By: Dawda Baldeh

Fanta Fatty, a 37-year-old resident of Mariama Kunda is pleading for urgent support to start up her business after getting all the required paperwork, training, and business ideas.

Fanta’s business plan is centered on helping rural women gardeners to access markets to minimize income loss due to lack of storage and processing capacity.

“I got the idea when I was in the village in Basse after seeing how women gardeners struggled to sell their vegetables after harvesting. So, I chose to start a business where I can buy the vegetables from them, process into different products and package well to avoid spoilage,” Fanta told The Fatu Network.

However, Fanta’s ambition towards helping rural women gardeners has come to a halt due to the conditions of her family.

“Now I have got all the paperwork, training, business card/plan, and registered the business [Fanta’s Agricultural Food Processing] but my husband is seriously sick. I want to start the business but I have spent all what I had saved to help cure my husband,” she narrated.

This has left the young woman with no choice but to openly seek support for her business.

“I am a young woman and I don’t want to beg people always; so I choose the business so that I can support my family and create job opportunities for other young people. I have children whom I need to take care of with the money I earn from my own sweat,” she noted.

She told The Fatu Network that she needs a Q-box that she will place on the highway to start the business before it grows.

She is engaged in the processing of agricultural products into a variety of finished products with proper packaging to attract market buyers.

Fanta mentioned that she needs approximately Fifty Thousand Dalasis (D50,000) for her business.

Anyone who wishes to support her either in cash or in kind can call following mobile numbers: +220 700 5061 OR +220 334 1268

Every year, 3rd May is observed as a day to remind governments and other stakeholders of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom. It is a day for media workers globally to reflect on issues of press freedom and professional ethics. The day is also set aside to support media that are oftentimes targets of violation and abuse.

This year’s World Press Freedom Day theme “Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of expression as a driver for all other human rights” signifies the enabling element of freedom of expression to enjoy and protect all other human rights.

Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right from which all other human rights can be realised. In fact, a new UNESCO analysis of V-Dem data in 180 countries indicates a strong correlation between Freedom of Expression and the health of other human rights.

The UNESCO analysis shows that the countries with the highest levels of freedom of expression also enjoy a significantly higher level of protection of civil, political, economic and social rights, such as access to justice, a near absence of political killings and very low levels of exclusion across gender, socio-economic, urban-rural, political and social group indicators.

“Therefore, the GPU is urging The Gambia Government to make the realisation of freedom of expression and a free and independent press a top priority for Gambians to fully enjoy all other rights, including civil, political, economic and social rights,” GPU President Muhammed S. Bah said.

State of Press Freedom

In The Gambia, there have been significant improvements in press freedom and freedom of expression in recent years, after the country saw a 35-point improvement to rank 50th position out of 180 countries in 2022, according to Reporters without Borders Press Freedom Index. The 2023 Index released today by RSF ranks The Gambia 46 out of 180 countries.

There has also been a proliferation of media houses, which means more people now have access to the media to express their opinions. The number of private radio stations have increased by almost 75% with 39 FM stations in operations, according to data from the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), which is responsible for registration of broadcast media. Gambians now enjoy the luxury of watching multiple local television channels with five private television stations in operations, in addition to the national television. There are seven newspapers, nine community radio stations, and at least twenty online news media platforms.

“Despite this progress, there are still a significant number of press freedom and freedom of expression concerns, including the pending media law reforms, the physical attacks on journalists by mainly the police and political party activists, and the verbal attacks on journalists by politicians including the president of the republic,” GPU Secretary General Modou S. Joof said.

The Gambia Press Union there for reiterates its call on the Gambia government, especially the executive and the legislature, to expedite the process of media law reforms. Proposed media law reforms promised six years ago have yet to be realised.

Though some media laws found in the Criminal Code have not been replicated in the Criminal Offences Bill, 2022 – there are still some problematic sections like false publication and broadcasting that are replicated. These laws have been recommended to be repealed by the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC), which the government has accepted in its white paper.

“Apart from the slow progress in media law reforms, physical attacks on journalists since 2017 are committed with impunity. There absolutely no accountability for crimes against journalists,” Joof said.

