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46% of ECOWAS region population lacks access to power

Hadram Hydara
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46% of ECOWAS region population lacks access to power

Access to reliable, sustainable and affordable electricity helps improve the living standard of all. However, almost half of the population of the over 400 million people in the ECOWAS sub-region has no access to energy, according to Sidie Mohamed Tunis, Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament at the start of a five-day joint Parliamentary Committee in Freetown, Sierra Leone on the theme “Building the regional energy market for a just energy transition”.

“With a total population of over 400 million people, only 220 million (54%) have access to electricity, while the remaining 180 million (46%) lack access to power due to low generation or poor distribution capacity,” said Speaker Tunis, who went further to described it as “this unfortunate reality has impacted negatively on the performance and competitiveness of our businesses, particularly our 7 manufacturing plants that rely heavily on the sustainable power supply to survive.”

He said the energy issue, particularly the need for an energy transition is, therefore, at the heart of the sub-region’s economies and national productivity.

For Speaker Tunis, no single state can provide sustainable solutions to these challenges, thus the need for a concerted effort.

“It is with this in mind that the Member States have set up the West African Power Pool to create a system of interconnection of electricity networks aimed at enabling a better distribution of energy resources, to compensate for the production deficit of member states. It is true that the construction of major roads and rail arteries between our capitals will allow for a more intense movement of people and goods.

“However, we must also agree that the physical interconnection infrastructure of the electricity networks that are being developed within the framework of the regional electricity market is, without a doubt, the veins that will enable the transporting and sharing of life-giving energy for the concrete integration of the sub-region.”

To achieve its objectives of the meeting, the joint Parliamentary Committee is benefiting from the presence of Resource Persons and Stakeholders from relevant ECOWAS Institutions and Agencies, as well as experts from the region who have produced high-quality reports and studies on the process of creating the regional electricity market.

Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, the Vice President of Sierra Leone, said at the heart of the underdevelopment in the sub-region is attributed to the energy supply deficit, which is unquestionably the backbone of any country’s development.

“No country or region would develop or prosper without energy, as energy is vital to the productive sector, which holds the key to economic development.”

VP Jalloh said the region is still struggling to meet its growing energy needs, as he shared with the meeting some of the gains registered in Sierra Leone since 2018.

“In Sierra Leone, when we took over in 2018, the energy sector was plagued with a lot of challenges. First, energy access was 16 per cent, because there was inadequate generation, high cost of electricity, and lack of transmission and distribution lines. But when we took over in 2018, we developed a strategic plan to turn around this story by increasing energy generation access to over 35 per cent.”

He informed the ECOWAS Parliament joint meeting that the Government of Sierra Leone, through the energy ministry, created an off-grid solar solution to provide solar renewable energy to over 56 small villages and towns.

According to Vice President Jalloh, his government has also passed a regulation, allowing the participation of the private sector in the energy market.

“As a government, we want to make a shift from utility energy to produce energy.”

He calls for creative thinking to boost the energy sector by further encouraging Banks to move from just commercial banking to project financing to be able to mobilise the needed resources.

MC Cham Jr: ‘Gambians should observe 1 minute of crying because…’

Hadram Hydara
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MC Cham Jr: ‘Gambians should observe 1 minute of crying because…’

By: Dawda Baldeh

Former opposition Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC) campaign manager Momodou MC Cham Junior has called on Gambians to observe a minute of crying because President Adama Barrow “cannot differentiate between opinion and evidence,” noting that the president is trying to discredit the audit report because “most corruption scandals are recorded” at his office.

He was speaking to Senn FM radio on President Barrow’s recent interview with Star TV where he told journalist Malick Jones that audit reports are opinions and that auditors can be biased.

“People should not blame the President because he cannot differentiate between opinion and evidence. Gambians should observe one minute of crying,” he suggested.

The former GDC campaign manager added that the president is trying to downplay the reports of the auditor general because his office is implicated.

“Most of the corruption scandals are recorded at the office of the president.

“This is why the president wants to discredit the audit reports by saying the audit reports are opinions and the auditors can be biased,” he added.

The young politician stressed that audit reports are backed by evidence, not just mere opinions.

“I think the National Assembly should close the National Audit Office because you cannot establish an office that is not trusted by the government while paying them salaries and all allowances.

“Then what are we expecting from the audit office? If the auditors make their auditing, they will present their reports to the president who should give the reports to the police for investigation,” he said.

According to him, President Barrow has legalized corruption in the country, and he is indirectly telling civil servants that they can use public funds anyhow.

“It means anyone can now steal public funds and nothing will come out of it. He should have championed the fight to end corruption in the country,” he ended.

Farming for 40 years: Bah laments lack of storage facilities for farmers

Hadram Hydara
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Farming for 40 years: Bah laments lack of storage facilities for farmers

By: Fatou Kebbeh

Agriculture plays a major role in the economic growth and development of many nations. For The Gambia, it has been described as the backbone of the country’s economy.

Agriculture employs about 75% of The Gambia’s labour force, the African Development Bank Group says, and it accounts for about 30% of the GDP of the country according to International Trade Administration.

However, what appears to be largely affecting some farmers in The Gambia is inadequate storage facilities. This bottleneck continues to frustrate farmers in Lower Nuimi, incurring them losses they felt could have been averted.

“I have a big challenge in terms of storage facilities. It affects me very well because I cannot save much of my produce, and I mostly lose three-quarters of my produce because of lack of storage,” says one Amadou A Bah, a native of Madina Manneh.

Farming is the main source of income for the people of Amadou’s village in the North Bank Region, located northeast of Kerewan. However, the lack of adequate storage facilities forces them to sell their produce at what Amadou calls a “giveaway price.”

Bah, who has been farming for about 40 years, is now calling on the government and NGOs to come to their aid.

Storage is a key component in agriculture that allows farmers to keep their crops healthy and fresh for marketing, and horticulture, Tom Senghore said.

“Storage in agriculture cannot be overemphasized because without storage farmers can have more than 30 to 40% production losses, storage facilities as we are seeing in other developing countries has been a key contributing factor to more than 25% post-production losses,” Mr Senghore said.

Countries like China, the United States, Russia, etc whose economies greatly rely on agriculture have ensured lack of storage facilities is not the main hindrance.

The Director General of the Department of Agriculture, Dr Saikou E Sanyang has also said storage is an important element in agriculture without which the value chain is always weak.

“We have projects that actually started building storage for farmers, especially vegetable producers. This project actually started with three (3): one in Kaur, North Bank; the other one, URR; and the third one in LRR”.

According to Food and Agriculture (FAO), inadequate storage facilities expose food to deadly bacteria which it says is a major health threat.

The Gambia’s agriculture has been predominantly characterized by subsistence farming. Farmers generally practice mixed farming, where crops account for a greater portion of the production.

The Gambia appears not to be the only country whose farmers bear the brunt of lack of storage, other countries like Nigeria and India suffer from huge post-production losses due to inadequate storage facilities, according to reports.

