By: Sarjo Brito

Dalaba Estate residents have expressed concerns following the release of suspects linked to robberies at the Estate. The suspects have since been charged with conspiracy to commit a felony, armed with intent to commit a felony, and possession of a suspected stolen property. While the arrest of the alleged armed robbers was a sigh of relief to the residents, their release from police custody has raised eyebrows among Dalaba residents as they grew worried about what their next move could be.

Police PRO Cadet Assistant Superintendent Binta Njie said the police are committed to protecting the lives and properties of all Gambians and residents of the Gambia. However, she added that the arrest and release of suspects must be done within the confines of the law, citing the presumption of innocence until proven guilty by law, as enshrined in the constitution.

“We understand their plight. We know they are concerned but we want to assure them that we are equally concerned because we are mandated to ensure the protection of their lives and properties. However, we work by the law and at the moment we can’t keep them beyond 72 hours because that is not what the law says. So, whatever action we are taking we want them to understand that we are doing it by the law and the law says they have a presumption of innocence until proven guilty by a competent court of law.’’

Cadet ASP Njie reiterated the commitment of the Gambia police to protect lives and properties as they continue their investigations. Njie assured the residents of Dalaba Estate that the incident will not be swept under the rug, and anyone found wanting will be duly prosecuted.

“We are still investigating, and we assure them that if they are found wanting of any offense or crime, we will prosecute them duly.’’

Meanwhile, PRO Njie urged the residents of Dalaba Estate to be more vigilant as most of the robberies have been alleged to take place during the day. Njie said the police will continue to carry out rigorous operations to ensure that these occurrences become a thing of the past.

“Our men are always patrolling Dalaba during the night and most of these occurrences happened during the day. You would not even suspect that these people are there to rob.’’

Over the weekend, Africell The Gambia bagged a prestigious award for its great gains in transforming and developing telecommunications in The Gambia.

The award was announced and presented at the 15th edition of the Economic Forum and African Integration Gala held in Dakar Senegal. The Economic Forum and African Integration Gala is an annual event organized by the Forum of Operators for the Guarantee of Economic Emergence in Africa, FOGECA.

Waka Jagne, Senior PR and Events Manager, received the award on behalf of Gambia’s telecom giant.

Receiving the symbol of recognition, Mr Jagne expressed profound thanks to the organizers for recognizing Africell for its committed efforts in positively transforming telecommunications in the country.

He made commitment that, as the biggest mobile network operator in The Gambia, they will continue to bring and sustain the needed developments for the overall advancement of telecommunications in The Gambia.

Minister of Digital Economy, Mr Ousman Bah, presented the award to Africell’s senior PR and events manager Mr Waka Jagne. Mr Jagne was accompanied by Muctarr Trinn, senior manager – customer care. They represented CEO Ghanem and the entire management and staff of Africell.

Gambia’s Foreign Minister, Dr Mamadou Tangara, also graced the regional event.

The forum brought together influential and innovative business leaders, financiers, investors etc in various sectors of the African economy to strengthen intra-continental trade and promote investment in Africa.

By: Modou Touray 

Frustrated by the continuous acts of insults directed at dignified personalities, communities and ethnic groups, Manding Warriors, a civil society organization that is currently embarking on a campaign to denounce insults and other forms of indecent expressions, has tasked the National Assembly to enact legislations specifically to prosecute offenders.

The group justified that insults based on hatred could endanger the peace, stability and peaceful co-existence of the society and could further trigger political, civil and ethnic violence.

Speaking exclusively to The Fatu Network, the National Coordinator of Manding Warriors Mr Mamina Fadera said his association challenges itself to mount a nationwide dialogue with the citizenry to avoid all forms of indecent verbal attacks including aggravated insults.

“We are not a political group and we do not allow anyone in our various WhatsApp platforms to talk about party politics or insult people. We strongly denounce insult, and we hereby appeal to all Gambians and residents of the country to refrain from it,” Mr Fadera stated.

He however expressed dismay over people’s acts of demoralizing others.

“Dispute the obstacles, we seem to register significant improvement in reducing insults especially on social media. We will not relent in vigorous engagements at the grassroots,” he noted.

The Manding Warriors according to Mamina Fadera is anchored on the principles of respect for all persons regardless of social status and ethnicity.

“We are purposely established and registered as a legal association to promote the diminishing traditions and cultural values of the Manding people. Key values of society are fading and need to be revitalized for the young and the future generations.”

The group believe they cannot physically fight perpetrators of insults towards persons and tribes but shall be persistent to maturely engage people to change their attitudes towards one another and ethnic groups.

According to Mamina Fadera, the Manding Warriors denounce individuals claiming to represent them in visiting the President.

“We do not give any mandate to anyone to represent us at State House. This is misleading information and should be treated as fake,” he stressed.

Mr Bakemo Ceesay, assistant public relations officer of Manding Warriors, said no decent community will embrace insults, noting that it doesn’t conform with religious and traditional norms.

“The Gambia is a small country and we are all related in one way or the other. We are a genuine body to partake in the betterment of our society,” Ceesay explained.