For example, out of the recorded five cases of intimidations, attacks, assaults, arrests, detentions and prosecution of journalists and civil society activists, the data from the GPU State of Freedom of Expression Report, 2021, shows that:

i) 3 violations resulted in no legal action being taken against the violators; and

ii) 3 violations with no serious investigation carried out by the Police, with only an apology being proffered on behalf of the violators.

Since 2017, no one has ever been brought to book for any of the violations, and the climate of impunity for crimes against journalist persists.

“The GPU wishes to remind the government that it is the responsibility of the state to guarantee journalists’ safety and combat impunity and enable the media to carry out its work independently and without interference,” Bah said.

Upcoming local elections

As the mayoral elections enters the nominations and campaign periods, we urged all political parties, their leaders and followers, to refrain from both physical and verbal attacks on journalists, and from any act of intimidation towards journalists. Political party leaders have a responsibility to ensure that journalists covering their events (press conferences and political rallies) are safe and free to do their work without fear or favour, affection or ill will.

We are also urging the police to refrain from assaulting journalists before, during and after the elections, and political party leaders and government officials to refrain from making statements against journalists or the media that are likely to fan violence against journalists.

In the same vein, we are urging journalists to remain apolitical in their coverage of the election process and to strictly adhere to the Cherno Jallow Charter of Ethics for Journalists (the industrywide code of conduct for journalists) and the Rules for Election Coverage by the Independent Electoral Commission. Finally, in commemoration of this World Press Freedom Day, we wish to pay tribute to the fallen heroes of the Gambian media.

These are those who sacrificed their lives and livelihoods for the freedom and development of Gambian media in particular, and an inclusive and democratic Gambia based on respect for human rights and dignity.

For inquiries, Contact GPU Secretary General

Tel: +220 348 0043

Email: [email protected]

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

Ismaila Badjie, a strategist in Ahmed Gitteh’s team, who is running to become the next chairman of the Brikama Area Council, has revealed to The Fatu Network that 10% of the council under the chairmanship of Gitteh will consist of the differently-abled, a group of people who have hardly ever been considered for positions within the council.

Badjie disclosed this to TFN after accompanying Ahmed Gitteh to submit his nomination papers at the IEC regional office in Brikama earlier today.

Mr. Badjie explained that the youths of the region, the less empowered, and the differently-abled are not integrated into the council, something, according to him, the Gitteh council will change if elected chairman of the council.

“We will make sure that the youth are integrated. We will make sure that the differently-abled are integrated. We are looking at around ten per cent of the positions in the council to be given to the differently-abled,” he said.

According to them, they can serve as secretaries and the only thing one will need is just to sit and receive or make calls to the work.

“We can have a secretary who can work. She just needs to sit and receive phone calls. They are also part of our society,” he stressed.

Badjie believes the best candidate in this contest is Ahmad Gitteh and is convinced that he will bring the needed development in the region including empowering young people and women.

The area councils in the country are generally marred with corruption. However, according to Badjie, Gitteh’s nine-point agenda will stamp out corruption in the council.

Ahmad Gitteh, after submitting his nomination papers today, told reporters that he is more optimistic now than ever before, noting that he has the support of the youth and women.

He expressed and reiterated his commitment to helping young people through entrepreneurship support should he be elected as the chairman of the Brikama Area Council on the 20th of May.

Ahmad Gitteh and his team have a nine-point agenda which they promised to share with the people of the West Coast region.

By: Dawda Baldeh

Ebrima Nyang, administrative secretary (1) of the opposition Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC) said incumbent KMC mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda, who is seeking re-election under the main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) ticket, is better than the mayoral candidate of ruling National People’s Party (NPP) Bakary Y. Badjie.

Mr. Nyang said “the NPP has no agenda.”

Nyang, who was in attendance at Talib’s nomination on Monday 1st May, said “All genuine voters in Kanifing Municipality (KM) should vote for Talib Ahmed Bensouda if they are interested in development.”

