Touray is a star. If it is development, Isatou is a star. Hope is why we pray. Hope is why we go out. Today, I am proud to stand near Dr Touray to give her my unflinching support because I know her. If you trust Dr Touray to lead the affairs of our country, justice and the rights of our citizens will be the norm. Dr Touray has led many men and women, young and old, and listened to them in a dignified manner. Fellow Gambians, I entrust to you my friend, my mentor, Dr Isatou Touray and I fully endorse her as President in the 2016 Presidential elections” Bojang-Sissoho concluded in tears of joy.

She finally thanked all Gambians especially Diaspora Gambians who stood up to make sure this event is covered today through the radios and TVs. She also thanked Aja Fatoumatta Tambajang who she described as a mentor, mother and sister for guiding them in the right path.

For her part, Aja Fatoumatta Tambajang expressed delight and honour to attend such a historic event. According to her, she knew Dr Touray and her friend Amie Bojang-Sissoho for the past 16 years during her work at the United Nations.

“Dr Touray is someone who is pious, respects her elders and honourable. I am not here to praise her but to tell the truth from Allah’s point of view to remove dictatorship from our country. 17 years ago, I prayed to Allah to help me add my voice to restoring democracy in The Gambia because I looked at my family, seeing nothing but sadness.

According to her, Allah does not oppress people and said in the Quran that “I am with the oppressed, not the oppressor”. She said this is why for 17 years, she stopped working and decided to wear her rags and join the fight for The Gambia.

“I decided to be an individual who does not belong to any party but the welfare of my country at large. If I die today, I will be at peace because you have made me proud. When you find me at UDP, you think I belong there, same at NCP and same will you see me with Dr Touray too because I am doing it for my country not a party” she clearly stated.

She urged Dr Touray and Bojang-Sissoho not to be afraid especially to President Jammeh’s notorious NIA officers whom she said are in the ceremony. “I am not afraid of Yahya Jammeh or his Para military because I have Allah. I fear no one but Allah. He needs to release all the women including Ousainou Darboe and others because their arrest is baseless” she said.

Madam Tambajang also called on Gambians to come out in droves – the educated, youths, men and women and support Dr Touray. “If you vote for APRC, you have destroyed yourself” Tambajang concluded.

Meanwhile, the support by Gambians in the Diaspora was also recognized at the event and a video message by Coach Pasamba Jow was shared with the crowd. Mr Jow expressed the Diaspora Gambian’s support to Dr Touray.

Alhagie Dr Malang Touray, the husband, friend and confidant of Dr Isatou Touray also mounted the podium to honour his great wife. He thanked all previous speakers for the nice words on her wife.

According to him, Dr Touray who he is married to 38 years now and mother of four children has been so caring and values the family and her work. He said Dr Touray’s love and care for children is why she cares so much about the girl child, a goal she has been willing to devote all her energy into to achieve.

“She is like tea bag in water. The hotter it is, the stronger she is. She is a loving wife, a gender activist and does all of this together without affecting her family activities. Above all, she loves The Gambia and Gambians. The children Fatoumatta, Naima and Sally and I wholeheartedly endorse and support your candidacy because we know all you do is to serve people. Gambia, I hereby present to you Dr Isatou Touray, an Independent Candidate with a symbol of change and progress” Dr Touray’s husband concluded.

With a standing ovation and Gambia’s flag been raised all over the hall by the crowd in attendance, the woman of substance and Independent Presidential candidate Dr Isatou Touray mounted the podium to give her acceptance speech.

She first and foremost recognized the presence of colleagues leader of the UDP Adama Barrow and representatives from the NCP party as well as Aja Fatoumatta Tambajang who she said has been a mentor to her.

According to her, Gambians are hard working people and she had traversed all corners of the country and has heard the stories and people’s frustration and she is motivated by people’s immense desire for change. She said too much power is in few hands and those in power are not accountable. She repeated her stance not to serve more than a term of 5 years saying she intends to serve only one term during which period she will work with all the existing parties and Gambians willing to steer the Gambia in a good direction.

“I will not serve more than a term of 5 years. I am committed, if elected, to work with all those who have the capacity and commitment to salvage the Gambia as it titters to a state of collapse. Together, we can bring the change that is needed. Principles must not be compromised and everything I learned with women, men and youths and academics, tells me Gambians need a president who will respect the rule of law, good governance and a government that will bring economic prosperity to Gambians” she said.

Dr Touray made it clear that true democracy deserves the participation of all citizens based on the common good. She said Gambians today face a dire situation with the APRC regime. She called on every Gambian to support her in the quest to bring the country out of isolation.

“Human rights frameworks and perspective will be at the center of our work. The APRC has brought this country to an economic collapse. Human rights abuses are alarming. It is time for him to go” she said, adding together, they will create jobs for the youths, the rule of law and the protection of women’s rights in the Gambia.