SPOTLIGHT: Ya Adam Njie: UTG Valedictorian reshaping STEM

Hadram Hydara
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SPOTLIGHT: Ya Adam Njie: UTG Valedictorian reshaping STEM

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

From sitting at home for three years due to the dearth of funds to begin her university education, after completing secondary school, 26-year-old Ya Adam Njie has stunned many by graduating Summa Cum Laude from the University of the Gambia as the overall best student with an astonishing CGPA of 4.123 as a major in Computer Science.

Despite the huge gender disparity, Ya Adam broke through the glass ceiling by becoming a beacon among her colleagues at the University of the Gambia.

Her story before beginning her studies is akin to many underprivileged young Gambians. When Ya Adam completed her secondary school in 2014 at Gambia Methodist, she sat at home for three years because her family could not afford to pay her tuition fee. While she dwelled at home, she reworked her mathematics to equip herself for a smooth journey while pondering over a field to study.

In 2017, Ya Adam’s aunty and her brother realized the need for her to start university education, three years after completing her secondary education, and gathered some funds which enabled Ya Adam to start her program in computer science before the Ministry of Higher Education gave her a full-time scholarship.

Asked what actually motivated her to choose computer Science over psychology or journalism, she pointed out.

“After high school, my initial dream was to be a psychologist. Then it was to be an electrical engineer and later on, a journalist. But then, one day, after a few hours of drawing, I decided to take a break and play games.

“Something clicked, and I thought, “I love art and I love playing games, why not figure out how to make games?”. So, I went onto Google and started my research. That [was what] introduced me to my first programming language, C. It was so fun because I could basically command something as powerful as a computer to do my bidding.

“It was thrilling! From then on, I moved on to learning C++ and eventually, I was able to start university and continue with Java and so much more.”

With the highest CGPA of 4.123, the University of The Gambia overall best student in the graduating class of 2022 shared with The Fatu Network her journey to being better than her colleagues in class, who were mostly males.

“So, during my first semester, while I was waiting for class to start, I would listen to a female rocket scientist, Olympia Le Point, talk about her journey. It served as my fuel, so whenever I was in class, the focus was to get as much from the lecturer as I can. Every single question I had relating to a topic, no matter how dumb, I would ask. Thankfully, my lecturers and classmates were very patient, and it helped me understand and remember concepts better.

“And I was also strategic with how I picked my courses. To make my study times more interesting, I would pick courses across fields which had some things in common, for instance, Calculus and Mechanics or Linear Algebra and Differential Equations.

“Overall, it was believing in myself and not letting the negative thoughts win, that helped get me through the tough times,” she explained.

Now being conferred a first-class degree in computer science with a gold medal, Ya Adam is yearning to study Artificial intelligence for her master’s and eventually, be great enough in her chosen field to work with fellow Gambian data scientists and build solutions that’ll benefit the country.

Walking from SerreKunda to Brikama: How Alhasan spent 7 years getting a degree from UTG

Hadram Hydara
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Walking from SerreKunda to Brikama: How Alhasan spent 7 years getting a degree from UTG

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

On the 18th of March 2023, Alhasan Drammeh, a determined young man who used to walk on foot from Serre Kunda to Brikama for lectures, graduated from the University of the Gambia after seven years of struggle to get a degree which supposed to take him only four years.

Like hundreds of Gambians at the University of the Gambia, Alhassan Drammeh got enrolled at the University of the Gambia to pursue a bachelor’s degree within four years. However, for him, poverty would not allow him to be like most of his colleagues who are now having master’s degrees and living on the fat of the land.

In 2016, ambitious and motivated to acquire a degree, Alhassan got admission to the University. Earlier in his studies, he would walk on foot from Serre Kunda to Brikama for lectures because he couldn’t afford to pay fares to attend lectures.

“I was so broke on my first day of class in the UTG and other days that I had to walk to Brikama campus from Serre Kunda to attend lectures and return home on foot. On days, I called good days, I rode my bicycle to Brikama to attend lectures,” the newly graduated student pointed out.

After being broke and out of money to pay his tuition fees, Alhassan sought scholarships but couldn’t get any for three years. While searching for a scholarship, he would continue attending lectures but at the end of the semester, his grades will not be entered, and this had added more frustration to the young man who believed that only a good education will change his life.

“In the beginning, I wasn’t able to get a scholarship until my third year, when I finally got a MoHERST scholarship. The problem was that they refused to backdate and clear my arrears for the past three years, which amounted to D90,000. I didn’t have money to clear those arrears.

“Because I didn’t pay tuition fees at the beginning, most of the courses I did for the past three years were not entered, so I had to re-sit those courses for extra years.”

Alhassan has a great reputation for helping new students in the university during his time. He served as the Information and Communications minister for both the University of the Gambia Social Sciences and Humanities Students’ Association and the University of the Gambia Debate Association. According to him, helping people became therapeutic for him.

Attending lectures for three years without paying fees and marks not entered, he had to prolong his stay in the university for another three years, which accumulated to seven years instead of the required 8 semesters in four years.

Some of Alhasan’s batch mates in the university are now graduated with master’s degrees in different fields.

However, with sheer determination and willingness to succeed amidst poverty and challenges, he peddled through the frustration and graduated with Honors in Political Science at the University of the Gambia.

Alhasan, despite struggling to get a scholarship, has been engaged in volunteer teaching and other activities. He is a prolific debater and an excellent communicator and a public speaker. He has trained and mentored a great number of students in public speaking and debate.

A versatile young man, Alhasan is ready to serve and impact lives with his degree.

Unlikely Bond: The Surprising Friendship Between Saddam Hussein and His Guards

Hadram Hydara
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Unlikely Bond: The Surprising Friendship Between Saddam Hussein and His Guards

By: Sowe Bully

In his final days, Saddam Hussein found himself guarded by a group of American soldiers. They were known as the Super Twelve, and they had been tasked with keeping the deposed Iraqi leader confined. It was a duty that would change them in unexpected ways.

In Will Bardenwerper’s book, The Prisoner in His Palace, the emotional experiences of the American soldiers who were tasked with guarding him. These soldiers formed an unlikely bond with the deposed Iraqi leader, sharing stories and smoking cigars with him as they watched over him in his confinement. They saw a man who was trapped, a man who had lost everything.

As Bardenwerper writes, the soldiers of the Super Twelve formed an unlikely connection with Saddam, a man they had been trained to hate. They saw in him a complex human being with a deep love of literature and writing, and over time, they shared stories and smoked cigars together. But despite this bond, the soldiers were left with a profound sense of loss and remorse when Saddam was ultimately executed.

For Specialist Adam Rogerson, one of the Super Twelve, the experience was particularly traumatic. “I feel like I let him down,” he told Bardenwerper. “It was as if he had lost a family member. I almost feel like a murderer, like I killed a guy I was close to.”

Despite being an “enemy” of the United States, Saddam was a complex and cultured man who loved literature and writing. He was particularly fond of authors like Dostoevsky and Naguib Mahfouz and frequently requested reading and writing materials during his confinement.

To him, being denied access to pen and paper amounted to a violation of his human rights. As he frequently requested reading and writing materials during his confinement, he lamented his lack of access to pen and paper. “You must understand, I am a writer,” he told John Nixon, a CIA interrogator, “And what you are doing by depriving me of pen and paper amounts to human rights abuse!”

