By: Modou Touray

Watermelon farmers, who transport their produce to the greater Banjul areas to sell, have called for a market space to be built for them as their produce is exposed to post-harvest loss. They stated that their only alternative way is to scatter watermelons on strategic roadsides.

Speaking to The Fatu Network, Alhagie Babou Gaye, a farmer from Jakadou lamented that he suffered a huge post-harvest loss as a result of a lack of proper market space.

“My produce is on the roadside along Kairaba Avenue. A motor vehicle while trying to drop off a passenger, incidentally, stepped on my watermelons and a lot perished. I have no choice because I am selling at the wrong spot. Farmers’ Platform needs to advocate for us,” Mr Gaye pointed out.

This medium visited several watermelon vendors, and they told us they are farmers who transport their produce themselves from the rural area to sell in the greater Banjul areas.

“I come from Brikamaba, I am here with 2 of my children to help me sell watermelon. I lobby for this space at Latrikunda on the roadside. Unfortunately, people steal them, and bicycles also trampled on them,” Bambalai Bah explained.

In Bakoteh, some farmers were seen offloading watermelons from a truck on the roadside. Bakary Sanneh asserted that the Farmers Platform needs to take up the issues of an organised market for watermelon farmers with a facility to preserve them to avoid post-harvest loss.

“I lost more than 30 watermelons due to drivers mistakenly destroying them. People should understand our plight because this is perishable produce and care must be given in handling them,” Cherno Jobe said.

When contacted for his reaction, the secretary general of the Farmers Platform, the Gambia Mr Lamin S Fadera highlighted that Government since the early 90s has not devised any mechanism to generate industries that will process melon to add value to the product for both domestic and foreign markets. The sector is left completely loose despite its economic importance.

“Farmers also failed to diversify melon production. They all cultivate and harvest at the same time and congest the market with their produce. This results in serious post-harvest losses. We are calling on the ministries of agriculture, trade, industry and employment to immediately look into the improvement of the watermelon production value chain,” Mr Fadera said.

Mr Fadera admitted that there is no organised market outlet for melon farmers, they can be seen littering around roadsides and street corners and both local councils and municipal councils are not doing much to address the problem.

With regards to providing a specially designated area for watermelon vendors, Mr Wurra Bah, the deputy director of administration at the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) said the council faces constraints in terms of open space but the demand is subject to discussion.

“It’s a genuine appeal but it has to be discussed at the council level. We have not been thinking about it. The specially designated area was given to ram sellers during the tobaski feast and the same could happen. Melon sellers litter everywhere, and cleansing is a burden,” Mr Bah stated.

President Adama Barrow on Thursday November 3^rd 2022, received Chiefs from across the regions in the country. The Chiefs were at the Presidency to report on their recent visit to Guinea Bissau to pay condolences on the demise of Paramount Chief Fernandes Augustus.

Addressing the gathering, President Barrow commended the chiefs for taking the initiative to visit Guinea Bissau, describing it as a manifestation of diplomacy at its highest standard. He stated that such visits help straighten relations between countries, especially given the importance of local government in a country’s administration.

The President further noted that Gambia and Guinea have a long-standing relationship that both countries proudly cherish.

President Barrow used the opportunity to highlight his administration’s achievements in improving the lives and livelihood of all Gambians. He acknowledged the concerns about the high cost of living, which he said is a global problem that requires concerted efforts to improve. The President cited the steps his government has taken to subsidise fertilisers, fuel, and even the reduction of road tax to ease the burden on the people.

Additionally, the President said he is in consultation with partners to subsidise the price of essential commodities, which is already translated in the price of oil, and rice will follow suit. He disclosed that steps had been taken to minimise rice importation by introducing a high-yield variety.

Touching on democracy, the President said some Gambians have taken it for granted to instigate people against the government but was quick to add that Gambians should be law-abiding and promote peace and harmony. He concluded that his government is doing all it can to deliver the much-needed development and is not stopping until that goal is achieved.

Speaking on behalf of the chiefs on the Bissau trip, Chief Momodou Chatty Cham of Upper Niumi expressed delight at the reception they received in Bissau. He noted that the visit had cemented the relationship between the two countries, especially at the local government level. He credited the honour accorded to them to President Barrow, whose inspirational leadership continued to transcend The Gambia’s borders.

Other Chiefs from West Coast Region, Central River Region and Lower River Region all expressed their support to the President. They pledged to work closely to alleviate the economic challenges the country is currently facing.