She categorically rejected the call to turn The Gambia into an Islamic State saying it will only bring division and set hatred against each other. “I will uphold the secularism of The Gambia. I will bring the smile back to the faces of the people of the Smiling Coast” she promised.

Dr Touray saluted people in the Diaspora particularly few whom she called ‘Vanguards’ for the excellent job they have done to make the day a success namely Neneh Bojang, Ndey Jobarteh, Tuku Jallow, Yaya Darboe, Ebrima Dibba, Coach Pasamba Jow and others. For her, such a journey could not have been a success without the people’s support and perspectives.

Other speakers at the event included representatives from all regions of the country.

Amara Tunkara from URR delivered remarks in Sarahule in support of Dr Touray’s candidature, Momodou Keita, representing CRR North made similar remarks.

Mari Baldeh from Basse Girroba Kunda on behalf the URR delegation announced their total approval Dr Touray saying URR which is biggest region is behind her.

Neneh B Bojang from West Coast Region also announced the backing and support they have for Dr Touray. She said “The West Coast Region is here to nominate Dr. Isatou Touray as candidate for President. We have the right to vote for whoever we feel. Thus, Dr Isatou Touray, we the youths from the West Coast Region back you.”

Landing Kinteh from LRR thanked Dr Touray for the opportunity and support accorded over the past and endorsed her on behalf of the people of his region.

Jali Nyama, who is Dr Touray’s local griot entertaining the guests said she knew Dr Touray from the days she was a student adding that since her childhood days, Dr Touray had great values which she got from her mother. She said Dr Touray has always been kind, humble, caring and loving.

Ba Kawsu Manneh delivered the opening Muslim prayers while Sister Priscillia led the Christian prayers.

Introduction

This is a historic event in the history of The Gambia. A Female Independent Presidential Candidate for the 2016 election. It is sponsored by individual Gambians who belief that it is possible to have non-violent change through the democratic process to have better a Gambia. If you belief that “We are Stronger Together for a Better Gambia,” do not miss the history in the making to nurture a democratic culture in The Gambia. Our Diversity is our Beauty and Strength as Gambians.

This booklet provides a package for you as a voter to make informed decision as to why you should vote for Dr. Isatou Touray, Independent Candidate 2016 election. We have the ability to change our condition as a nation if we see ourselves in a bigger picture of The Gambia first, because we are part of the Gambia, no matter who gender, religion, ethnic group we belong, Together We are Stronger for a Better Gambia.

It gives a short biography on Dr. Touray, the Foreword to her manifesto and short messages to remind ourselves as Gambians our civic rights when voting.

 My emblem is the broom

Why the Broom?

This is a bundle of sticks strapped together. Each represents one Gambian or group of Gambians still possessed of individuality, but bound together in the spirit of unity and focused on one goal – to bring change for progress – with all the others in the broom that is the Gambia.

The individual sticks (people or group) may be snapped over a weak person’s knee. But bound together, the collective is invincible.

The spirit of the broom is rooted in unity, strength, endurance and healthy living.

A Short Biography: Who is Dr. Isatou Touray

Dr. Isatou Touray was born on the 17^th March 1955 at the Royal Victoria Hospital raised in a working-class home at 44 Grant Street in Banjul, The Gambia. She was named after the wife of the first diver in Gambia Pa kebba Bittaye. Her namesake is Isatou Harr Cham, who brought her up. Her Father, Sunkaru Jarra, was born and raised in Kaur Janneh Kunda. He has never been to school, he came to Banjul when he was 14 years looking for greener pastures and was trained as a cook a profession that led him as the Chief Cook in Lady Wright for many years. He was well known by a lot of students from Armitage as he was entrusted with a lot of students when they were going home for holidays and returning to Armitage. He was popularly known as Jarrake. Her father met my mum in Banjul and they got married.

Isatou’s mother, Haddy Konteh is a native of Bundungka Kunda and was a house wife and a petty trader selling food stuff. She was also a well-known gardener and rice farmer in Tobacco Road swampy areas producing vegetables at what is now known as Tobacco road for sale. She was well known as Ya-haddy Konteh. She was a close friend of Mba Tida Bojang of Box Bar Road a well known political juggernaut during the first republic of the President Jawara regime. They were both women leaders and politicians. Her mum was a very hard working woman who worked in swamps of Tobacco Road to produce rice and vegetables to support her husband to educate all her children in Banjul. She engaged in petty trading and did a lot of work at (Sarro) picking groundnuts at the Gambia Produce Marketing Board (GPMB) to make ends meets for the family. When her husband died she continued to struggle to ensure that her children complete their education in Banjul. Yahaddy konteh’s picture is in the archives of the Gambia with a big serpent over twenty one foot long trying to attack her in the then swampy rice fields of Tobacco Road. A great granddaughter of Lolly Touray, a leader whose efforts can be traced in the archives of the Gambia, a trait in Isatou which may be associated with her passion for contributing to national development.