Saddam’s story is a poignant reminder of the power of human connection, even in the most unlikely of circumstances. It is a testament to the fact that there is often more to a person than meets the eye, and that empathy and understanding can go a long way towards breaking down barriers and forging unexpected bonds.
As we delve deeper into the story of Saddam and the Super Twelve, we can’t help but feel a sense of sorrow for what might have been, and a renewed appreciation for the importance of seeing the humanity in others.

We can learn from the soldiers of the Super Twelve that it’s important to approach others with empathy and an open mind. By taking the time to get to know someone, we can form connections that transcend politics and ideology. We can find common ground and forge relationships that might surprise us.

 

Embracing love without boundaries: Knots tied in Sharia

Hadram Hydara
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Embracing love without boundaries: Knots tied in Sharia

By: Juliana Twumwaa Obeng

The writer

Embracing Love without boundaries: Knots Tied in Sharia

The Gambia is a predominantly Muslim country, but there are also significant Christian and traditional religious communities. In general, interfaith marriages between Muslims and Christians are relatively common in The Gambia, and they are usually accepted as long as both partners respect each other’s faith and culture.

In The Gambia, the Cadi Court is a court that has jurisdiction over Islamic personal law matters. The court is responsible for adjudicating cases related to marriage, divorce, inheritance, and other related issues based on Islamic principles. The Cadi Court is a Shariah court in The Gambia that has jurisdiction over matters related to Islamic personal law, including marriage and divorce. Islamic marriage in The Gambia is governed by the Shariah law, which is based on the Quran and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammed.

One question that often arises in the context of the Cadi Court’s jurisdiction is whether a Christian can marry a Muslim in The Gambia.

The answer to this question based on my research is yes, a Christian can marry a Muslim in The Gambia under certain circumstances. According to the Cadi Court rules, a marriage between a Christian and a Muslim is permitted as long as certain conditions are met.

One of the conditions that must be met is that the Christian spouse must be willing to convert to Islam. The conversion must be a genuine and voluntary act, and the Cadi Court will verify that the conversion was not coerced in any way. The court will also ensure that the convert understands the basic principles of Islam and is willing to live according to those principles.

Another condition that must be met is that the Muslim spouse must obtain the consent of his or her parents or guardians. This is because Islamic law places a great deal of importance on the consent of parents or guardians in matters of marriage. The consent of the Christian spouse’s parents or guardians is also required, although this may be waived in certain circumstances.

The Cadi Court rules also require that the marriage contract (nikah), be performed according to Islamic principles. The nikah is a contract between the two parties that establishes their rights and obligations in the marriage. It must be performed in the presence of at least two witnesses and must include the payment of a dowry by the groom to the bride.

The legal requirements for marriage vary depending on whether the ceremony is religious or civil. For a religious marriage, the couple must obtain a marriage certificate from their respective religious authorities. For a civil marriage, the couple must obtain a marriage license from the Registrar General’s office and have the ceremony performed by a magistrate or other authorized official.

Once these conditions are met, the marriage between a Christian and a Muslim is considered valid under Islamic law and is recognized by the Cadi Court. The couple is subject to the same rights and obligations as any other married couple under Islamic law.

It is important to note that the Cadi Court’s jurisdiction is limited to matters of Islamic personal law, and it does not have the authority to recognize marriages that do not meet the conditions outlined above. For example, if a Christian and a Muslim were to marry without the Christian spouse converting to Islam or without the necessary consent from parents or guardians, the Cadi Court would not recognize the marriage as valid.

Under Islamic law, a marriage may be nullified if it is found to be invalid from the outset. Some of the common grounds for the nullification of marriage include:

  1. Lack of legal capacity: The parties must have legal capacity to enter into a marriage contract. For example, if one of the parties is under the age of consent, the marriage may be nullified;
  2. Non-observance of essential elements: The marriage contract must include the essential elements of offer, acceptance, and consideration (mahr). If any of these elements are missing or invalid, the marriage may be nullified;
  3. Legal impediments: The marriage may be nullified if there are legal impediments such as blood relationship or prior marriage that render the marriage contract invalid;
  4. Fraud or misrepresentation: If one of the parties entered into the marriage contract based on fraud or misrepresentation, the marriage may be nullified;
  5. Coercion or duress: If one of the parties was forced or coerced into entering into the marriage contract, the marriage may be nullified.

What happens then?

If a marriage is nullified by the Cadi Court, it is considered to have never existed from a legal perspective, and the parties are free to enter into a new marriage contract if they so choose.

In a study published in the Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs, Jllow et al. (2010), explored the challenges facing Muslim family law in The Gambia, including issues related to interfaith marriages. They noted that while there is no explicit prohibition on Muslim-Christian marriages in The Gambia, such marriages are still relatively uncommon due to cultural and religious differences between the two faiths.

A 2018 article in The Point, a Gambian newspaper, highlighted the story of a Muslim-Christian couple who had been married for over a decade. The article noted that the couple had faced some initial resistance from their families due to their religious differences, but had been able to build a strong and happy marriage based on mutual respect and understanding.

In her 2014 book, “Marriage in Contemporary Islamic Legal Discourse,” legal scholar Lena Larsen examined the Islamic legal principles surrounding interfaith marriages, including those between Muslims and Christians. While her research focused primarily on the Middle East and North Africa, she noted that the same principles apply in other Muslim-majority countries, including The Gambia.

Parting Words

Based on the Cadi Court rules in The Gambia, a Christian can marry a Muslim as long as certain conditions are met. These conditions include the voluntary conversion of the Christian spouse to Islam, the consent of parents or guardians, and the performance of the marriage contract according to Islamic principles. The Cadi Court will only recognize marriages that meet these conditions and are considered valid under Islamic law.

It is important to note that the rules and procedures of the Cadi Court are subject to interpretation and may vary depending on the specific circumstances of each case. Couples who are considering an Islamic marriage in The Gambia should seek guidance from a qualified Islamic scholar or lawyer to ensure that their marriage contract complies with the requirements of Islamic law.

The writer is a BL candidate at the Gambia Law School. She is driven by her affinity to the legal profession and relies on Precedents and Acts of the National Assembly to educate the public on bits and pieces of the application of the Laws of the Gambia and Ethics of the legal profession. These write-ups are for educational purposes only and not to serve as a substitute for Legal Advice. Email: [email protected]

References:

The Gambia: Cadi Court Act, 2005

The Gambia: Marriage Act, 1945

  1. Jallow, A. Saine, & E. Saine. (2010). Muslim Family Law in The Gambia: Progress and Challenges. Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs, 30(1), 39-52.

Speaker Tunis wants more women in Ecowas Parliament

Hadram Hydara
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Speaker Tunis wants more women in Ecowas Parliament

Out of the 115 seats at the Ecowas Parliament, Nigeria has 35 representatives, the highest number. However, there are only two women, which according to Hon. Sidie Mohamed Tunis, Speaker of the Ecowas Parliament “is really, really not good”.