The Ministers of Finance, Justice, and Interior respectfully addressed the gathering on the developments at their various ministries. They expressed commitment to ensuring a stable economy, peace and security and a corruption-free Gambia.

Press release  

State House, Banjul, 4th September 2022

By: Modou Touray

The completion of Kombo Basori market is still challenging. The market is expected to provide space for at least 45 vendors but the lack of toilet facilities and makes it difficult for vendors to occupy.

In an exclusive interview, the Village Development Committee (VDC) chairman Mr Lamin Jallow highlighted that women in Basori village installed tables at their various compound gates to sell vegetables and other food items, making it difficult for customers.

“If you need to buy food items to cook, it takes you time to locate the right seller. You have to move around from one compound to another before you get what you want,” Mr Jallow said.

VDC chairman Jallow spoke at length on the urgency of speeding up construction works at the market for business activities to flourish in the village.

“If the market under construction is completed, it will encourage other compounds around the market area to start building shops for other businesses to occupy. In that way, the market will expand. The market is yet to be painted although the ward councillor Mr Ousman Bah hinted me about plans to do that as soon as possible.”

Mr Jallow clarified that the funding for the construction of the market was provided by the Brikama Area Council but that the villagers provided the land.

As enshrined in the Local Government Act of the Gambia, the VDC is responsible for coordinating all development activities in the village and works directly with local council.

When contacted for his reaction, the ward councillor for Giboro ward, Mr Ousman Bah asserted that the funding shortage was due to an error in the bill of quantity, adding that it has already been fixed.

“We have already collected an invoice for the expenditures for painting which the council will handle. An initial amount of D500,000 was allocated for the market project which could not complete works,” councilor Bah explained.

Responding to questions of which vendors are to occupy the market, Councilor Bah explained that the facility is not spacious to cater for the entire vendors but has a suggestion for the village development committee prior to the inauguration of the market.

The Councilor pointed out that toilet facility wasn’t catered for in the budget, but that if there is funding, it will be built.

“We intend to build local canteen at the market for other vendors such as meat sellers and other sellers of valuable goods,” he concluded.

Basori village is a settlement part of Giboro ward and Councilor Ousman Bah is their development representative at the Brikama Area Council.

By: Dawda Baldeh

According to rmg.co.uk, around 12 million Africans were enslaved in the course of the transatlantic slave trade. Between 1640 and 1807, British ships transported about 3.4 million Africans across the Atlantic. Out of that number, 450,000 died on the Atlantic crossing, while most of those who survived were transported to London, Bristol, and Liverpool.

During this period, babies were sold separately from their biological parents. Husbands, wives and children were divided and scattered, never to see, know or encounter one another again in many instances. Records of the enslaved people were not kept which makes it difficult for them to trace back their origin, ethnic groups and culture.

There is an Automatical African Citizenship campaign calling on African leaders and governments to grant them citizenship like Ghana did in 2019.

Speaking exclusively to The Fatu Network, Juliet Ryan, the Founder of Blaxit, said the Automatic African citizenship campaign is for them to be seen as Africans and not to be treated as non-Africans.

“Our ancestors were taken from West Africa. We lost our language, identity, culture, family, inheritance,” emotional Juliet explained.

Contrary to what some people perceived about the descendants, Juliet said they are urging African governments to reduce the number of years for one to be a citizen.

“We are not saying this without following due process. We are your lost family members, and we should be welcomed not rejected,” she said.

Juliet, whose Gambian name is Nyancho Kujabi, pleaded to Gambians to give them the necessary support for their integration.

In The Gambia, for one to be granted citizenship, he/she must be a resident in the country for a period not less than fifteen years.

Responding to this constitutional requirement, Juliet added, they are urging the Gambian government to consider reducing this.

She equally called on African leaders to support their reintegration and emulate Ghana’s move.

She described the comments by some people regarding their plea as heartbreaking, saying they shouldn’t be rejected.

Ms. Ryan said they are not coming with bare hands, noting that they will invest, create jobs, skills, and help in developing the country.

“We have transferable skills that can be used to help build the infrastructure and work to bring knowledge together. The draconianal laws are still keeping us apart. We are asking for these laws to be addressed.

My meeting with President Adama Barrow was emotional because never thought I will meet an African president in my life. It gave me hope to push harder for us to achieve the goals of the automatic citizenship campaign. It was a life-changing experience for me,” she described.

She added that the meeting was a step in the right direction but that they want to move making progress in the citizenship campaign.