He told journalists that his party [GDC] and every other individual within KM has seen the improvement Talib made within the past five years.

“Talib Ahmed Bensouda is better than NPP Bakary Y. Badjie because those people have no agenda. That is why they continue accusing him [Bensouda] everyday without producing any evidence.

GDC will vote for him because he is committed to developing KM which is in line with our party agenda,” Nyang explained.

Asked about what others referred to as a setback for GDC endorsing the UDP mayoral candidate, Nyang responded, “We are all oppositions, and we have a common goal which is to rescue the country from Present Barrow’s continuous failure in delivering the country’s needs.”

He added that opposition parties are not enemies and that they can endorse each other when necessary.

“No one is happy with how Barrow is ruling the country not even some of his close friends. We want to remove Barrow and put the country in the right direction. Talib is a good person who has proven himself to be given a chance for re-election and we will re-elect him,” Nyang added.

When questioned about the difference between the two large crowds each nominee pulled during their nominations, Nyang wasted no time in asserting that NPP borrowed people from all regions to attend nomination in KM.

“I can tell you they borrow people from all parts of the country just to make sure they have the crowd. But as you can see, the people behind Bensouda are from KMC and if you go to Banjul or West Coast you will see different people not like what NPP did to bring everyone at KM,” he asserted.

The young politician said the people of KM have already decided to vote for Bensouda and that Barrow and his people will lose the election ‘woefully’.

He further commented on the relationship between UDP and GDC, saying UDP is the first party to openly support GDC when their Niamina West lawmaker died.

“Because our candidate died while serving, UDP refused to put up anyone to contest for the by-election and they supported us [GDC]. So, we have a very good relationship as opposition parties,” he explained.

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

The Secretary-General and party leader of the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP), Lawyer Ousainou Darboe, has challenged President Adama Barrow and his National People’s Party (NPP) to a debate on ideas and programmes instead of competing to show who pulls out more crowds, declaring that UDP is not into a crowd competition as that is insignificant to the Gambian people.

The UDP party leader challenged the ruling party for a debate on ideas and what they can offer Gambians. He said his party will demonstrate to Gambians why they have been backing the wrong horse.

“I challenge them. Let them come. Let us debate ideas. Let us meet ‘fasa fass’ whatever they say, we [will] show them it is not true. So that Gambians have now realized that really, they were backing the wrong horse,” he said.

Darboe was speaking to the press at the UDP’s Manjai Bureau after the nomination of the party’s candidates in the mayoral and chairperson elections today.

Yesterday, after the nomination of its candidate for mayoral and chairmanship elections, the NPP organized a grand rally at Buffer Zone with a large crowd.

Today, it was UDP’s turn for nominations, and they had a bustling crowd as well. However, Darboe said that his party is not in a crowd competition with the NPP. Instead, they want to compete in ideas.

“If it is about the crowd, we are not in a crowd competition. We want to compete in ideas. We want to compete in programmes. We want to compete in the ability to satisfy the Gambian people and not the crowd. The crowd is insignificant. What is significant for the Gambian people is what we can offer them,” he told reporters.

Darboe sounded confident that his party candidates will win in the various local government area councils in the country. While expressing hope for the election, he implored his party supporters to be law-abiding during the course of the elections.

Both the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) and United Democratic Party (UDP) pulled out a bustling crowd in their various area councils in the Kombos.

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

Just less than 24 hours after President Adama Barrow’s rally speech at Buffer Zone where he alleged that UDP is preventing him from bringing more development to the country, the party leader of UDP Lawyer Ousainou Darboe has responded by saying the Barrow government cannot and does not know how to bring development to the country and should therefore give way to those who can.

Speaking to the press when asked about President Barrow’s comments on UDP and its mayors and chairmen holding back the developments of this country, Darboe responded:

“They have their government, and they are not working. What business does the UDP have [with that]? They are frustrated. They don’t know how to do it and cannot do it. If they can do anything after we left the government, they should do something.

“UDP left the government in 2019. Since 2019 to date, why can’t they work? We are not in the government, so why [sic] are we blocking them?” he asked.