Speaking in Freetown, Sierra Leone, at the end of the two-day symposium on women’s proportional representation in politics, organised by the Ecowas Female Parliamentarians Association (ECOFEPA), Speaker Tunis expressed his plans to continue engaging the leadership of Nigeria on change the status quo.

“I am hoping to engage the next Speaker in the Nigeria National Assembly and the President of the Senate to encourage them to have more women in the Ecowas Parliament. We also want to have a special programme just for Nigeria to encourage the stakeholders and the political leadership to ensure that they have more women on their tickets, not just for the National Assembly but for even Local Government.

Speaker Tunis said the Community Parliament has a whole-year Program, and that symposium in Sierra Leone is just the beginning of many to follow to popularise the idea of 30 per cent affirmative action for women. “We are also going to have another program [a TownHall Meeting] in Abuja before the next Ordinary Session, where we are even inviting MPs from Rwanda to come and share their experiences with us [Ecowas Parliament]. We will also have workshops in the Member States to ensure that we do not just pass laws, but to see action.”

He believes the advocacy campaign in Freetown can be organised across the sub-region to have a minimum of 30 per cent quota for women.

Last year, through a conversation between the Speaker and the Ecowas Commission, the Parliament was able to secure funding for ECOFEPA’s activities.

The Gambia’s delegation to the Ecowas Parliament is Honorable Billay G Tunkara, Honorable Alhagie S. Darboe, Honorable Fatoumata Njai, Honorable Samba Jallow and Honorable Kebba K. Barrow.

Kenyan ‘Jesus’ runs for his life as locals plot Easter Crucifixion

Hadram Hydara
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Kenyan ‘Jesus’ runs for his life as locals plot Easter Crucifixion

As Easter celebrations kick off, one man is getting into the holiday spirit in an unexpected way. Eliud Simiyu, a self-proclaimed ‘Messiah’, has taken up residence in the local police station, reportedly fearing for his life as rumours circulate that locals are planning to give him the ultimate Easter surprise – a crucifixion. It seems that the town’s residents are not quite convinced by his claims of divine authority, and are eager to put his alleged powers to the test. Whether or not Eliud will rise from the dead like his namesake remains to be seen.

In a small Kenyan town, a man who claims to be Jesus Christ has found himself in hot water. No, not the holy water kind, the “I need to run for my life” kind! That’s right, folks. Eliud Simiyu, also known as “Jesus of Tongeren,” has reportedly fled to the nearest police station after hearing that some locals want to crucify him on Easter.

It’s not every day that we hear of someone claiming to be the son of God, and it’s even rarer that we see such a person running for their life. But such is the case in Tongeren, where tensions are high and the fate of Simiyu is uncertain.

Simiyu’s followers have rallied around him, insisting that he is the real deal and that he will rise again on the third day. But the naysayers are having none of it. They have accused him of being a charlatan, a fraud, and a danger to society.

In an interview with local news, Simiyu denied the allegations, saying, “I am not a false prophet. I am the real Jesus Christ, and I am here to save the world.”

But don’t worry, folks. According to social media, if he really is the Messiah, he’ll be back in three days. It’s like a religious game of hide and seek!

Meanwhile, social media users have been having a field day with the news. One person tweeted, “If Jesus was a Kenyan, would he turn water into tea?” Another joked, “I hear they’re going to serve tea and biscuits at the crucifixion. It’s going to be a real cross-over event. Another added, “If he’s really the Messiah, then he shouldn’t be afraid of a little crucifixion. It’s just a test of faith!”

As of now, it remains to be seen whether Simiyu will be able to convince the locals of his divine status and avoid a painful fate on the cross. But one thing’s for sure: this Easter is shaping up to be a real nail-biter!

The ‘Shameless’ ICC Fails to Hold Bush, Blair Accountable While Targeting Putin 20 Years After the Iraq War

Hadram Hydara
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The ‘Shameless’ ICC Fails to Hold Bush, Blair Accountable While Targeting Putin 20 Years After the Iraq War

As the sun set on March 19th, 2003, Baghdad braced for the onslaught that was about to befall it. The bustling city, once a vibrant metropolis, resembled a desolate wasteland, as the sounds of war echoed through the air like the mournful wail of a banshee. The night sky, once adorned with the twinkling stars, was now illuminated by the fierce blaze of bombs exploding in the distance, as if the heavens themselves were being torn asunder. Coalition forces had begun shelling the city, marking the start of a war that would be remembered for decades to come. Twenty years later, the question still remains: why has no one been held accountable for the war crimes committed during the Iraq War?

In the lead-up to the Iraq War in 2003, the world was told a lie. The claim that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction was a fabrication, a falsehood that was eagerly embraced by politicians and the media alike. It was a lie that would have catastrophic consequences, leading to a war that would claim the lives of hundreds of thousands of people, destabilize the entire region, and forever stain the reputation of those who perpetrated it. In this article, we will explore the lies that were told, the motivations behind them, and the lessons that we can learn from this tragic episode in human history.

The tragedy that befell innocent Iraqis on the eve of March 19, 2003, at the hands of the United States and coalition forces was a heinous crime against humanity, an unspeakable act of violence that shook the foundations of morality itself. The nature of this evil, senseless war was that of a merciless beast, driven by an insatiable thirst for power and dominance. It devoured the lives of countless innocent souls, leaving in its wake a trail of destruction and devastation that will haunt the world for generations to come.

And yet, despite the overwhelming evidence of war crimes committed during the conflict, no one has been held accountable. The architects of the war, men like George W. Bush, Tony Blair, and Donald Rumsfeld, remain free and unrepentant, while the victims of their crimes continue to suffer.

It is a tragedy beyond measure that the International Criminal Court, which was established to bring justice to the victims of war crimes, has been unable to hold those responsible for the Iraq War accountable. The ICC has been hamstrung by politics, with powerful nations like the United States refusing to recognize its authority or cooperate with its investigations.

The stunning hypocrisy of the international community is on full display when we consider the selective approach to justice for war crimes. The likes of Bush, Blair, and Obama, responsible for countless deaths and destruction in Iraq, Libya, and beyond, are free men, while leaders from non-Western countries are hauled before the ICC.
Meanwhile, the US and its allies have the audacity to call for Putin’s arrest for his alleged role in the Ukraine war. Where is the justice in this? The fact that those who bear the greatest responsibility for the horrors of the Iraq war continue to evade accountability is a travesty, a betrayal of the very principles that the ICC was created to uphold.

But the failure of the ICC is only one part of the problem. The larger issue is that the world has yet to reckon with the legacy of the Iraq War, and the profound damage that it has done to the global order. The war was a product of a particular moment in history, a time when the United States and its allies believed that they could reshape the world through force of arms. That moment has passed, but the consequences of that hubris are still with us.

Today, the lessons of the Iraq War are more relevant than ever. We live in a world where the use of force is still seen as a legitimate tool of statecraft, where powerful nations are still able to act with impunity, and where the victims of war crimes continue to be denied justice.

It is high time that the international community wakes up to this reality and demands that justice be done, regardless of the perpetrator’s nationality or geopolitical clout. Anything less is a shameful perpetuation of the double standards that have plagued the international justice system for far too long.