Isatou grew up in Banjul and went to primary school at the Albion School and Wesley Primary School. She went to Crab Island Secondary Technical School and graduated with a secondary four certificate. During her secondary school, she was a strong athlete in 440 metres events. It is during this time that she met her now husband Dr Alagie Malang Touray a student and head boy at Gambia High School (1970), and a national record holder in 440 metres for many years in the Gambia. Isatou worked briefly as an unqualified teacher and went on to The Gambia College (then Yundum College) to become a qualified teacher and was teaching Home economics and English.

After graduating from The Gambia College in 1971, she worked as a teacher, and then transferred her service to work as Community Development Trainer on Women and development. Isatou holds a B.A Hons, Upper Class in Education, English from the University of Usmanu Dan Fodio University, In Sokoto, Nigeria, A Master Degree in Development Studies, with Specialisation on Women and Development, from The Institute of Social Studies (ISS) in the Hague, The Netherlands, A Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Development Studies with emphasis on Gender, from the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) at the University of Sussex, United Kingdom. She holds a chain of professional certificates and a laureate of many institutions.

Isatou is a Laureate of the Center for Women’s Global Leadership Institute in Rutgers University in New Jersey, The Bellagio Institute in Italy, A member of many Feminist Networks, she has contributed in advancing gender issues and development as a whole particularly the rights of women and children in the Gambia. (See more details on CV).
On 5^th October 1978, at the age of 22, she married Dr Alhagie A.M Touray then 28 years and they later went on to have 4 children, 3 girls and 1 boy. Isatou lived with her spouse for over seventeen years in Nigeria where she pursued her undergraduate education.

She went to join Dr Alhagie Malang Touray who was then at The University of IFE as a House Officer, who saw her talents and had encouraged her to further her studies.

What sparked my life-long passion for gender justice?

As a young school leaver posted in rural Gambia as an unqualified teacher, I saw poverty and deprivation and I began to appreciate what I got as a young girl going to school in Banjul. Even though, I was aware of my family’s situation but what I saw was overwhelming. I began to engage myself to work closely with the communities after school to help them develop their nutritional status. I would give them the food supplies I received for improving the nutritional status of breast feeding mothers and then took it upon myself to follow up on how to prepare weaning foods for babies. In that short spell of time teaching home economics in the primary school I was able to work closely with the communities to teach them how to cook weaning food for babies. I was able to organize small women’s groups who would come on weekends to learn about nutrition as well as learning to sew and crochet.  I realized that the majority of the women I was meeting have not been to school and very poor with little or no help from their spouses who were equally poor. There was abject poverty. Moved by the prevailing state of deprivation, I was motivated to go from one village to another to visit these women. Later, I took the college entrance examination and I was selected to go for the training. I left to go for the teacher training college where I graduated as a qualified teacher after three years.

Following this, I was posted right into the hinterland teaching Home Economics in a secondary school. There I saw more of the dire conditions of the people particularly women. Later on, I met, Mr Musebjane Malatsi, an Azanian working as a senior community development officer who appreciated the work I was doing with the communities. He invited me to be part of their training team to teach home science and that is where I met one of my colleagues Amie Jallow Jatta and Kumba Marena in the women’s programme. I was training the community development assistants as a part time lecturer. I was later encouraged to transfer my services to the Department of Community Department (DCD) as a full time lecturer in the training centre at Massembe in Kiang. My engagement with the DCD gave me the opportunity to go to the field where my interaction with the women gave me the opportunity to experience and understand the problems facing the communities first hand.

This exposure shaped my consciousness of the plight of rural people and the need for appropriate intervention to alleviate their conditions. I felt the need for more knowledge and skills to be able to help the people to express their agency. My training and exposure in world class universities also shaped my mind on the appropriate policies and development strategies needed to effectively work with them. I decided to dedicate my efforts and passion for the advancement of the condition of the poor people. Today I offer myself to serve the Gambia to deliver the country from the toxic situation it is experiencing under the Jammeh regime.

Forward To Manifesto

CHANGE FOR A BETTER GAMBIA

CHANGE THAT BRINGS PROGRESS

CHANGE IS CERTAIN

PROGRESS DEPENDS ON THE CHOICES WE MAKE TODAY FOR TOMORROW, AND THE COURAGE AND FORTITUDE TOMEET OUR CHALLENGES

Gambians are hardworking and peace loving people. In the last two decades I have traversed the length and breadth of this country, I have met hardworking men and women in the city, towns and villages, and have heard your stories and aspirations. I have also heard your frustrations. I am inspired and motivated by you the Gambians, by your desire for change in the face of immense economic hardship, restrictions on our freedom and personal liberty.

Alerted by a deep sense of concern for the Gambia, committed to our country’s advancement unfettered by repression, abuse, impunity and persecution, I have observed the current dispensation over the years.

What I have seen is a deteriorating Gambia with deteriorating institutions, where those in authority abuse state power to instill fear and hopelessness within the people. Gambians today are not free to say what they think. Fear and terror, through the abuse of state power, have so gripped the people that, most will look behind their shoulders before they speak.