With a zeal for national development through alternative initiatives, the Manding Warriors also distant themselves from tribalism despite its membership being centred on Manding ethnicity. They claim to display and cherish their ethnic and cultural identity.

By: Ousman Saidykhan

The Chair of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called on the government of the Gambia to accelerate the implementation process of the Truth Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) and sufficiently address the conditions of the victims of the 22-year rule of former president Jammeh.

“The strides taken by your government so far towards the recommendations of the TRRC and preparations for implementation is encouraging and we further urge you to hasten the pace of implementation in order to give the NEVER AGAIN mantra coined by the TRRC, a true and impactful meaning.”

The plight of the victims and families of victims must be addressed adequately, equitably, and speedily; there is a need for institutional reform and reorientation of personnel in our security institutions who were named in the TRRC as the main perpetrators of the human rights violation that took place for 22 years,” Dr. Emmanuel D. Joof said.

The NHRC Chair was addressing a gathering of high officials on Tuesday, 25th October 2022 at the opening of a 3-day engagement on “Accelerating the Effective Implementation and Monitoring of the Government White Paper on the TRRC Recommendations” at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Conference Center in Bijilo.

Mr. Joof reminded the government of a “bold” step it has taken in suing Myanmar for genocide against her Rohingya Muslims at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) which earned them much commendation but suggested that the government have to fulfil its responsibilities to its citizens.

“…all eyes are on the Gambia concerning the implementation of the TRRC recommendations. We are known throughout the world as that small country that has taken up the cause and the plight of the persecuted Rohingya Muslim minority of Myanmar and filed a lawsuit in November 2019 before the International Court of Justice, against the Government of Myanmar for genocide against her Rohingya Muslim citizens under the 1948 Genocide Convention. We have been commended for that. I, therefore, hasten to borrow the old age adage and dare say that “charity begins at home,” Emmanuel Joof told the gathering.

It is over 5 months since the government released its White Paper which detailed its position on the TRRC report. The government agreed to implement a greater part of the recommendations, including the prosecution of adversely mentioned individuals for “gross human rights violations and crimes during Jammeh’s 22-year rule.

The government’s implementation plan includes the establishment of a Special Prosecution Unit at the Ministry of Justice to investigate and prosecute cases from the TRRC; the establishment of a Peace and Reconciliation Commission to foster peace post-TRRC; renaming of Arch 22 in the capital city to Never Again Memorial Arch to honour the victims of former President Jammeh.

By: Modou Touray

Concerned residents in the neighbourhood of the Brikama National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) Power Plant have demanded water and electricity supply as compensation for the recent oil spillage and the death of a minor trapped in a hole.

Residents said houses located just 50 metres away from the power plant are still in total darkness and without a modern tap for clean drinking water. The concerned residents justified that the negative effects of the installation of a plant are manifesting.

Mr Serign Sowe, speaking to The Fatu network on behalf of the concerned residents of the NAWEC power plant, articulated the numerous damages caused by the oil spill on farmlands, unavailability of clean drinking water and lack of electricity in the neighbourhood.

“I stay near the power plant and ready to speak for the plight of my people. Water and electricity are important for livelihood. In my compound here, lots of women gather at my open well to fetch water daily. They use rope and tide the bucket to draw water,” Mr Sowe alluded.

The outspoken leader of the concerned residents appealed to the National Water And Electricity Company (NAWEC) to install water facilities within the neighbourhood which is essential for their personal health and hygiene.

“Following oil spillage here, NAWEC officials visited the scene and promise with providing water and electricity. We call on them to honour their pledge and end our water crisis. The affected residents are people in the remote areas of Brikama – Daruhairu and Kembujeh Madina,” Mr Sowe said.

On the issues of electricity, Mr Sowe said few houses use solar energy which is not reliable depending on the power of the solar and the quality of the batteries.

“Many residents depend on my solar for charging their mobile phones and other appliances. There is no electricity in this area. The importance of electricity in our daily activities cannot be overemphasized,” Mr Sowe said.

He also dilated on fixing their road which was damaged as a result of the oil spillage to facilitate the movements of people and vehicles within the neighbourhood

“I personally approached them for the issue of the road on behalf of the community, but they only removed the spilt oil, but the road is not properly fixed. They are now constructing a barricade to block oil from spilling over,” Mr Sowe revealed.

Mr Sowe said water and electricity supply and fixing of their road are key demands of the neighbourhood and calls for urgent redress of these challenges by authorities of the NAWEC.

When contacted for comments as the ward councillor for Kembujeh ward, Mr Alieu Lito Darboe expressed solidarity with the concerned residents and urge NAWEC to respond to their demands as expected. “It’s rather unfortunate, considering the incidents of the oil spill and the recent death of a minor.”

The Managing Director of NAWEC Mr Nani Juwara reacted and said: “We are considering them in several incoming projects. Some extension was done there in 2020/21 but it didn’t cover the immediate environment around the power station.”

By: Sarjo Brito

Human Rights activist Madi Jobarteh has disclosed that they have been engaging regional and international partners on the AKI deaths. He said the Justice for the 66+ group is ready to take legal action beyond Gambian courts if the government fails to respond adequately about the mass deaths and prosecute anyone found wanting.