It is only by holding all those responsible for war crimes accountable that we can begin to heal the wounds of the past and build a more just and peaceful world for future generations.

If we are to move forward, we must confront these realities head-on. We must demand accountability for the war crimes committed during the Iraq War, and we must work to strengthen the institutions that are meant to prevent such crimes from occurring in the future. We must recognize that the legacy of the Iraq War is a stain on our collective conscience, and that we can only begin to wash it away by acknowledging the truth of what happened, and by taking meaningful steps to ensure that such horrors are never repeated.

Regretful Cruise Ship guarantor ‘in crazy situation’ as guaranteer absconded onboard in America

Hadram Hydara
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Regretful Cruise Ship guarantor ‘in crazy situation’ as guaranteer absconded onboard in America

By: Dawda Baldeh

Ebrima Sabally, a 28-year-old resident of Sanchaba Sulay Jobe, has stated that he is in a crazy situation as a friend he guaranteed with land documents to work on a cruise under the Cruise Ship Crew Gambia agency absconded onboard in America.

“I am in a crazy situation because I guaranteed a friend by the name of Foday Sonko to work on the cruise ship under the agency of Cruise Ship Crew Gambia (CSCG) who absconded.

We agreed that he (Foday Sonko) will return home after the end of his contract. He never honoured this agreement as he is at large in America,” the grieving guarantor narrated.

Mr. Sabally said the trust he had in Foday put him in what he described as “messed up” he will regret forever.

the agency is to help Gambians to work on a cruise ship.

“They were going around America and South America and his first contact was about to finish this month.

He was supposed to come back the next month, but he absconded to America. I tried my best to contact him but he’s no longer reachable,” Ebrima explained.

He told TFN that he is also part of the young people recruited to work onboard as he is already awaiting deployment dates.

“I need to find Foday because am part of the recruits to work on the cruise ship when he returns with my document. I paid for all the necessary training and schooling to be done,” he added.

He noted that his deployment is almost close, but he can’t be deployed without finding the person he guaranteed.

“The agency is about to take my file to court because am the one who guaranteed him in the first place.

I did this because his family is living in Jara Soma, so he was renting in the Kombo hustling.

I knew him since 2016 but he put my life in a mess. I want people to help me find his whereabouts because as a young person, I have responsibilities in my family.

If I don’t provide any information that will lead to his capture, the agency will take me to a court or I have to pay a sum of D2.5 million which I don’t have,” he pleaded.

Cruise Ship Crew Gambia (CSCG) is a recruitment agency operating in the country to help deploy young people to work on different cruise ships across the world.

The agency has so far deployed more than four hundred Gambian crew members.

Minister of Higher Education: ‘Gambia must develop, and it must be developed by her own people and on education and research’

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Minister of Higher Education: ‘Gambia must develop, and it must be developed by her own people and on education and research’

By: Ousman Saidykhan

Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Prof. Pierre Gomez, has said the Gambia must be developed through a fit-for-purpose education, noting that development must be championed by Gambians themselves.

Prof. Pierre Gomez was speaking at the closing of a 10-day research methodologies and project writing training for over 30 Gambians over the week.

“Gambia must develop, and it must be developed by her own people and on education and research.

“Education cannot be as usual. Education must be fit for purpose. Education must respond to the needs and aspirations of the youths of this country,” said the Higher Education Minister.

The minister believes the training of 30 Gambians would create a critical mass of researchers within the public sector who will in turn share what they learnt with others.

“This is something that is very, very important. It is coming at a time when the Gambia is working on its transformation agenda on higher education,” Minister Gomez said.

The Gambia has been at the periphery since independence looking, but it is high time they moved to the centre of development, Prof. Gomez said.

He added: “And the youth of this country need skills. So, the research needs to inform policymakers so that we can come up with strategies and activities that will engage the youths now come up with sustainable development.

“Investing in research is what will change the development trajectory of this country.”

The Gambia should not follow Saudi for moonsighting

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The Gambia should not follow Saudi for moonsighting

By: Kebba O

On the 27th day of every lunar month, very early in the morning before sunrise, the waning crescent of the Moon is entering its journey towards being Astronomical New Moon (Conjunction). This disappearance of the moon before sunrise is locally called “Kaaro Taata”. At this phase, the Moon is between Sun and Earth, and it is invisible because the side facing Earth is not reflecting light from the Sun towards the Earth even though it is still there rotating and revolving the Earth.

In the Qur’an 71:15-16 “‘See ye not how Allah has created the seven heavens one above another, “‘ And made the moon a light in their midst, and made the sun as a (Glorious) Lamp? Moon is called “Qamar” and the light we see is described in the Quran Muneer thus Reflected light.

This conjunction state will take the Moon 2.2 Days to appear in the same position it was when it was New Crescent on its 29th day (Santo Fello) or 30th Day (Bai Ballo) to begin the journey again as we are counting or calculating to know our times, Seasons, Edil Fitr, Edil Adha to name a few and our Hajj to Mecca. This will bring Astronomy into play a very important key to assisting us in maintaining the Sunna of sighting the Moon on the 29th day if not seen to complete by the 30th day. We are being reminded in the Holy Qur’an of this Phenomena of the Waxing, Waning, Full Moon and New Moon (Conjunction) in several places like

Qur’an 10:5

It is He Who made the sun to be a shining glory and the moon to be a light (of beauty), and measured out stages for her; that ye might know the number of years and the count (of time). Nowise did Allah create this but in truth and righteousness. (Thus) doth He explain His Signs in detail, for those who understand?

Qur’an 2:189

They ask thee concerning the New Moons. Say: They are but signs to mark fixed periods of time in (the affairs of) men, and for Pilgrimage.

Qur’an 36:39

And the Moon – We have measured for her mansions (to traverse) till she returns like the old (and withered) lower part of a date stalk.

With the above information different countries fall into different Predicted Crescent Moon Visibility Curves, (just like how sunrise and sunset vary from country to country), which can provide us scientific guidance on the capability (visibility) of seeing the New Crescent Moon with naked eye in The Gambia in particular when the New Crescent Moon is visible, Saudi and The Gambia are different governments and different time zones.  Looking at various historical Crescent Moon Visibility Curves, one can see sometimes Saudi is capable of seeing the New Crescent when The Gambia is not and sometimes The Gambia seeing while Saudi could not be encouraging everyone to familiarize themselves with https://www.moonsighting.com to assist one in performing naked-eye sighting of the New Crescent to fast or break the fast at the 29th or 30th day. Bravo to the Current leadership of the Moon Sighting committee in The Gambia encouraging reports of sighting within The Gambia to be sent to them for final announcement. The https://www.moonsighting.com will be very useful in pointing to Conjunction Dates and times, New Crescent Moons and the like since don’t of us don’t’ know by heart the Islamic Months just like some of us know January to December. Wishing everyone many more Ramadans and Eids.

Women empowerment: Touma Njai reveals plans to re-introduce Bill

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Women empowerment: Touma Njai reveals plans to re-introduce Bill

Honourable Fatoumata Njai (Touma Njai), one of the few female parliamentarians in the Gambia’s National Assembly, has revealed that work has started to bring back her private member Constitutional Amendment Bill, which had sought to give women sixteen seats in Parliament. However, the bill was rejected due to a lack of quorum, which observers said was done deliberately to prevent the bill from passing to the next stage.