President Adama Barrow, while calling for support for Bakary Badjie, Ebou Faye and Seedy Sheriff Ceesay, said voting for those candidates means voting for him.

He accused the UDP of only being there for themselves, saying the mayor of KMC, Talib Bensouda has turned Kanifing Municipal Council into a UDP council and claimed that the party is blocking his development projects.

“The council is only interested in promoting the UDP party. When they hold events, you only see yellow colours. They have turned the council into a UDP council, not a council for the people of KMC. This is unacceptable because your money is paying for it,” Barrow said.

According to the UDP leader, the government cannot even work on the national development plan that he and others designed when they were in the government. He said that the United Democratic Party developed the NDP and sought funds.

He noted that they went to Brussels and had 1.7 billion dollars pledged for the Gambia.

Darboe said the Barrow administration cannot work on the development plan. He urged them to leave and give way to those that can do it.

“They cannot even work on the national development plan that we developed. Please let them (NPP) leave us. If they cannot do it, let them leave the way for those who can do it,” he stressed.

Reacting to Barrow’s speech on the issue of UDP mayors and chairmen blocking his development agenda, the National Assembly member of Busumbala constituency, Muhammed Kanteh, described the president’s remark as “irresponsible”.

“That statement is irresponsible. Any head of state who said that, it is better for the citizens of that country to vote him out,” he said.

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

Yankuba Darboe, the United Democratic Party’s candidate for the Brikama Area Council (BAC) chairmanship election, has vowed that accountability and transparency will top his agenda if elected as the chairman of the Council, noting that BAC under his leadership will be open to media and public scrutiny amidst corruption allegations within the council over the years.

Darboe was speaking to the press after filing his nomination papers to the Independent Electoral Commission’s (IEC) regional headquarters in Brikama.

He said, over the years, BAC has been marred with corruption scandals, something he promised to end with accountability if voted into office.

“We have got to be transparent and accountable to the people so that they know exactly what is happening at their council. Transparency is number one, especially at this current time when we are led by a government that is so corrupt and the whole world understands and appreciates that we have a government that is corrupt. We will be the beacon of light in this dark cloud that is overshadowing our nation,” he told the press after filing his nomination papers.

The UK-trained lawyer, who previously said he will make known his salary to the people of the West Coast if elected, said a council led by him will be opened to public scrutiny and anyone who wishes to get any information from the council will be let in.

“We will make sure that we do a proper inventory of all revenue sources of the council, and also, we will open the council to public scrutiny and media scrutiny. The public can be invited at all times and whenever they request, we will be available to provide them with our information,” he uttered.

Yankuba Darboe is a top contender for the seat after his party won the most seats in the last month’s Councillorship election. He told the press that the number of candidates vying for the seat is not a problem, confident that he will emerge winner in the election.

The chairmanship election is scheduled to be conducted on the 20th of May. Yankuba is expected to battle with over ten candidates, including the ruling National People’s Party Seedy Sheriff Ceesay for the top seat in the Brikama Area Council.

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, party leader and Secretary General of the Citizen’s Alliance (CA) has claimed that Seedy Sheriff Ceesay, the National People’s Party candidate for the Brikama Area Council chairmanship election, can transform the West Coast Region into a municipality and the country’s engine growth should he be elected as the chairman of Brikama Area Council.

Dr. Ceesay was speaking to the press after accompanying Seedy Sheriff Ceesay to submit his nomination papers to the Independent Electoral Commission office in Brikama earlier this morning. He explained that Seedy is the most competent candidate running for the seat and claimed that he can turn the West Coast Region, the biggest local government council in the country, into a municipality.

“I believe Seedy is the most competent candidate. He can and has what it takes to transform this region into a municipality and also into one of the biggest regions. In fact, to transform it into the engine of growth for the Gambia,” he claimed.

The political science lecturer asserted that the NPP candidate has a proven track record in turning organizations into empires, adding that he knows the problems of the people on the West Coast and has solutions to those problems.