Jobarteh made these remarks at Justice for the 66+ meeting where parents of AKI victims came together with activists as they explore avenues to demand justice and accountability.

“We are also talking with regional and international partners because this matter now has an international dimension. Now we are hearing about cases in Indonesia. So, it is not just the Gambia government but the Indian government itself for allowing bad drugs to leave their borders too. They should be held accountable. That company should be held accountable. So, the Gambia government itself should be held accountable for allowing tainted drugs to enter the borders of the Gambia. In West Africa, we have the ECOWAS which is an option for us to go to and we are in serious discussion with other partners but also to go beyond to other international platforms.’’

Madi Jobarteh said the decision to go through the courts will all be determined by how the government responds to this national tragedy, adding that the response of Gambian authorities so far has been grossly inadequate. The families, through Justice for 66+, have agreed to request a meeting between the families and the National Assembly select committees on health and children to allow Parliamentarians to hear the harrowing ordeals the children went through first-hand.

Meanwhile, Gambians are continuing to demand justice following the death of over 66 Gambian children who succumb to AKI. The mass deaths which the WHO Director-General said may be linked to contaminated cough and cold syrups made by New Delhi-based pharmaceutical company, Maiden Pharma have renewed calls for stricter laws in the country’s medicine and pharmacy business, with some attributing the tragedy to sheer negligence and greed for an industry that has been left almost unregulated.

By: Dawda Baldeh

Fatou Darboe, a 33-year-old Gambian who returned from Libya last year, has recalled her harrowing experience and how she lost her beloved husband and son who died in a Libyan prison.

Ms. Darboe who travelled to Libya on a regular journey to work with her husband a decade ago explained her terrible experience.

“I was with my husband in Libya because he facilitated my travel. We spend nine years together. Years later, my husband had high blood. When he recovered, we tried to cross to Italy so that he can get proper treatment, and we were arrested and taken to prison.

I was three months pregnant while in prison. My son was sick in the prison and after three days, the doctors recommended for him to undergo surgery, we were taken to one hospital and my son died,” she recounted with tears.

The grieving mother said one month after the death of her son, her husband also died in the prison. “My husband was sick, and the prison conditions are terrible, so he died after eight months in the prison.”

Ms Darboe then decided to return with her three children to The Gambia.

“I really need support because am a single mother taking care of three children. We are living in a difficult situation and my children are now going to school. I want people to support their school fees,” she urged.

This traumatized woman is disparately in need of support to live a normal life after the terrible experience with her little children.

Apart from Fatou Darboe, many other migrants were exposed to all forms of violence such as sexual assault, torture, discrimination, and imprisonment among others coupled with financial stress.

Kaddy Jammeh is also a migrant returnee, and she explained how her husband and brother died in Libya.

“My husband was sick in Libya, and he died. My brother was also killed by criminals who attacked him and requested a huge amount of money, which he couldn’t pay. They beat him to death. His body was dumped and the following day he was buried,” she told The Fatu Network.

The mother of one further stated that she voluntarily returned with the support of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to save her life and her only son.

“I decried to return because the difficulties black peoples continue to face is huge. Since the war started, things became extremely difficult. Getting jobs became difficult and the value of their currency also dropped. Criminals keep attacking people in their homes and workplaces,” she narrated.

The young mother said her son is now attending school but paying school fees is challenging.

“I don’t have anything and need support from anyone. I am doing tailoring, but it’s very difficult. My husband started constructing his house when we were in Libya. But since he died, the construction stopped. I don’t have anything to complete the construction, and the family has left everything to me.

I don’t know whether they have his money or not, but nothing is clear to me. The construction is still where it stopped because I don’t have anything. I require people to support me and my son,” emotional Ms. Jammeh narrated.

Yahya Jambang, the President of the Voluntary Migrant Returnee Association, a newly registered association aimed to bring voluntary migrant returnees under one umbrella, said he has been in Libya for twelve years.

Jambang, who returned last year, said he was working in Libya to go to Europe. However, his dream began to fade when the war started in Libya in 2011, leading to President Muhammed Gaddafi’s killing.

“I was working before the war started, but things began to change and job opportunities also started fading. The security of the country is at threat. Criminal activities increased. I was in prison on several occasions under terrible conditions. I decided to return home for my safety,” he narrated.

Jambang recounted the human rights violations in Libya, saying the country is not stable. He confirmed to TFN that upon their return he was supported by IOM to start a business. However, he said it is never easy to start a business in the country.

The migrant returnee told The Fatu Network that they (voluntary returnees) have not received any support from the government. According to him, they are working tirelessly to tap any support from the government.

Mr. Jambang disclosed that since they returned, they are being supported by the German Advisory Council (GAC) on various pieces of training.

These young women are living a difficult situation hoping to recover from the trauma in order for them to live a happy life. Whoever wishes to support the women can reach out to them: +220 302 6114 and +220 715 3003.

By: Ousman Saidykhan

The National Assembly Member (NAM) for Latrikunda Sabiji has called on the Alkalolu to demand their appointment letters from the government which he said they could use to lean on and sue the government if it fails to act according to the dictates of that document.