Hon. Touma Njai was re-elected for a second term in the 2022 Parliamentary election as an Independent candidate. She is currently in Freetown, Sierra Leone, to attend a dialogue forum on women’s proportional representation in politics, organised by the Ecowas female parliamentary association. She celebrates Sierra Leone for passing the gender equality law earlier this year.

“It is quite heart-warming to see them pass a bill that I shared with them because after drafting our bill, I shared it with my colleagues at the Ecowas Parliament,” said Hon. Touma Njai.

She is now urging the Government of The Gambia to emulate Sierra Leone in passing a similar law before the 2027 elections in The Gambia.

Despite the unfortunate rejection of her Bill, the outspoken Banjul South lawmaker reveals her plans to bring back the Bill in Parliament. “The groundwork has started, and we are consulting all stakeholders,” she said.

As a result of a lack of quorum, we need more women in key decision-making positions, such as the National Assembly.

Sidie Mohamed Tunis, Speaker of the Ecowas Parliament, assured the Community Parliament’s commitment to accompany The Gambia to pass a gender-equality law.

“I have already started a conversation with the Majority Leader [Billay Tunkara] of The Gambia’s Parliament, regarding the gender Bill. We want to engage all national assemblies and all stakeholders on this issue,” he concluded.

It is widely believed that women deserved to be voted in most electoral positions and not to be pushed back.

‘Let them admit that they made a mistake:’ GWA hits back at NSC

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‘Let them admit that they made a mistake:’ GWA hits back at NSC

By: Ousman Saidykhan

The Gambia Wrestling Association (GWA) has responded to the National Sports Council (NSC) which described their March 13th press conference as misleading.

The GWA called the press for their unveiling of the five-man wrestling squad that is representing the Gambia at the ECOWAS African Wrestling Championship holding from Match 17th -19th in Niamey, Niger.

During the unveiling on Monday, the GWA revealed to the press some of what they referred to as “the unfortunate circumstances meted out on the travelling wrestling team.”

Amongst the concerns of the body overseeing wrestling in the Gambia is the squad’s lack of camping and the differentness of the tracksuits for the team. However, these utterances did not go down well with the NSC.

In a press conference on the 16th of March, the NSC accused GWA of engaging in a smear campaign against them and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

In a counter press conference in the evening of the same day, 16th March, the same day meant to “set the record straight,” GWA debunked such allegation, saying they were disappointed with the NSC for misinterpreting their statements that were just meant to inform Gambians about the circumstances the body and its members found themselves in.

“So, I think it is good that sometimes we are sincere to admit when we are at fault. If we are at fault, we will admit that we are at fault. So, the National Sports Council should admit that they faulted that the team did not go to camp; that the dresses they gave them are not in the same colours; that they gave to each wrestler D20,000 directly and not through the association (GWA).

“Let them admit that they made a mistake and not try to belittle the effort we are doing,” says the Secretary General of GWA, Ebrima Suwareh.

GWA has also debunked the NSC Executive Director Marcel Mendy’s statement that the association uses its money on marriage and naming ceremonies, a statement they took to be very disparaging of their efforts.

“It is very good to encourage people when they are trying and not to damage people when they are trying,” the president of GWA, Serign Modou Faye said.

The wrestling association said they inherited a penniless association when they came and struggled to get some funds only for them to be criticised instead of being praised.

In any case, the wrestling team is already in Niamey, Niger. However, the manner in which the NSC and Sports Ministry handled the trip has not been impressive to the GWA.

Gitteh: ‘90% of NPP members are with me’

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Gitteh: ‘90% of NPP members are with me’

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

Despite the party selecting another candidate ahead of him for the Brikama Area Council Chairmanship seat, Ahmad Gitteh, who earlier today announced he will run as an independent, said ninety per cent (90%) of the National People’s Party (NPP) members are with him, and less than ten per cent are with the candidate the party chose over him.

Gitteh made this revelation at his press conference earlier this afternoon, where he announced that he will be running solo without the backing of his party.

“I believe, the NPP, ninety per cent, is in agreement with me. Less than ten per cent is going with the decision of those that conducted the primaries. They hand-picked an individual at their own will, but this is not the will of the majority.”

Gitteh, who emphatically stated that he hasn’t resigned from the NPP and will be there until the party expels him, outlined that going as an independent in the election will avail the aggrieved party members to find a place with him and express their dissatisfaction about the party’s decision in choosing Seedy Ceesay over him.

“I believe going as an independent candidate is giving those aggrieved party members that I worked with so hard to build this party to find a place to express their dissatisfaction and disagreement with the leaders of the party. So, we are going independent, and this will create an avenue for NPP to come, and we win the election and move on as a party,” he noted.

It could be recalled that the National People’s Party West Coast Region executive selection committee, in the primaries, announced that Seedy Ceesay won the primaries. However, Gitteh refuted such and said he didn’t participate in the runoff.

Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament calls for action to increase women’s representation in politics

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Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament calls for action to increase women’s representation in politics

The Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament Honourable Sidie Mohamed Tunis has called for action to increase women’s representation in politics at a two-day symposium of the ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association on women and youth representation in politics in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

The symposium, which kickstarted on Friday at the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Academy, is aimed at sensitising the public on proportional representation of women in politics: scaling up a political partnership between men and women.

It also intends to unleash the potential of women and youth in politics and entrepreneurship. Participants, including Honorable Touma Njai of Banjul South, women from different walks of life and students, are expected to engage in more strategic thinking to explore workable solutions that can uplift the status of women and youth in political leadership and inclusiveness.

Honourable Sidie Mohamed Tunis, Speaker of Ecowas Parliament, expressed appreciation to President Maada Bio and the Government of Sierra Leone for their commitment to championing women’s issues.

He said the Ecowas Parliament has strong beliefs in scaling up political partnerships between men and women as the right step, hoping that the symposium will inspire more governments to enact laws that ensure women occupy their rightful place in politics.

Honourable Woraye Sarr, President of ECOFEPA, said her organisation is committed to empowering women and youth by providing opportunities for their diverse participation in politics. Compared to developed countries, she said there is low political representation of youth and women in the sub-region. And it is hoped this symposium would deepen the understanding of the critical role of women and youth in politics.

While many have recognised the important role of women and youth in nation development, these groups however continue to be marginalized in our society, hence the need for practical actions to change the status quo.

Honourable Veronica Sisay, Women’s Caucus Leader of Sierra Leone’s Parliament and a member of ECOFEPA, added that the symposium is part of efforts to resolve the problem women and youth face. She encouraged all political parties to consider nominating women for key electoral positions in the subsequent general elections in Sierra Leone.

“It is even hoped that we [Sierra Leone] will exceed the Rwanda percentage, considering the enthusiasm of the sitting President Julius Maada Bio that he has for gender issues. The accomplishment of a 30 per cent quota reserve for women in Government and all levels of decision-making guarantees that women are going to be represented equally,” said Honorable Sisay.