For Ms. Ryan, Africa needs to re-educate its people to change the narrative and tell its history in a better way for the continent to realise its power.

Ms. Juliet added that Africa is the home of their ancestors who were forcefully taken from the continent against their will.

She revealed that they are restricted in terms of purchasing land. This she noted is not done to any Gambian in the United Kingdom.

It is stated that the reintegration of African descendants will create employment opportunities, boost tourism and increase income revenue for any county.

Hassoum Ceesay, a Gambian historian, writer and museum curator at the Gambia National Museum, called on Gambians and Africans to welcome the reintegration of African Descendants.

“They are our African brothers and sisters; therefore, all hands should be on deck to welcome them to the mother continent.”

The 51-year-old historian described the descendants as skilful and knowledgeable people who can help in transforming the continent to the next level.

“Wherever you are, as long as you are black, you are an African,” Hassoum Ceesay emphasized.

Mr. Ceesay said Gambia is the home of Kunta Kinteh and the bastion of Pan-Africanism through Edward Francis Small and the National Council for British West Africa.

He said plans are underway for revising the roots festival, adding that African descendants will be in the middle of the organization so that the Gambia will continue to be a home pilgrimage for the descendants.

“We want to start in 2023 with the festival to mark two hundred years of the British occupation of George Island where the liberated Africans were settled.”

Ghana is the first country in Africa to grant automatic citizenship to the African Descendants on 27 November 2019. They granted citizenship to over 100 African Americans and Afro-Caribbeans as part of the “year of return” which marks 400 years since the anchoring of an English ship in Jamestown, Virginia in the United States carrying small groups of enslaved Africans.

As today marks International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, the Gambia Press Union (GPU) has in a statement says, “in the last five years, more than 15 incidents of physical assault on journalists and media professionals occurred, with all these attacks being perpetrated either by the police or politicians, including supporters of the president and the opposition.”

The umbrella body for journalists in The Gambia notes that no perpetrator has been prosecuted for the said crimes committed against journalists in The Gambia.

The GPU “calls on the government to renew its commitment to press freedom and freedom of expression and ensure that journalists enjoy a safer environment to do their job without intimidation and attacks.”

Read the GPU press statement below:

PRESS STATEMENT

International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists

Fajara, Gambia, November 2, 2022: Today, as we mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes committed against Journalists.

The Gambia Press Union join calls by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and 600,000 media professionals from 187 trade unions and associations in more than 140 countries worldwide, for governments, journalists and media groups to support the adoption of a UN Convention on the Safety and Independence of Journalists and Other Media Professionals.

In order to “Break the Cycle of Impunity”, the Gambia Press Union (GPU) agrees that more safeguards and guarantees must be implemented beyond the United Nations Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, which has been unable to deliver the “free and safe environment for journalists and media workers” it promised, according to the IFJ.

In the Gambia and elsewhere around the world, journalists continue to be harassed, attacked both physically and verbally, beaten, arrested, detained, threatened and killed for doing their job.

Attacks on journalists online, including hacking and attempts to takeover social media accounts and emails of journalists and media organisations, online harassment, and surveillance also threaten the digital and physical safety of journalists.

This, therefore, made it even more urgent for the United Nations to adopt a Convention on the Safety and Independence of Journalists and Other Media Professionals – an instrument that would compel governments to address impunity for violence targeting journalists and media personnel.

In the Gambia, the failure to bring perpetrators of crimes against journalists to justice, has over several decades perpetuated a cycle of violence against journalists.

“The victims of the grave dictatorship-era crimes against journalists in the form of killings, enforced disappearance and torture have yet to see justice,” GPU President, Muhammed S. Bah, said. “Also, promises of greater freedoms, the protection of journalists and media law reforms have yet to be fulfilled, six years after the dictatorship.”

In the last five years, more than 15 incidents of physical assault on journalists and media professionals occurred, with all these attacks being perpetrated either by the police or politicians, including supporters of the president and the opposition.

To date, not a single perpetrator has been prosecuted for these crimes committed against journalists in The Gambia.

“We call on the government to renew its commitment to press freedom and freedom of expression and ensure that journalists enjoy a safer environment to do their job without intimidation and attacks,” GPU Secretary General, Modou S. Joof, said. “To address impunity for crimes against journalists, there must be justice, and this can’t be achieved if perpetrators face no consequences for their actions which has been the case in the Gambia in the last 28 years.”