Dr. Ceesay, who sounded upbeat about Seedy’s chances of winning despite the NPP’s woeful performance in the Councillorship election, said one cannot use the councillorship election to project the outcome of the chairmanship or mayoral elections.

“You cannot use the result of the Councilor election to make projections for the chairmanship or mayoral election. These are two different types of elections. Remember, less than 30% of people voted. The turnout was very low,” he said while commenting on why he believes Seedy Ceesay will win.

Dr. Ismaila Ceesay’s party, Citizen’s Alliance, are in a coalition with the ruling National People’s Party.

By: Dawda Baldeh

Ebrima Gibba, the Founder and CEO of As-Shifa Healthcare Solution, a nonprofitable organization, told The Fatu Network that the foundation’s objective is to help local patients who are given recommendations for overseas treatment to access reputable hospitals in foreign countries.

Speaking to our reporter in an exclusive interview, Gibba said the foundation is established to bridge the gap between local patients within the Gambia and the subregion getting treatment in reputable hospitals in countries like India, Turkey, and Egypt.

“We are here to help patients to have access to reputable hospitals overseas for their medical treatment.

“If a patient is recommended to go for oversea treatment, we will intervene and help them to get the hospital because many don’t know how to access those hospitals in foreign countries,” Gibba said.

Mr. Gibba stressed that the foundation’s main purpose is to help patients to get treatment without delay.

“We normally go to the hospitals and find patients who need overseas treatment, we will collect their medical information and send it to our partners’ hospitals.

The hospital will send us a medical treatment bill. If the patient or his family are wealthy and they can pay the bill, we will only help to bargain with the hospital for them. We don’t ask them to pay anything,” he explained.

The foundation’s CEO added that they also help patients with visa application processes which are also free, and through their intervention, the patient can get a visa within 72 hrs.

“India is a country with very good hospitals, and we have helped a lot of patients to go there and get the necessary treatment.

“Some we assist them to go to Turkey or Egypt,” Gibba told The Fatu Network.

He further mentioned that if a patient is recommended for overseas treatment and cannot afford the cost, his foundation will intervene and mobilize funds for their treatment, which includes travel, accommodation, and feeding costs.

“So, if we mobilize the required amount of money then we will help the family to work on their visas.

“We will send 75% of the funds mobilized to the hospital’s bank account which will be confirmed with a receipt that the family will travel with.

“The remaining money will be given to the family, and they will be picked by our partners in the countries they are travelling to.

“But 5% of the funds we mobilized will be paid to As-Shifa Healthcare Solution,” he explained.

Mr. Gibba said they will do everything possible to make sure patients and their families are comfortable during their stay for the treatment period without running out of cash.

“Health is a very crucial part of our lives, and we need to intervene.

“We want to explore the US and the UK but due to people’s ambitions towards those countries is difficult because some will be absconding and we have to provide escorts,” he emphasized.

The As-Shifa Healthcare Solution is located in Westfield next to Family Planning.

By: Dawda Baldeh

As the race for the highly anticipated chairmanship and mayoral election draws nearer, the opposition Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC) has announced the endorsement of Jainaba Bah, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) aspirant for Brikama Area Council (BAC) chairmanship.

The party announced the endorsement through a press release obtained by The Fatu Network and urged its supporters and sympathizers to throw their weight behind Ms. Bah, the only female aspirant for BAC.

“This endorsement is a testament to our commitment to promoting women’s empowerment and gender equality as it is stated in our party’s motto, which promotes youth and women empowerment.

“We believe that it is important to have women in leadership positions to ensure that diverse perspectives are heard, and the needs of all citizens are addressed,” Mamma Kandeh said in a statement.

He added that his party recognizes the potential of women to make significant contributions to society, saying they are committed to empowering women to take on leadership roles.

“Jainaba Bah is known for being consistent, patient, well-articulated, bold, and visionary with a wealth of experience in politics,” he added.

The GDC leader expressed optimism that Jainaba will promote gender equality and empower women if elected.

According to GDC, Ms. Bah’s vision for the Council is focused on promoting unity, progress, economic development, creating jobs, improving infrastructure, and ensuring that the West Coast citizens have equal access to the resources of the Council, values, according to Kandeh, she shares with the party.