Honourable Yahya Sanyang was reacting to the claims of Alkalolu who told this medium they have not been paid – some of them for a month and others for two months. They said they have not been told what causes the delay.

“I urged the Alkalolu to demand appointment letters which include this salary commitment by the government, so that failure to pay, they can use that legal leg to drag government to court for failure to abide by the contract consideration.”

The payment of Alkalolu was one of the campaign promises of the president of the Gambia, H.E Barrow in his November campaign ahead of the 2021 presidential election. The payment has begun in January 2022.

The National Assembly Member, who described the salary promise as a “trap” to obtain the loyalty of the village heads, said he was not surprised that Alkalolu would not be paid at some point adding that they were not even catered for in the Appropriation Bill.

“I saw this coming because this government is never serious about reforms and helping to improve the livelihood of Gambians. The whole scheme was political propaganda orchestrated by the political mafias around Barrow on how to win the minds and hearts of the Alkalolu.”

“Under normal circumstances, during our appropriation approval, the Minster should bring it as part of legitimate government expenses. They just fooled the Alkalolu as they have fooled the residents that are benefiting from the locally funded road projects, the Latrikunda Sabiji NAM told this medium.

Honourable Sanyang said payment of Alkalolu is only sustainable if there is a right government in place with “prudent fiscal reforms and economic wisdom.”

By: Hadram Hydara

After several homeowners at the Dalaba Estate accused him of unfulfilling the marketing promises he made when selling out the Estate to them, the CEO of TAF Africa Global, Mustapha Njie and his media team has come out with a press release clarifying the allegations against him and to some extent taking responsibility for some.

Below is the full press release in verbatim:

“TAF Africa Global is aware of the current security crisis in The Gambia, and we empathise with the recent burglaries in the estate. These are troubling times throughout the country, and we stand in solidarity with all respectable citizens in hopes of a safer environment for all residents of our beloved Country.

Considering the recent statements and contents shared on social media about the state of the Dalaba Estate and TAF Africa Global’s deliverables to its homeowners, TAF Africa Global would like to clarify the following:

Perimeter Fencing of the Estate

TAF Africa Global bought this piece of land now called Dalaba Estate from a third party in 2018 where parts of the land were retained by the original owners. This has been the reason why the front and some parts of the back fence of the estate were still left unbuilt.  However, in light of the security threats faced by the residents, we have reached an understanding with the original owners allowing us to build these fences. We believe this will further complement the security of the area.

Gates to the entrance of the Estate

Dalaba Estate is to have 2 main entrance gates at the front side of the estate. This is TAF Africa Global’s responsibility but due to the situation of the perimeter fences, it was impracticable. As we have now reached an understanding with the original owners on the issue of the fences, the gates will soon be installed and handed over to the Dalaba Homeowners Association.  It is important to note that the installation of the gates will limit access however other stringent measures will still have to be implemented by the homeowners to further strengthen the security of the estate.

Streetlights

It is TAF Africa Global’s responsibility to install streetlights on every street at the Dalaba Estate and we reassure the homeowners that this will be done on each completed street. Since the completion of the estate project, 80 streetlights have been installed and commissioned on Streets A -E.  The reason why Streets F – H are yet to be equipped with streetlights is merely because there are empty and unoccupied plots in that area.

Roads

The Dalaba Estate was divided into two parts; the front part of Streets A-C and part of D were all sold as finished homes and all these roads have been paved with interlocking slabs which is a more durable option compared to the bituminised roads so far as this estate is concerned. The second part of the estate starting from the part of D Street to Street H was sold as fenced serviced plots and it was brought to the attention of every homeowner that roads will be constructed on each street once all the houses are completed. This is due to the fact that empty plot owners building on these streets, usually bring in heavy construction trucks and occasionally dumb debris and building materials on the roads, which alters the durability of the roads. Please see the images in appendix 1.

Fruit Trees

Fruit trees and flowers have been planted in all completed communal spaces within the estate; however, landscaping is an ongoing process, and any greenery must be nurtured. We, therefore, encourage and urge all residents with the support of the homeowner’s association to maintain these green areas in order to keep these trees and flowers blooming.

Playground

The proposed plan for the playground is still in place. Landscape works are currently ongoing behind road J which is the area allocated as the playground. Once the landscaping is done, the playground will be equipped and functional.

To this end, we want to reassure all homeowners that TAF Africa Global is committed to taking the following actions on or before 31^st January 2023: 1. Building of the front fence with 2 gates on the main entrance.

2. Complete the perimeter fence on the rear end of the estate.
3. Install all roads on streets where 70% of houses have been completed.
4. Install streetlights on all streets.

We would further like to take this opportunity to kindly urge all Homeowners of Dalaba Estate to be mindful of the fact that maintenance of the Estate is a joint responsibility of every resident. Once this is facilitated through being active and liaising with the Residence Association which is tasked with overseeing the responsibility of the affairs of the estate as mentioned in your sale agreements.  Furthermore, collaboration amongst residents and promptly reporting any suspicious activities to the Police is advisable in order to strengthen the security of the Estate. We are always open to meeting with the President of the Dalaba Homeowners Association and key members of the association should our input ever be required.