The GPU is urging political parties to also take up their responsibilities to protect and ensure the safety of journalists covering their events such as press conferences and political rallies, and to stop their supporters from attending press conferences thereby creating an atmosphere of intimidation and possible assault both physically and verbally.

– Ends

For inquiries,

Contact GPU Secretary General

Tel: +220 348 0043

Email: [email protected]

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

Yankuba Darboe, the United Democratic Party (UDP) stalwart who announced his bid to contest for Brikama Area Council chairmanship, has said that he will beat National People’s party’s (NPP) Ahamad Gitteh to the seat next year.

The optimistic UDP’s Deputy Administrative Secretary for Media and Communications said Ahmad Gitteh should be the last person to return to the West Coast Region electorates to seek their votes after convincing them to give their votes to President Adama Barrow in December 2021.

“Ahmad Gitteh should be the last person to return to the voters of West Coast to seek their votes. Where are the promises of a better Gambia that he sold to them 10 months ago?” he asked.

The UK-trained lawyer explained that Ahmad Gitteh sold the National People’s Party to West Coast during the December presidential election. He said the repercussions of such got the country into high inflation of basic commodities, and corruption at the highest office.

According to Darboe, Ahmad Gitteh will not wish for him to be an opponent because he’ll beat him in the election for chairmanship if they go head-to-head.

“… he would not pray to have me as an opponent! I will be his threat and not the contrary. I will beat him in West Coast, he knows that,” Yanks confidently told TFN

Yankuba’s Plans for West Coast Region

West Coast Region is the most populated region and the biggest in the Gambia. Brikama Area Council (BAC), compared to other councils, has the largest territory in the country.

According to Yankuba Darboe, his utmost priority when elected will be to put an end to corruption in the council, digitize revenue collection and create more market spaces in the region.

“West Coast faces many daunting challenges, and the worst of those challenges is corruption, which is the cancer incapacitating that council (BAC). Thus, my priority will be to defeat corruption, maximize revenue, and invest in providing local amenities for the people,” he outlined.

He further told this medium that when elected as the chairman of the Brikama Area Council, he will work to digitize revenue collection to help curb the leakage of finance. According to him, that will ameliorate corruption and bring about accountability in the Council.

On the market issues, Yanks said he will create more market spaces and also invest in projects to create job prospects at the local level.

“I will create more market spaces for the market vendors and build cold stores at the markets for our vendors to be able to save their perishable goods. I will also invest in projects that create job opportunities at the local levels for the youths to help them to have something to hang on to,” he told TFN.

The UDP potential BAC chairmanship election candidate added that he will want to champion the campaign against dangerous sand and gravel mining in the region which, he said, is posing a great danger to the environment.

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

The Deputy Administrative Secretary for Media and Communication of the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP), Yankuba Darboe, has blasted the Chairman of the Brikama Area Council (BAC) Sherrifo Sonko for his incompetence in leading the region’s Area Council, saying the chairman has turned the office into a brothel and allowed corruption to blossom.

Darboe, whose party endorsed Sherrifo Sonko to contest and won the seat in the last local government election but later fell apart, said Sherrifo Sonko is inept and accused his former party mate of turning the office into a brothel where he sexually abused women.

“… Sheriffo Sonko has proven to all that competency and integrity matter in public office. For he’s bereft of those traits, and the consequences have been terrible for West Coast. He turned our honourable office into a brothel, where he preyed on vulnerable women and sexually abused them. I think we have heard his sex audios,” Yanks said.

The lawyer-cum-politician, who affirmed his readiness to vie for the top office in Brikama Area Council under the UDP ticket yesterday, told The Fatu Network that Chairman Sheriffo Sonko has abused his office for far too long and allowed corruption to flourish.
He pointed out that his former ally in the United Democratic Party is unfit for the position, adding that chairman Sonko betrayed the trust conferred on him by those that voted him in.

“He had abused that office for far too long and allowed corruption to thrive. Thus, he is not fit to be in that office for another 5 years and should have the decency not to even contemplate it. He has betrayed the trust and confidence of the people of West Coast,” he stressed.

Sheriffo Sonko, who is now believed to have cross carpeted from UDP to National People’s Party (NPP), is yet to publicly announce if he will seek re-election or leave the office at the end of his term.

The West Coast Region Brikama Area Council Chairmanship election has been predicted by many commentators to be a well-contested battle.

Yankuba Darboe of UDP, Jammeh EK Bojang of UDP and Ahmad Gitteh of NPP are among the people who have publicly announced their aspirations for the seat.