“Our Party believes she is the ideal candidate for the position of Chairperson of the Brikama Area Council.

“In this view we are calling on all our supporters, sympathizers and the entire voter population of the West Coast Region, most particularly the women and youth groups, to support her bid to become the first female Chairperson of the Brikama Area Council,” the party leader said.

The party described Jainaba Bah as a respected person who has taken enormous steps to join men in the race for the Brikama Area Council.

“We are with the fervent believes that our support will be a shift in our political paradigm and commensurate to our cause in placing women in their rightful position in our society,” Kandeh noted.

GDC boss stressed that women’s participation is a fundamental prerequisite for gender equality and genuine democracy.

“Women’s crucial role in public decision-making is a means of ensuring better accountability and it is fundamental to break the barrier and bolster women’s active role in our politics.”

The party leader reiterated their full commitment to supporting Ms. Bah throughout her campaign and beyond.

“We wish her all the best in her quest to become the first female Chairperson of the Brikama Area Council,” the GDC leader reiterated.

By: Dawda Baldeh

Hon. Seedy S. K Njie, National Assembly Deputy Speaker, has told journalists that incumbent Mayor of Kanifing Municipal Council, Talib Ahmed Bensouda, has failed the people of Kanifing Municipality.

The Deputy Speaker is also a top official of the ruling National People’s Party (NPP). The incumbent Mayor of Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) is of the main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) and he is seeking re-election.

Hon. Njie was speaking to journalists at the ongoing NPP mayoral candidate caravan tour in Kanifing.

He asserted that Kanifing is the biggest municipality in terms of resources and funds, but claimed that from 2018 to 2023, the council under the leadership of Talib Ahmed Bensouda has not done anything else apart from fencing the Bakoteh dumpsite.

“Talib has failed the people of Kanifing Municipality. He cannot tell people his achievements over the years,” Njie said.

According to the Deputy Speaker, the council under the leadership of Bensouda has not constructed a single square kilometre of road within the municipality over the past five years.

“Bakary Badjie [the NPP mayoral candidate for KMC] has a plan, vision, and agenda to transform the municipality to be one of the best municipalities in terms of development. KMC could address serious issues in terms of development. Bakary Badjie will work in tandem with the government to ensure that the President’s vision of transforming the municipality is achieved.

KMC has a lot of money. Their annual revenue collection is in hundreds of millions of dalasis that alone if judiciously, effectively and efficiently utilized, it will solve some of the problems,” Njie told newsmen.

He mentioned that the people of KM need markets; and that the youths want their football fields to be constructed to fit for purpose, while women gardeners need good storage facilities.

“Whether the 25% of subvention come from the government or not, there is enough resources that the KMC is generating from taxpayers that they could be able to give back to the people for development,” he explained.

The Deputy Speaker said if Bensouda was committed to developing the Council, he would have constructed at least a road of 10-20 kilometers within the five years.

“But this has not happened. There is no development,” he said.

By: Dawda Baldeh

The National People’s Party’s (NPP) Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) mayoral candidate Bakary Y Badjie’s convoy was attacked in Bakau by an unidentified group of individuals during the 2nd day of his ongoing Kanifing Municipality caravan tour.

A group of individuals, whose identities were unclear, stoned the convoy and injured several people, including journalists on Wednesday night, 26th April 2023 around 20:00 hrs.

Shortly before the incident, journalists were advised to control their gadgets by some members of the NPP convey who asserted that a group of people has planned to attack the convoy.

However, less than five minutes from the advice, stones began to rain on the convoy from different locations within the tiny streets of Bakau, and teargas was thrown by an unidentified individual. Where the incident occurred is believed to be referred to as “Bakau Old Town.”

Some journalists sustained injuries and were rushed to the hospital for medical attention.

The convoy got stuck in the neighbourhood until calm was restored before the caravan proceeded.

The police were informed about the incident and a team from Police Intervention Union (PIU) was sent to escort the convoy to the other destinations.