We remain true to our commitments and shall continue to partner with and heed our valued customers. Together we shall continue to strive towards the social and economic development of the country.

Yours Sincerely,

TAF Africa Global Gambia Ltd”

By: Dawda Baldeh

Second-hand smoking is a process by which non-smokers inhale doubly contaminated smoke breathed out by smokers which makes them vulnerable to the risk of getting heart diseases.

To sound the minds of non-smokers on how it affects their lives, The Fatu Network speak to some people who urged the government to fully implement smoke-free regulations.

Second-hand smoke is smoke that is already contaminated by the smoker and inhaling it is even worse because it is doubly contaminated.

Non-smokers who are exposed to second-hand smoke at home or work increase their risk of developing heart disease.

According to research by the Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI) exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke (hereafter referred to as second-hand smoke) is associated with more than 1.2 million deaths per year worldwide among non-smokers.

It also stated that about 11 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) are lost due to second-hand smoke exposure, with 61% of them occurring among children [1].

In 2004, 40% of children, 33% of men and 35% of women in 192 countries were exposed to second-hand smoke indoors [1]. There is no safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke.

Smoking in public places is prohibited in The Gambia, but there is no information on the level of exposure to second-hand smoke among adolescents and adults 15–64 years

Mawdo Baldeh who quit smoking in 2013 said it is terrible for people to inhale the smoke breathed out by smokers.

“Whenever I inhale smoke from smokers, I will feel dizzy, and it causes headache. Sporadically I feel like vomiting because the smell of the smoke is always unpleasant and dangerous.

Anytime I inhale smoke I will have a headache and that is why when someone is smoking, I will always develop a distance so that the smoke will not reach me,” Mawdo Baldeh explained.

Mr Baldeh further urged smokers to quit, saying it is not healthy. Mawdo who was a smoker added that he realized the negative impact of smoking after he quit.

“If a non-smoker advises a smoker to quit, in most cases they won’t listen,” he added.

Assan Secka a Banjulian highlighted the challenges he faced whenever people smoke around him.

“Anytime I inhale smoke, it affects my breathing and causes headache. The government should enforce laws that prohibit public smoking. This is impacting a lot of people and especially the kids,” Mr Secka emphasized.

Fatoumata Komma, staff at the Ministry of Health under the Non-communicable Disease and Tobacco Control Unit, said second-hand smoking is dangerous because it causes a lot of heart diseases.

According to her, second-hand smoke leads to coronary artery disease which results in cardiovascular moralities.

“Second-hand smoking causes other diseases where smoking is a risk factor, including diabetes, cancer, and respiratory diseases.

In less than five minutes, people who inhale smoke through a second-hand mechanism can have effects on their health,” she explained.

Ms Komma further disclosed that the people who mostly have severe respiratory problems in hospitals are smokers and those exposed to second-hand smoke.

By: Modou Touray

Driven by the zeal for food security, Mr Abubacarr A Bachilly, a Gambian who has been living in the diaspora has decided to return and engage in large-scale agricultural production by engaging more than 100 youths to provide manual labour.

This gigantic drive, according to him, is a calculated innovation to ensure that locals produce abundant food crops to drastically reduce dependency on imported food items which are not reliable.

The hiring of up to 100 people in the rice field is not only to bridge the youth unemployment gap but self-reliant venture.

“My rice production initiative is mainly for community development. we engage the people to build capacity, create employment opportunities for marginalized groups (women, youth and people with disabilities) and commit to building resilient communities,” Mr Bachilly said.

Mr Bubacarr A. Batchilly is a Gambian-American who came back home about 6 years ago after over 30 years in the United States. Although Batchilly is involved in other businesses, including a content production company and a civil society organization jointly run by his wife, farming has always been a venture he wanted to get involved in since coming home.

“I was mostly inspired by the many farmers and women I have met over the years while filming documentaries for United Nations Agencies supporting Agriculture throughout The Gambian,” he explained.

Sahel Agribusiness is currently farming a total of 25 hectares of rice: 20 hectares in North Bank Region (Orylux 6, Sahel 177 and Nerica L19) and 5 hectares in Brikama Ba, Central River Region (Orylux 6 rice). Other products include groundnuts, sesame, watermelon and corn/maize, but the majority of the production is rice.

“My vision is to provide leading solutions to agricultural and agro-industrial production through technology and innovation while providing solutions for sustainable agribusiness by producing world-class products,” he added.

Mr Bachilly further said that success right now for him is being able to create employment for the women and youths in the communities he operates in.

“I have so far engaged over 100 women and youths to work on the farm, some full-time and some part-time and their contributions are what have motivated us to come this far. We are also grateful for the support received from the Rice Value Chain Transformation project (RVCTP) which provided us with certified seedlings and other logistical support,” he said.

According to him, the rice value chain transformation project provides him with Over 80 bags of certified rice seeds, 30 orylux, 2 bags of Sahel 177 and 48 nerica L19. “We also received 22 bags of Urea and 5 gas bombs. They also provided relevant technical advice and direction.”