The immediate and compelling task before us all is to awaken our consciousness of the sovereign power that resides in us – the people – to use our votes as the instrument of change to free ourselves from the rule of fear and terror, unleashed by a regime that created a series of laws or made amendments to existing laws that erode the rights and freedoms enshrined in the constitution.

I also observed the trends and patterns of the systematic mismanagement of our limited resources. Two decades of APRC misrule witnessed a series of false starts. While Gambians were yearning for results, APRC’s visions became mere illusions and so called operations were compromised.

During the recent past, the Gambia’s economy has been challenged by shocks, largely domestic and to a lesser extent external, resulting in low growth and resurgence inflation. The financial position weakened considerably compounded by weak policy implementation, particularly as regards excessive spending relative to mobilization and dwindling external budgetary support.

Those in power are not listening to the demands for political or economic reform. Conditions for political participation have been so crafted that political pluralism has been curtailed, generating a feeling of powerlessness among many. Too much power is concentrated in too few hands. We need a new approach to government that involves the people in decisions that affect them. Those who make decisions on behalf of others are too often not accountable. I will restore the sovereignty of the people, end impunity and decentralize authority and power.

It is my fervent belief and conviction that we can bring about change for a better Gambia by directing our efforts and political capital towards one end- the singular pragmatic goal of ushering in a new and third republic that brings progress by building strong democratic instruments and institutions, repealing the obnoxious laws that restrict our freedom and liberty, building a strong economy, and leveling the political playing field, so that the sovereign will of Gambians will always prevail in their choice of leadership.

I am committed, if elected to serve for one five year term only, working with all those who have the capacity and commitment to salvage the Gambia as it totters on the brink of total collapse. Nothing less than the fate of our nation and the future of our children hang in the balance. We cannot walk it alone neither can we turn back. Together, we can bring the change that is needed. Principles and values need not be compromised, but strategies and tactics must be flexible enough to make progress possible, especially under the difficult political conditions we face.

Everything I learnt in my years of work with the women, men and the youth of this country, and in academia, has convinced me that Gambians need a president that will serve them, not one that looks down on them, a president who will uphold the constitution, the rule of law and restore good governance; a government that will bring economic prosperity to Gambians. People want more say in the decisions that affect their lives. The old command and control politics, doing things to and for people, but never with them, has not and will not work.

True democracy does not mean voting every five years. True democracy requires the active participation of all citizens in planning the development programmes and activities for their localities, working with their wards, Village Development Committees and other development committees. Allowing people affected to take leadership in advancing the best interest based on the common good.

Together we can stop further degeneration of our beloved country and contribute to give it a new lease of life where hope, love and appreciation of each other, respect for fundamental freedom, dignity of the person, rule of law and peace will thrive, in an entity that is nothing other than Gambian, ensuring that nobody is victimized on the basis of tribe, religion or political affiliation For this is the true nature of the Gambian people.

Gambians face a dire situation with the APRC regime and every Gambian has a story to tell. But I urge you to muster courage and strength so that we can make the Gambia better. I seek your support in our quest to bring the Gambia out of isolation, to build bridges and linkages with peoples of other nations in partnerships that safeguard, protect and promote the interest of the Gambia as a sovereign state. Gambia’s interest is best served by engaging with other nation states and being part of the wider international community.

I want us to usher in a Gambia that will bring on board the hearts and minds of all Gambians in the Diaspora, including those who left the country because of the tribulations, persecutions, fear and abuses they face as private citizens, entrepreneurs, academics, politicians, and activists, but more than anything else, a new Gambia of economic prosperity, freedom, rule of law, peace and stability.

The youth of this country are frustrated and their hopes dashed. Those born at the cusp of the second republic have now come of age. Twenty years of APRC rule has failed to give them opportunities to fulfill their aspirations and achieve their goals. What their country has failed to give them i. e. jobs and decent living, they try to seek elsewhere, embarking on perilous journeys across the harsh desert and the wild Mediterranean. The Gambia needs you most now of all times, as nation builders and agents of change to build a better Gambia for us all. Your votes are your weapons to effect the change you desire. Under our sovereign third republican constitution, we can be the architects of our own destiny.

By investing more in the productive base of the economy, in the private as well as in the public sector, by avoiding wasteful spending, we will create more jobs that would motivate the young generation of school leavers and job seekers, remain in the country. We would motivate and encourage Gambian scholars and academics abroad to return and contribute their quota.

We would encourage and lure the private sector to open opportunities to the young people to earn a decent living and fulfill their dreams. We must preserve the Gambia for our children and the future generation and must open the doors for development.

We cannot afford to leave matters to chance and to men alone, heaven helps those who help themselves. Hardworking women of this country have waited far too long for mainstream politicians entrusted to address the things that matter to you; family, home, work and the economy, garden inputs, access to credit and market outlets for your garden produce. Over the years, you have lobbied government to pass bills that could bring meaningful change to the lives of the women and men of this country. You have marched to protest against rape and domestic violence and other rights violations and you have campaigned for more inclusiveness for women in decision making. Women can no longer remain as onlookers and cheer leaders.