She believes that women’s involvement is meaningless without proper representation, which is only possible through legislation that promotes this cause.

In common with previous several speakers, including Bindi Hindowa, Sierra Leone’s Acting Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs; Pa Lamin Beyai, UNDP Country Representative; and Manuel Muller, EU Ambassador, believe such an interactive forum will further promote leadership and empowerment of women and youth on the African continent, which ECOFEPA had and continues to advocate.

They all thanked and commended ECOFEPA for organising the event.
In the ECOWAS region, the first, and so far, only elected female head of state has been Liberia’s, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.

For the Ecowas Female Parliamentarians Association (ECOFEPA) members, there is a need to bridge the gap by initiating the conversation to change the political narrative. The current group of Ecowas female parliamentarians is making sure the issue is not pushed to the back of the collective agenda.

Hands off! Court orders land ministry, AG against touching suit land

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Hands off! Court orders land ministry, AG against touching suit land

By: Ousman Saidykhan

Justice S. B Tabally of the Brikama High Court has ordered the Gambia’s Ministry of Land, Regional Government and Religious Affairs together with the Attorney General to stay away from a suit land in Old Yundum, which is said to belong to the Manjang and Manneh families.

The prohibitory injunction came after the plaintiff, S and J Properties Company Limited filed an ex parte motion on the 9th of March 2023 for the 1st and 2nd defendants; Land Ministry and AG to be restrained from touching the land.

Justice Tabally said he has carefully examined the plaintiff’s submissions and ordered “an interim injunction against the defendants restraining them whether by themselves, their agents, servants, workers or otherwise whosoever from demolition, entering or causing to be entered and/or interfering with the suit land or any part thereof situated at Old Yundum…”

The case has been adjourned to the 10th of May 2023 at 10 a.m. for mention.

The plot measuring 335m x 185m x 304m x 65m Square is located between Swami India Housing Estate and the Army Camp in Old Yundum.

According to our source, the land minister wants to use the name of a building permit to demolish hundreds of structures and later use the land for what our anonymous source calls “their already-known concealed plan”.

A plot allocation letter by the land minister bearing the stamps of the Land Ministry and Department of Land and survey has been seen by this medium.

Our source told us the minister has already given a demolition order to the IGP who has also passed the order without any compensation agreement with the owners.

This alleged demolition order has been made before Justice Tabally’s injunction order, given yesterday, 16th March 2023.

Kerr Fatou has reported that the permanent secretary for the land ministry, Buba Sanyang said he was not aware of the issue being at the court but said demolition will “surely” happen.

Prof. Raphael Nyarkotey Obu: 6-Packs come with a risk of depression

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Prof. Raphael Nyarkotey Obu: 6-Packs come with a risk of depression

By Prof. Raphael Nyarkotey Obu

6-Packs come with a risk of depression

I chanced on this important study in the men’s health article in the Times of India (2018) and I want to share it with you. We cannot be wiser than God indeed. Well, today, the craving for body enhancement in both males and females has dominated the airwaves. But we don’t also look at the negative aspect of these body enhancements. We look at the interlocutory benefits.

One well Studies from researchers from the Norwegian University of Science and Harvard University investigated the link between male body image issues and mental health.

A researcher interviewed 2,460 men aged 18-32 about their gym habits, and about 10% of them have “body-image disorder.”  They found that body-obsessed men have a higher risk of not only depression but also weekend binge drinking, and using illegal supplements, including anabolic steroids.

With this disorder, they will feel guilty when missing out on one workout even while they are in excellent shape; they will still feel the need to be thinner.

Apart from that, 6 Pack Abs Interfere With Your Breathing. Your breathing consists of your lungs, diaphragm, and accessory respiratory muscles. The “Rectus Abdominis Muscle,” what we know as the 6-pack, is directly connected to the lower part of your ribcage.

When your abs are in a contracted state, it will further pull your ribcage down and restrict the free gliding movement of the lungs and interfere with your breathing.

6-Packs?

The term “six-pack’” typically refers to the rectus abdominis muscle. Flynn and Vickerton, nd) explained that the rectus abdominis muscle runs from the sternum to the pubic bone and is responsible for dynamically flexing the spine forward.  Some Studies have shown, though, that this muscle is not necessarily effective as a stabilizer of the spine(Kim and Lee 2017; Stokes et al. 2011).

Tyler Read (2021) explained in his article that, the moniker “six-pack” comes from its appearance of visible rows of 4–8 distinct muscular segments that you can see on individuals with relatively low body fat.

Although many additional important muscles comprise your core, the rectus abdominis is the most superficial one.

As such, it’s the muscle that gives chiselled abs their distinct appearance. Likewise, because it’s the outermost layer of the ab muscle, it does not do much in terms of stability of the spinal column.

Visibility of 6-Pack

The major issue that has to do with six-pack visibility is the amount of subcutaneous body fat ststoredround the stomach.

We have been advised that the fact that one does not have visible six-pack abdominals doesn’t mean our core is weak, or even that you are carrying excess weight.

Traditionally, visible six-pack abs need a body fat percentage far lower than that required for general health benefits.

One study (Branco et al. 2018) recommended that a normal range for body fat percentage is 17.6–25.3% in males and 28.8–35.7% in females.

There is no universally accepted body fat percentage at which six-packs become visible, typical ballpark ranges are 10–12% body fat for men and 16–20% body fat for women.

Besides, Tyler Read (2021) opined that these figures are too low for those needed for optimal general health and fitness despite the popular association between visible abs and optimal fitness.

This notwithstanding, he pointed to one article by Harvard Health that asserts that the excess visceral fat, which is located deeper in the abdomen and surrounds our organs, is far more dangerous to our health than excess subcutaneous fat, which lies just under our skin and coves our muscles from the outside.

Hence, he believes that more levels of visceral fat may not affect the visibility of the six-pack to the same extent as subcutaneous fat, even though excess visceral fat is a greater health concern.

Also, genetics as well influences where you store body fat, which greatly influences the specific body fat percentage at which your abs will be visible. Tyler Read (2021) notes that if one stores more fat in the hips, the abs will be visible at higher body fat percentages and vice versa.

Lifestyle factors, such as sleep and stress levels, also affect fat gains, which will affect the visibility of your abs.

He justified this with one study by Cooper et al. (2018) that found regularly sleeping less than 7 hours was linked with greater rates of obesity and weight gain. They also found that sleep deprivation has negative effects on ghrelin, leptin, and insulin, which are key hormones for regulating hunger and fat storage in the body.

Another study by Valk et al. (2018) found that higher stress levels, as reflected by greater glucocorticoid activity, were also associated with increased rates of obesity.

Despite the above factors, a surplus calorie intake will typically lead to fat gains over time, which will decrease the visibility of your six-pack — independent of any other factors.

Should 6 Packs be the major goal in exercise?