This initiative by Mr Bachilly is a major step towards the country’s drive for food self-sufficiency. The Gambia currently depends on imported food items as homegrown food crops are insufficient to tee the nation. Large-scale rice production by the private sector could minimize the burden to some degree.

By: Modou Touray

Dr Elastro Hilarious Mugwadi, the chairperson of Network of African National Human Rights Institutions (NANHRI) has said Africa free trade agreement remains a mere document hence actors are slow in its implementation. He stated that adoption and ratification of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AFCFTA) is a positive progress towards achieving an integrated market on the continent for over 1.3 billion people.

Dr Hilarious Magwadi was delivering a statement on the sidelines of the 73rd Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the theme: “Trade and Human Rights in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) agreement: inclusive implementation of the agreement with participation of vulnerable population.”

He expressed concern that national negotiation and implementation plans have continued to exclude key human rights actors.

Network of National Human Rights Institutions is the umbrella body of all human rights institutions on the continent.

“States should establish national mechanisms in the form of special committees, incorporate diverse interested parties by National Human Rights Institutions and Civil Society Organisations to monitor and report on the implementation of the AFCFTA).”

Dr Mugwadi also challenged national human rights institutions to work with other actors in reviewing protocols and other policies impeding free movement of people and goods and services and the ‘Makere’ recommendations for alignment.

“We can only trade in an integrated Africa where every country is home for everyone. We cannot trade with each other when our laws consider us foreigners to one another,” he advised

He added: “Indeed, our report, the baseline Assessment and Stakeholders Mapping of national human rights institutions and other actors involvement in the African Continental Free Trade Area processes established that no National Human Rights Institution was involved in the negotiations towards the agreement.”

He noted the importance of stakeholders.

“If untamed, continued exclusion of other key actor will breed, propagate and perpetuate impunity and other make it hard to mainstream human rights into African Continental free trade agreement. This is against the integration spirit of this flagship project of the African Union Agenda 2063 – a development blueprint of human rights.”

Dr Magwadi further pointed out that the accelerated ratification of the AFCFTA has triggered negotiations of inter state and sub-regional initiatives as African Union Members seek to anchor businesses and investments.

The African Union Draft Policy Framework on Business and Human Rights has been under review for over a decade now.

By: Sarjo Brito

The Ministry of Health has moved to recall all Maiden Pharmaceutical products in The Gambia pending the outcome of an investigation. The move came following the WHO’s announcement that the recent AKI deaths in the Gambia may be linked to contaminated cough and cold syrups manufactured by, Maiden Pharma, an Indian pharmaceutical company.

The Ministry has since embarked on a drug recall exercise which was only limited to the four syrups while other Maiden Pharmaceutical products were still being sold. Now, the Ministry of Health said they are embarking on a second phase of the drug recall exercise, which will include all Maiden Pharma products, pending the outcome of investigations.

Health Promotion Director Modou Njie told this medium that the Health Ministry cannot wait for investigations to conclude before they could act.

“Since 4 syrups were confirmed to be contaminated with chemicals that are known to cause AKI, and these are products manufactured by Maiden Pharmaceuticals, the Ministry of Health decided to suspend and recall all their products until laboratory confirmatory tests are available to determine their safety. This is in the right direction, and our decisions are guided by scientific evidence. Furthermore, we cannot wait for an investigation to be concluded before we act. A lot of cases and deaths were prevented as a result of our swift action. Once investigations showed that the products are safe, then we’ll lift the suspension.’’

Modou Njie further stated that more medicine samples from Maiden Pharmaceuticals and other drug manufacturers have been sent abroad for testing, adding that the Ministry will leave no stone unturned to get to the root cause of the issue.

Human Rights activist Madi Jobarteh said the move by the Ministry of Health to suspend all products from Maiden Pharmaceuticals is long overdue, adding that the suspension should have been extended to all their products immediately after their syrups were suspected of causing AKI.

“The Ministry’s response to this crisis is very lacklustre which is indeed frightening! It is not just about collecting syrups, but the Minister should have invoked powers in the Public Health Act to undertake stronger measures of transparency and accountability. This mess cannot be approached as if it’s normal.’’

The number of AKI deaths has since risen to 80 after the WHO revelations. Meanwhile, Gambians are continuing to demand answers from Gambian officials as many of them attribute the mass deaths to the country’s medicines and pharmaceutical industry which has been left unregulated.

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

Halifa Sallah, the Party leader and Secretary General of People’s Democratic Organizations for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS), has claimed that the Adama Barrow-led government has been engaged in a trials-and-error form of governance rather than strategic governance backed by a transformative agenda.

The PDOIS supremo said this while speaking to the press on the challenges The Gambia is faced with and ways forward.

The former spokesperson of the 2016 Coalition, which ousted former president Yahya Jammeh from power, said his former ally in the struggle is leading a government that doesn’t have a strategic plan tailored to a transformative agenda.

“… to us, and maybe too many, we see that the government in office is more engaged in a trial-and-error form of governance than a strategic one directed by a transformative agenda. It is an opinion. They may wish to disagree, but we want a fresh conversation, a constructive one,” the seasoned politician uttered.