We can, together with the youth and men of this country, work to bring about unprecedented development in record time. Your personal concerns could become political if you use your voices and votes to be heard. You have a choice, you have a voice. The personal can be political and women and the economy are directly related. Where one is flourishing so is the other.

Your children will face new challenges. But each of you can help prepare for that future by standing for justice, equality and women’s rights at home and at the workplaces.

Human rights framework and perspective will continue to be central in our approach to issues as we strive to restore the dignity and integrity of all Gambians and all those who chose to live in the Gambia. We commit ourselves to democracy and good governance as we address the emerging issues of the state in order for the Gambia to gain its rightful position in the world.

We cannot afford to be isolated in the current inter connected world of development initiatives. All sovereign citizens of the Gambia, living abroad, would be free, as a matter of right to return or visit the country their motherland which belongs to us all.

In this election of 2016, the country has a choice. The APRC regime has brought the country to the brink of economic collapse and dysfunctional social sectors. The secular and republican status of the constitution is under threat. Youth unemployment and inflation are soaring and the level of human rights abuse is alarming. That path led to the Gambia’s descent from the unenviable status of ‘least developed country’ to our current pitiful status of ‘heavily indebted poor country’, a status that will change with me as the president of the Gambia.

When the Government of the First Republic was unconstitutionally toppled in a military coup in 1994, Yaya Jammeh, then a young army officer said he wanted to end self perpetuation in power and condemned what he called the flamboyant lifestyle of the former regime. But in a twist of irony he then changed the constitution and removed term limits without consulting the people, perpetuating himself in power for twenty odd years. His lifestyle is not only flamboyant and lavish, but gross with planes, and a multi-million dollar home. He has broken faith with the people. It is time for him to go.

Together we can change that direction towards the path of economic growth, creating wealth, creating jobs for the youth, rewarding the hard work of Gambians across the country, upholding the fundamental rights and freedom of Gambians, the rule of law, and the promotion of women’s rights, and the national interest and security of the Gambia.

If elected, I intend to serve only one term, during which period, I would work with all the existing parties and Gambians ready and willing to steer the Gambia towards a direction that will enable it respond to the needs and aspirations of the people.

I reject the call to turn Gambia into an Islamic State intended to bring division and set us against each other. I will uphold and reinforce the secular republican status of the constitution, where every Gambian will be free to practice his or her religion in accordance with their faith; in a Gambia where democracy, good governance and human rightswill prevail. I will bring the smile back to the face of the people of the smiling coast.

Signed:

Dr. Isatou Touray

Independent Candidate2016          

Voter Rights Education

Question and Answer Session

Q- How can we make the change we want as voters?

A- We can convince our neighbours, families and colleagues that there is need for change and our passport for change lies with our voter’s card.

Q-Who can see me Vote?

A – Nobody can see you vote. We have a secret Ballot in the Gambia. There are no cameras, you are a citizen and you have the right to vote for your candidate of choice.

Q – Can we make change through the ballot box?

A – Yes you can by casting your vote and not stay at home and not voting. Together we can make democratic change by massively voting for the change we want without violence or coercion.

Q – Can Non-Citizens vote in our national elections?

A – No! It is illegal for non-citizens to acquire a voting card and vote in our national elections. If you know of anyone, report the person to the nearest IEC office or police.

Q – Who is more qualified to be elected as President:-

(1) A Secondary School graduate

(2) A high School Graduate

(3) A University Graduate

Q – Who will you vote for?

(1) A man with high school certificate

(2) A women with a University degree

Make an Informed Decision

Together We are Stronger for a Better Gambia

Campaign Slogans

WOMEN CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!

A NON-VIOLENT CHANGE IS POSSIBLE THROUGH THE DEMOCRATIC ELECTORAL PROCESS

OUR DIVERSITY IS OUR BEAUTY AND STRENGHTH AS GAMBIANS

IN POLITICS AND IN LIFE IGNORANCE IS NOT A VIRTUE (Barack Obama)
Together We are Stronger for a Better Gambia

The National Chairman of the United Democratic Party, Alhaji Dembo Byforce Bojang, the Acting Party leader and Secretary General Aji Yam Secka, honorable members of the Central Committee representing the party structures from all the Regions, party militants, Members of the diplomatic Corps, members of the press, ladies and gentlemen.

 
There comes a time in the life of an oppressed nation when its people just get up and say enough is enough. We have seen it over and over again throughout the whole world. Gambia is not going to be an exception. WE have reached that stage. We haveallowed our country to exist in fear and we do nothing about it. It was Thomas Jefferson, third President of the United States who once said that “When the government fears the people, you have liberty. When the people fear the government, you have tyranny.” It is tyranny that prevails in Gambia.