Read had this to say: “While it’s OK to strive for aesthetic fitness goals like having visible abs, the truth is that your core and abdominals play a much more important role than just being nice to look at. The rectus abdominis is just one of many muscles in the so-called core, which is a series of muscles that span the hips to the thoracic spine and include superficial and deep layers, as well as different muscles along the front, side, and back of your lower torso. Collectively, the core muscles stabilize the spine and allow it to bend and twist as required for functional activities. The biggest benefits of core training have nothing to do with visible abdominals. Furthermore, the abdominals are just one of many core muscles you should target in your routine”.

He further says: Additional core muscles that play a vital role include:

  • transverse abdominis
  • multifidus
  • diaphragm
  • pelvic floor
  • internal and external obliques
  • quadratus lumborum

A large body of evidence supports core training for a variety of improved outcomes across different populations.

For instance, Hsu et al. (2018) study found that 4 weeks of core strength training enhanced performance on sudden perturbation tasks, which correlates to our ability to catch ourselves and stand upright when we’re about to fall over.

Also, another study by Hung et al. (2019) found that for athletic performance, additional research found that an 8-week core training program enhanced static balance, core endurance, and running economy in college running athletes.

Finally, Chang et al. (2015) study on core training and low back pain found that all core routines studied enhanced lower back pain. Frequent ones that targeted the deeper core muscles, such as the transverse abdominis and multifidus, had the greatest positive effects on lower back pain.

Read finally summed it all: “It’s worth noting that training the core may help build more muscle mass in that region, which will add more contour to your six-pack and potentially allow it to be visible at slightly higher body fat levels.

However, you will still need to have relatively low body fat for this effect to occur, and the main reasons to train the core have more to do with performance and health benefits rather than aesthetic appearances”.

In conclusion, getting six packs alone is not enough and researchers believe that those who engaged in them have no confidence in themselves, they drink more as well and have mental health issues leading to depression because they are not happy with their natural bodies.

Also, six-packs don’t automatically make you fit, but they also don’t mean you’re underweight or addicted to exercise. Those abs aren’t great correlations for much of anything and these are not markers of health and wellness.

NB:

Prof. Nyarkotey has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations to justify his write-ups.  My articles are for educational purposes and do not serve as Medical advice for Treatment. I aim to educate the public about evidence-based scientific Naturopathic Therapies.

The writer is a Professor of Naturopathic Healthcare, a Medical Journalist, and a science writer. President, Nyarkotey College of Holistic Medicine & Technology (NUCHMT), African Naturopathic Foundation, Ashaiman, Ghana. E. mail: [email protected].

References

Kim BJ, Lee SK. Effects of three spinal stabilization techniques on activation and thickness of abdominal muscle. J Exerthe c Rehabil. 2017 Apr 30;13(2):206-209. doi: 10.12965/jer.1734900.450. PMID: 28503534; PMCID: PMC5412495.

Stokes IA, Gardner-Morse MG, Henry SM. Abdominal muscle activation increases lumbar spinal stability: analysis of contributions of different muscle groups. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon). 2011 Oct;26(8):797-803. doi: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2011.04.006. Epub 2011 May 14. PMID: 21571410; PMCID: PMC3157598

 

Cooper CB, Neufeld EV, Dolezal BA, Martin JL. Sleep deprivation and obesity in adults: a brief narrative review. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med. 2018 Oct 4;4(1):e000392. doi: 10.1136/bmjsem-2018-000392. PMID: 30364557; PMCID: PMC6196958.

Branco BHM, Bernuci MP, Marques DC, Carvalho IZ, Barrero CAL, de Oliveira FM, Ladeia GF, Júnior NN. Proposal of a normative table for body fat percentages of Brazilian young adults through bioimpedanciometry. J Exerc Rehabil. 2018 Dec 27;14(6):974-979. doi: 10.12965/jer.1836400.200. PMID: 30656157; PMCID: PMC6323334.

van der Valk ES, Savas M, van Rossum EFC. Stress and Obesity: Are There More Susceptible Individuals? Curr Obes Rep. 2018 Jun;7(2):193-203. doi: 10.1007/s13679-018-0306-y. PMID: 29663153; PMCID: PMC5958156.

Hsu SL, Oda H, Shirahata S, Watanabe M, Sasaki M. Effects of core strength training on core stability. J Phys Ther Sci. 2018 Aug;30(8):1014-1018. doi: 10.1589/jpts.30.1014. Epub 2018 Jul 24. PMID: 30154592; PMCID: PMC6110226.

Chang WD, Lin HY, Lai PT. Core strength training for patients with chronic low back pain. J Phys Ther Sci. 2015 Mar;27(3):619-22. doi: 10.1589/jpts.27.619. Epub 2015 Mar 31. PMID: 25931693; PMCID: PMC4395677.

Hung KC, Chung HW, Yu CC, Lai HC, Sun FH. Effects of 8-week core training on core endurance and running economy. PLoS One. 2019 Mar 8;14(3):e0213158. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0213158. PMID: 30849105; PMCID: PMC6407754.

From Senegal to Morocco: Why GFF chose Casablanca over Dakar for Gambia’s home game

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From Senegal to Morocco: Why GFF chose Casablanca over Dakar for Gambia’s home game

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

With the country’s only football stadium still deemed unfit to host international matches, the Gambia Football Federation has chosen Morocco over Senegal for the Scorpions’ home game against Mali due to logistical concerns, and financial and technical considerations that favour the federation regardless of the potential huge fan turnout in Senegal.

On June 4, 2022, the Gambia used Stade lati dore in Thies, Senegal for its home game against the Bright Stars of South Sudan, however, they shunned the whole of Senegal this time for Morocco regardless of the proximity of the two countries.

Speaking to The Fatu Network, the Director of Communications at The Gambia Football Federation, Mr. Baboucarr Camara, explained why the federation picked Morocco over Senegal. He revealed that the North African nation will avail them to use the stadium at no cost, and pointed out that they have better facilities compared to neighbours, Senegal.

“Logistics, financial and as well technical considerations; all these in Morocco are the best options. They have better facilities in terms of training and accommodation. They will avail the stadium to us for free, unlike Senegal where Lat Dior is banned and Diamniadou is a Public-private partnership and quite expensive,” Camara explained when quizzed on why the federation chose Morocco for its home game over neighbours Senegal.

The GFF Director of Communications further explained that in terms of travelling and players to and from the camp, Morocco is much more apt than Senegal.

“Also, in terms of travelling, Casablanca is a major hub where all our players coming for the game have direct flights from their destinations to the place, unlike Senegal where most of the players will have to transit. That will delay their arrival and affect our technical preparations and also delay their return to their clubs as well,” he added.

In June 2022, when the Gambia played in Thies against South Sudan, scores of Gambians made the journey to cheer up the team. This was due to its proximity to the Gambia. The crowd in Thies seems not to be too impressed by the federation and thereby not considering the need for Gambians to travel and support the players. Morocco, a country miles away from the Gambia, may see only a few Gambians travel to support the scorpions.

Komma Camara, a Gambian football fan, said the country playing its home game in a faraway country is something difficult for him to understand.

“Playing our home game far from home is something very difficult to understand or accept as a Gambian sports lover. The boys will not get the home fans’ support as host, which is disadvantageous to us despite other advantages,” he claimed.

The scorpions will face Mali at Stade Muhammed V in Casablanca on March 28.

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