The former National Assembly Member (NAM) for Serre Kunda Constituency said the Government can engage them in a debate if they disagree with the claim that they are engaged in a trial-and-error form of governance, which he said his party intends to do now towards the 2026 presidential elections.

“They can engage us in a debate and that is what PDOIS intends to do in this coming four years going to five. For the debates to take place so that the Gambian people can be cleared regarding the future of their lives and that of their children’s life,” he pointed out.

According to the politician, who has been in the frame of Gambian politics from the first republic to date with a sharp institutional memory as one of the oldest political parties in the country, PDOIS will continue speaking to the power, and they will never be silent. He asserted that the party will be gauging and scrutinizing the government to do what is in line with the desire of the Gambian people.

“We mentioned as early as 19th January 2022 that we will be beginning this new journey and that we will not be silent in gauging, scrutinizing, and restraining the government in office to do what is in line with the aspirations of the people.
Speaking as we have always done in the interest of the Gambian people. “

Speaking to the press, Hon. Sallah said that PDOIS is the voice of the voiceless in the country, and they have stood for many people during the past regime. He urged Gambians to take part in the affairs of the public offices, noting that the country is owned by them, and they entrust power just for a time.

By: Ousman Saidykhan

The government of the Gambia, in January 2022, began an unprecedented undertaking; the payment of monthly salaries to Alkalolu across the length and breadth of the country for D3,000. The initiative was quite welcoming amongst Alkalolu with a great number of people praising President Barrow for what they believed was a result of his “concern” as regards the affairs of village heads.

The payment of Alkalolu was one of the most swiftly fulfilled promises of the Barrow government since coming into power in 2017. He made the promise in his November campaign in LRR and other regions of the Gambia, ahead of the 2021 presidential election. The promise followed heaps of criticisms from critics just like praises were coming from those who were to benefit from the payments. The critics argued that allocating salaries for Alkalolu was not sustainable in a country whose economy is not strong. If the critics had a point, at all, in their argument, then the government could have been in a position to know such.

However, 8 months since Alkalolu were allocated salaries, some of the village heads still have two months of pending salaries – August and September.

“End of October will be the third month we have not received our salaries,” one Alkalo, Al-Amin (not his real name) told this medium.

“I have always made follow-ups at the local government but what they told me was they have realized some Alkalolu were not paid; that I should wait while they check in the database. They assured me that they would pay us, but I have not heard anything from them,” he added.

Although the government owes some Alkalolu two months’ salaries, which is August and September, this medium has been told by some Alkalolu that what they are struggling to get is September’s pay. One such Alkalo is Jerreh Bojang, Kombo Manduar.

“They need to tell us something concrete. I have not been paid yet. When we went to where they usually pay us, they told us the money was not there. I always ask for it (the salary), but I receive nothing concrete from them,” said Jerreh.

When President Barrow was making the promise at a gathering in November last year, he acknowledged the importance of Alkalolu, saying “any difficulty in the village is faced by the village heads.”

Mustapha Saidy, Bafuloto Alkalo, is another village head who spoke to this medium. He does not know as to why they have not been paid even after enquiring.

“Our salaries have not been paid. We (the Alkalolu) usually inform one another as soon as it comes. But to be honest, we have not been paid. We don’t have any information about what causes the delay, nothing,” Mustapha told this medium.

According to media reports, there are precisely, 1,800 village heads benefiting from the salary payment. Simple mathematics, if that is the case, shows that it will cost the government five million four-hundred thousand dalasis (D5, 400, 000) each month and sixty-four million eight hundred thousand dalasis (D64, 800, 000) yearly.

Meanwhile, this reporter has tried reaching out to the authorities, including travelling to their offices but was unable to get a response from them regarding the matter.

By: Modou Touray 

Regional chairman of West Coast Region for the ruling National People’s Party (NPP), Mr. Lamin Jatta, has expressed confidence that his leadership will give the NPP 20 of the 28 counsellor seats in West Coast Region.

He was speaking on the forthcoming local government election, his re-election bid as chairman of West Coast Region and related issues.

“I am confident that I shall win 20 seats out of 28 in next year’s local government elections.”

He warned members and supporters of the NPP against intraparty conflict, noting that they should embrace unity and social cohesion for the progress and success of the party.

“If you don’t obey me as your leader, even if you win to be chairman, my supporters will never accept you. This is what lead to long lasting hatred.”

Responding to questions on his bid to contest in the forthcoming NPP congress, chairman Jatta pointed out that the fate of his re-election lies in the regional party delegates of the west coast region.

“With or without position, I am always NPP. To be chairman, a member of the delegates must dominate you seconded by another delegate. If there is opposition to my nomination, then we proceed to party elections. There are procedures in political party candidates’ selection process,” he said.

As preparations for party congresses underway, Mr Jatta clarified that there is so far no application for the post of regional chairmanship for West Coast Region.

“It’s not to my knowledge as at now whether someone is interested in the position or not. Anyone interested in the position must have the party at heart. The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) recently dispatched a press release reminding all registered political parties to conduct biennial Congress by 31st of December,2022.

I was nominated by party delegates from the entire 12 constituencies of west coast region to contest as chairman. If I have any intention to resign, I shall notify those delegates respectfully but not on social media.”