 
I stand before you, before the whole nation, in humility having been honoured by my party, by the members of my party, by the entire Gambian people in selecting me to carry the flag of the United Democratic Party to victory in the forthcoming presidential elections. This is a great responsibility and I am accepting it with my unquestionable belief in Allah the Almighty and the confidence and trust I have in the Gambian people. I know the Gambian people are yearning for change. They have done so since 1996 and I believe that time has come for that change. My nomination is the first step and I know that with the suffering that all Gambians irrespective of age, sex, religious or tribal background, have without exception experienced, we will bring about change in December.

 
The United Democratic Party, being the largest single party in the Gambia has done what is expected of it. We haveparticipated in all elections since the lifting of the ban on political activities imposed by the military junta in September, 1996 and apart from the ruling party, we have had the highest number of votes and the largest number of seats in the National Assembly. It was certain to everybody therefore, that the UDP was going to participate in the forthcoming cycle of elections starting with the nomination of its own candidate for president.Yes, we have indeed gone through unimaginable trials, our party alone, among all political entities in this country, our party lone has been singled out for the worst treatment one can imagine to mete out on one’s political opponent. Our party is the only party that has recorded since 1996 hundreds of unlawful arrests and detentions, a dozen of deaths and a handful of unexplained disappearances in the course of this political struggle against the APRC rule.

 
The past twelve months have marked the beginning of drastic change in this country. It started in Fass Ngagga Choye when our Party leader and the UDP convoy going on a countrywide tour were stopped from continuing their tour. The standoff that followed led to the capitulation of government and granting of a permit to continue. The demonstration by our youths led by Solo Sandeng our Organising Secretary in April this year which led to their illegal arrest and detention and subsequent death in custody of Solo, was the turning point in the history of politics in our country. Our party leader and /Secretary General Lawyer Ousainou Darboe led his Executive to demand the release of Solo or his corpse, and his group and they in turn were arrested and tortured. The kangaroo court that tried them sentenced them to three years. The majority of the arrested executive members are over sixty-five years old. Three of them are over seventy. This cowardly action has led the Gambian people to appreciate that UDP is and has infect always been the party of the people and we are convinced that with the forthcoming elections the Gambian people will show this government that enough is enough.

 
I have been a member of the UDP since 1996 . As an ordinary member I worked for the party in my native constituency of Jimara, in Upper River Region where I was born in the town of Basse. I started my education from Koba Kunda primary schoolthen in 1981 I went to Crab Island Secondary Technical School. After doing well in the secondary school leaving certificate examinations I proceeded to Muslim High School from 1985 to 1988. However, I spent most of my adult life in Banjul in the guardianship of the famous Alhagie Momodou Musa Njie, who introduced me entrepreneurship and that’s what I have been doing successfully until today. I also lived and travelled extensively in both England and Germany. In 2010 the NationalExecutive of the party appointed me as Coordinator of the UDP URR Committee. This gave me the opportunity to travel the length and breadth of the Region and that way extended the membership and support of our party. In 2006, I was again appointed by the Executive as Deputy Treasurer to Amadou Sanneh. I was quite comfortable in accepting this post because I did have prior accounting skills. This job, with the encouragement of Amadou, also broadened my interaction with the grassroots organisations of the party and today I can say that there is no Regional Committee that I am not known in.

 
The unfortunate and unjustified detention and imprisonment of Amadou Sanneh further added a heavy burden on my shoulders. Not only was Amadou, with his extraordinary experience and knowledge highly suited for the job, he conducted his work with extraordinary skill and humaneness. I had had the fortune of working with and accepted to take on the job and in accepting it I knew what experienced working with him would stand me in a good position. This position not only further brought me into wider contact with our members throughout the country, but as a senior member of Executive gave me the possibility of taking part in major business of the party and contributing personally in the decision making regarding matters of national importance.

 
My role as Acting Treasurer, a position I have now held for thepast three years, has enabled me to cultivate a rich relationship with my colleagues on the Executive as well as party officials in the various regional committees and indeed at grassroots level. I can say with absolute certainty therefore, that I enjoy the confidence and support of both the Executive as well as the party rank and file. As has been the case in my normal interaction with them I know that I will get their full encouragement and support knowing full well that that is the way to achieving our noble object of taking back our country. I have also within the framework of our interactions with the Gambian Diaspora, worked closely with UDP Chapters overseas.

 
As we take this bold step to enter the fifth cycle of elections since the military coup, we do so for our leaders, who have been unjustly arrested, imprisoned for months without bail maltreated and then sentenced to four years in prison. We will be letting them down and betraying them if we sit by and allow Yaya Jammeh to win these elections. As the leading party we owe it to them and the entire Gambian people to fight as if they were with us and win. Winning the elections will enable us to remove them from unlawful imprisonment and enable them to take their rightful places among their fellow Gambians and continue relentlessly their mission of redeeming and reconstructing our country from the terrible situation it has found itself for the past twenty two years.

 
As I accept the nomination as the party’s presidential candidate, let me urge you all – members of my party, and fellow Gambians in general, to rededicate ourselves to this noble task of salvaging our country. I wish to appeal to all Gambians particularly leaders and members of other sister parties to get together and unite around the common cause that we are unanimous that we havein common – remove this government in the polls and create a government truly of the people and by the people. In the coming days, my fellow Gambians I will be stretching my hands to other parties to come together to form a single front to once and for all take this soulless dictator out. It is a monumental task but we owe it to our country, to our leaders to do it and do it the right way.

 
In the next few days, our Executive and I would be contacting our colleagues in the other parties and other interested groups with a view to engaging in a dialogue that could lead to creating a conducive and feasible arrangement that would lead to the defeat of this government. I wish to call upon all Gambians to take these forthcoming elections seriously. We cannot continueanother five years under Yaya Jammeh.

 
I thank the Executive and the Central Committee for giving me honour and privilege to serve the party in this capacity and I solemnly promise I will do all in my power to lead the party to success in the polls and beyond. May Allah guide and protect us and bless our beloved country.

 
Long Live the United Democratic Party
Long live Ousainou Darboe and his colleague political prisoners
Long live the Gambia

I thank you all for your attention.

By Alhagie Jobe

Gambia’s leading opposition party, the United Democratic Party (UDP), Thursday, September 1 2016, named its standard bearer in the upcoming December 2016 presidential election.

Adama Barrow 51  from Mangkamang Kunda in Jimarara Constituency, Upper River Region, now residing in Old Yundum was named as party leader and candidate. He now replaces long time standard bearer and party leader Ousainou Darboe who is in jail and have contested several past elections without any positive change.

Barrow who has since been the party’s deputy treasurer was nominated from among three others who were interested namely Abdou Darboe, 35 from Sibanor and Momodou Buba Jarju, 46-year old from Brikama.

Barrow attended Koba Kunda Primary School, then to Crab Island Secondary before completing his secondary school education at Muslim High School in Banjul. He later traveled to the United Kingdom where he studied and also obtained certificates in Real Estate business. Upon return, in 2006, he established his own real estate firm, Majum Real Estate where he is the current CEO.

He has been described by many as a very dedicated, sympathetic, energetic and strong member of the UDP especially when it comes to executing his responsibilities as deputy treasurer of the party under the jailed Amadou Sanneh.

It could be recalled that in 2007, Barrow contested for the Jimara Constituency Parliamentary seat against current Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC) leader Mama Kandeh. He obtained 2835 votes against Kandeh who won with 4067 votes.

Adama is married with two wives and blessed with 5 children.

By Alhagie Jobe

The Prosecutor in the trial of 28 Gambia government officials who were arrested and charged with neglect of official duties and abuse of office, on Tuesday dropped charges against 17 out of the 28 accused person and all of them have since been freed on bail by the Banjul Magistrate court.

Police prosecutor Assistant Superintendent A Manga handling the case applied for an amendment in the charges pursuant to Section 169(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code and for the charges against the 17 personnel to be dropped and for them to be discharged.

The accused persons freed include permanent secretaries, directors and assistant secretaries who were all standing trial on two counts of criminal offenses ranging from neglect of official duties and abuse of office. They are Kaiding Sambou, Bernard Mendy, Cherno Njie, Yira Jammeh,  Abdoulie T.B Jarra,  Aminata Semega Janneh, Abdoulie Jallow, Fafa Sanyang, Fatou Matta Bah,  Momodou Saidyleigh, Aja Fatou Gaye, Habib T.B Jarra, Lamin Sisey, Naffie Barry, Famara Darboe, Roheyatou Kah and Sanna Gassama.

The defence though did not object to this application, but applied for all travel documents and title deeds as part of the bail condition to be returned to the discharged persons.

After the application was granted and the accused persons freed, Prosecutor Manga further applied for an adjournment of the case, saying they would be filing new charges. He said they have already prepared an amended charge which, he said contained names of the remaining accused persons namely Abdoulie Jallow, Ousainou Jobarteh, Cherno Omar Barry, Abdoulie KM Jallow, Abdoulie Jallow, Lamin Camara, Lamin Sanneh, Tijan Jeng, Jerreh Sanyang, Malang Jammeh and Momodou Lamin Jammeh, who are still being held in custody.

They were equally been accused of abusing their offices by identifying the wrong vehicles for auction, accusations they all denied.

The case is said to be adjourned to September 7, 2016 at 11am for hearing.

By Alhagie Jobe

As the world observed Victims of Enforced Disappearances on August 30^th, this year, the Ghana based Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) observed the day remembering the disappeared Gambian journalists Chief Ebrima Manneh and called on the government to produce him.

Manneh, a journalist with the -pro-government Daily Observer newspaper, was arrested on July 7, 2006 by officers from The Gambia’s National Intelligence Agency (NIA) at his office in Banjul, for allegedly passing “damaging” information to a BBC journalist during an African Union Summit and for trying to republish a BBC story criticising President Yahya Jammeh’s coup to power.