Mr Jatta has been a key influential figure in the formation of the National People’s Party (NPP) with a break-away faction of the 2016 coalition team.

Recently, there has been vigorous political campaign against him to resign by a group “operations clean NPP” who accused his executive of dominating incompetent candidates in the last national assembly elections. Out of the 12 constituencies, NPP only won Old Yundum.

“I don’t select any candidate for national assembly elections. It’s the mandate of the constituency committees to select their candidates. My task is to campaign for whoever is selected as my party candidate.”

Some NPP supporters hinted this medium that underground campaigns are in high gear to challenge Mr Lamin Jatta but at the time of this publication, no one publicly declare his/her bid to do so.

Utopia Spa and Global Wellness based in Durham, North Carolina, USA partnered with The Gambia’s Woman Boss, a female-focused entrepreneurship accelerator, to host retreat in Senegal and The Gambia:

(Utopia SGW), formerly Spa Utopia Inc was founded by Naya F. Powell in 2021. Initially, the company provided on-demand wellness services for businesses and corporations. After a pandemic pivot, it relaunched as a business-to-business digital wellness subscription platform addressing global burnout, and the future of work. Now they have taken it a step further by organizing global destination retreats. The Senegal and Gambia eight-day retreat will be its first on the continent.  Below we had a chat with Naya as she tells us a bit more about her inspiration and motivation in organizing such an event in Senegal and Gambia.

How did the Africa retreat come about?

A few years back, Awamary Khan, founder and CEO of The Woman Boss (based in the Gambia), was working with Black entrepreneurs in Durham, North Carolina. She also founded North Carolina’s Black Entrepreneurship Week (BEW). Her work with Shaw University’s Innovation Center positioned her on the same street as Red Hat, and our paths crossed. Through collaboration, we fostered a true friendship born out of a mutual passion for entrepreneurship. Hosting a retreat together was a natural progression. We secured a line-up of amazing speakers who are also women that share our vision for empowering other women in the entrepreneurial and corporate leadership space. This initiative resulted in a global press CNBC feature highlighting our social impact collaboration.

Who will take part in this retreat?

Naya: From October 14-23, 2022, fourteen African-American women CEOs, executives, investors, and thought leaders will ascend from around the globe to Escape, Elevate, Enrich, and be Empowered at our inaugural Utopia Spa & Global Wellness Retreat in Senegal and The Gambia. I serve as a global mentor and Advisory Board member to The Woman Boss (TWB) founded by Awamary Khan. In The Gambia, we will extend the opportunity for our Utopia Global Wellness Retreat guests to meet, mentor, and do business with this amazing community of founders.

What was your motivation in bringing the retreat to Africa this year?

Naya: I wanted to curate an experience to promote self-care and cultural enrichment around the African diaspora, investment opportunities, women’s empowerment, and social impact – in collaboration with Gambia-based non-profit, The Woman Boss (TWB). While there, we will spend time at TWB and Innovate Gambia headquarters. Utopia retreat attendees and I will participate in an entrepreneurship panel, followed by speed mentoring sessions with entrepreneurs of TWB. They will meet, learn and ask questions of our retreat attendees, who are entrepreneurs and executives in the U.S. Additionally, this offers mentorship matchmaking.

Finally, we will end the day at TWB with a curated market allowing us to shop with these brilliant women entrepreneurs and invest in their endeavors in real time. We will also extend some social activities for further relationship-building with our sisters across the globe.

Alaba: Who made the speakers list?

Naya: Our Speakers are Global Thought Leaders and Wellness Innovators from various countries. They include:

1). Naya F. Powell, Founder + CEO, Utopia Spa and Global Wellness Number #1 Best Selling Author, North Carolina, USA.

2). Awamary Khan, Founder + CEO, The Woman Boss and Innovate Gambia, Banjul, The Gambia and Malaga, Spain.

3). Khadijah Aja Tambajang, Founder & Lead Consultant, MakalliMatta Consulting and Co-owner, NewDay Media, The Gambia.

4). Aminata Mbaye, Chief of Staff- Sigma Gamma Rho, Planning and Strategy  Consultant, Dakar, Senegal.

5). Dee C. Marshall, CEO, Diverse & Engaged, LLC, Co-Host of Brown Table Talk, New Jersey, USA

6). Koren Bowman, Founder + CEO, KU Real Estate Group, Owner, Keller Williams North Carolina, USA .

7). Kimmi Troy, Trauma-Informed Yoga Instructor, Wellness Advocate Indiana, USA.

What would you like the takeaway for this retreat to be for the ladies?

Naya: The Utopia Retreat Experience was curated for women across the African diaspora to return to the continent and connect with our rich history while providing the opportunity to escape, elevate, enrich and empower whilst doing good. I would like for the women to leave Senegal and The Gambia feeling inspired to deeper reconnect with their sisters and brothers on the continent as a whole and to see the great economic opportunities on the continent. Above all, I would like each and everyone of them to take a piece of Senegal and The Gambia with them and educate their friends, family and community about this great continent we were all taken away from.

Originally published by NEXT Newspaper