Ten years on, Manneh’s whereabouts remain unknown and to date, the government has denied having arrested and taken Manneh into custody and the journalist is yet to be found.

Remembering Manneh on the day, the Media Foundation recalls that during the year following his arrest, Manneh was spotted multiple times within various prisons and detention centres, as he was transferred many times. He was also seen with paramilitary officers at a hospital after being reportedly treated for blood pressure.
According to the foundation, the United Nations has emphasised that “enforced disappearance has frequently been used as a strategy to spread terror within the society. The feeling of insecurity generated by this practice is not limited to the close relatives of the disappeared, but also affects their communities and society as a whole.” Indeed after Manneh’s disappearance, many journalists in The Gambia increasingly feared for their lives.
“In 2007, the MFWA filed a civil suit at the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice to seek justice for Manneh and his family. Not only did the government of The Gambia fail to make an appearance in Court but it also tried to kidnap one of the witnesses against the state. On March 10, 2008, Yahya Dampha, a Gambian journalist who was a witness in the Manneh case and who had been persecuted into fleeing to neighbouring Senegal, escaped a kidnapping attempt by three suspected NIA agents. At that time, Dampha told the MFWA that he sought the help of his neighbours upon recognition of one Habib Drammeh, a known NIA operative attached to President Yahya Jammeh’s office. Upon his neighbours’ intervention, the would-be abductors fled. Dampha also told the MFWA that prior to the attempt, he had received a number of threatening phone calls” it noted.
A few months later on June 5, 2008, the ECOWAS Court found The Gambia guilty of disappearing Manneh and ordered the government to release the journalist, and pay him US$100,000 in damages.
Until now, Manneh’s whereabouts remain unknown and the Gambian government has failed to pay any compensation, in violation of its obligations under the Revised ECOWAS Treaty. The MFWA continues to appeal to ECOWAS to ensure that The Gambia complies with the ruling of the ECOWAS Court in accordance with its obligations as a member of ECOWAS.

The MFWA also call on ECOWAS and all states in West Africa to prioritize the issue of safety of journalists, by investigating, prosecuting and remedying cases of enforced disappearance.

“We urge all states in West Africa to respect, protect and fulfill people’s rights to freedom of expression, including press freedom, and to cease persecuting individuals for exercising this right” the statement concluded.

By Alhagie Jobe

The bail petition filed on behalf of embattled petroleum director Momodou Badjie’s has been rubbished by the vacation High Court judge on Tuesday, saying it “lacks merit.”

The decision by Justice Ogar Edward Eneji’s was contained in a ruling he delivered on Badjie’s bail application on Tuesday which was filed by his defence counsel, Lawyer LS Camara and responded to by State Counsel A Mendy.

Badjie who was the managing director of the government’s petroleum firm, The Gambia National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) has been previously denied bail by two other courts and committed to custody at the State Central prison of Mile II. He is among dozens of senior government officials arrested and accused by the Jammeh administration of been involved in one of the most serious economic crimes in government during the past twenty-two years of the Second Republic.

Among others involved in the same case are Nuha Touray, former Secretary to Cabinet at the Office of the President, Fafa Sanyang, former Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum, Seedy Kanyi, former general manager of Gambia Transport Service Corporation, Muntaga Sallah, former permanent secretary, Ministry of Petroleum, and former oil minister Sira Wally Ndow.

Justice Eneji justified his decision based on the argument by state counsel that there is an ongoing state investigation into the matter and that the same court has earlier rejected same bailed application and the High Court cannot review its own decision and cannot sit on its own appeal case.

“I have reviewed the contents of the bail application, accompanied with supporting affidavits from both the applicants and the respondent state counsel. By order of an originating summon, dated 10th August 2016, the applicant filed bail application in court on grounds that the offence charged is bailable and urged the court to grant it pending the trial. The applicant sought among others that they be granted bail with or without condition, saying the application was supported by 34-paragraph affidavit sworn to by one Kebba Sanneh. The state respondent objected to the application with a four-paragraph affidavit, sworn to by one Mariama Jallow, a legal clerk at the Attorney General’s Chamber. The respondent premised his objection on the grounds that the matter is still under investigation and that the accused is an influential person who once granted bail may interfere with witnesses in the case” he narrated in court.

The judge acknowledged the legal provision on presumption of innocence of an accused person until proven guilty which he said Section 19 of the Constitution of The Gambia affirmed but however raised issues with such decisions made by the High Court and whether the said High Court can review its own decision or can sit on its own appeal case as the bail application before the court was the same as the one decided by Justice Otaba of the same court.

Justice Eneji said the only alternative for the applicant is to either apply for review of the previous High Court decision made by the cited judge or appeal against it at the Gambia Court of Appeal. He then dismissed the bail application saying the High Court cannot review its own decision and cannot sit on its own appeal case.