By: Ousman Saidykhan

Justice Sidi K Jobarteh of the Banjul high court has given an order to the state on Tuesday, November 1, 2022, to file their indictment against one Kumba Sinyan, the alleged murderer of Lamarana Jallow, 25, following an adjournment application filed by the state which was objected to by the defence.

Delivering her ruling on what became the second adjournment since the case was transferred from the Kanifing Magistrates court on the 19th of September 2022 for want of jurisdiction, the High Court judge ordered the state to “file an indictment on or before the next adjourn date” which is the 16th of November 2022 at 11:30 a.m. Justice Jobarteh did not say exactly what will happen if the state fails to file an indictment on the 16th.

The prosecution counsel, L Jarju had informed the court that they had received the case file from the police less than 30 minutes before the beginning of the proceedings but assured they would do the needful on the next adjourned date.

The defence counsel, Sagar Jahateh opposed the adjournment application over what she believed was disregarding the fundamental human rights of her client. She submitted that the state had ample time to indict the accused.

“The court should give an order for the state to file an indictment or else the accused be discharged until they are ready to proceed with the case,” defence counsel said.

The accused, Kumba Sinyan is charged with murder. She is alleged to have killed one Momodou  Lamarana Jallow, 25, by cutting open his stomach with a razor blade at the Friendship Hotel in Bakau on the 14th of September 2022. Kumba was allegedly in a relationship with Lamarana. The deceased, according to reports, was supposed to fly to Indonesia for studies a day after his murder.

By: Ousman Saidykhan

A regulatory officer at the Medicines Control Agency has told reporters that some of the seventy deaths recorded as a result of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) were found not to have been caused by the medicines (contaminated cold and cough syrups from India).

“Out of the seventy (70) kids that died, some of the kids died without taking any medication. And out of those 70 kids, some kids took medications we have tested, and the medications are not affected; they are safe to be used. But the kids only took those medications and died,” Tijan Jallow, told journalists at a press briefing on Monday, 31 October 2022.

The regulatory office said an investigation is being launched to ascertain the exact causes of what was regarded by some Gambians as a national tragedy and has not concluded whether it was medicines or microorganisms.

“Because we were in the rainy seasons, and we know for the past 15 to 20 years Gambia experience the highest rainfall in this season. We realised 95% of the kids that died are from flooded areas. So, some urine blood samples were collected from a kid that was showing the same signs and symptoms.

“So, after analysing those samples. 90 – 95% of those samples show the presence of 6 different bacteria species and three different virus species. We also collected three samples from kids that are having the AKI. When we analyse their stool samples, all of them have bacteria in their stool,” Tijan Jallow said at the press briefing.

He said he is part of a task force that is assessing the causes of the deaths by establishing the medication each child took.

“And as I made it clear, a good number of kids died without taking medications.”

By: Modou Touray

Human rights activists drawn from the length and breadth of the African continent, while brainstorming on the factors triggering military overthrows of democratically elected governments, admitted that coups are not a solution to citizens’ grievances, but it is a signal of poor governance by an incumbent government.

Activists who delivered their statements highlighting their country’s scenarios called on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU) to institute more robust measures to ensure that African leaders adhere to term limits and rule within democratic frameworks to avoid unconstitutional takeovers.

Reflecting on the military regime in Mali, rights activists revealed that despite the unconstitutionality of the regime, most of the citizens seem to be comfortable with the military regime and don’t prefer civil government.

The Director of Policy and Engagement, Open Society Africa, George Kegoro, spoke at length on factors leading to military coups in Africa. He further asserted that people’s anger towards a poor system of governance often leads to coups but said it is not the best option.

“People need human security, which discusses to make life bearable, such as security for hunger, physicality, and social protection. If these lacks, that leads to a response which brings about coups,” he said.

The executive director of the African Center for Human rights studies Mrs Hana Forster pointed out that an unconstitutional overthrow by the military cannot be the appropriate remedy, but it indicates a justifiable problem in incumbent governments in Africa.

Mrs Forster also dilated on curbing protests in Africa while calling on governments to ensure that citizens have the right to protest.

“We have to have a way of dealing with protest and conflict in general in Africa. There are so many triggers of conflicts around us but how do we together find a solution to it,” she said.

She added that it’s our collective responsibility to find tangible solutions to our challenges as a continent

Mrs Hannah Foster stated that the convergence is an opportunity to bring to the attention of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights trending issues about instability and conflict in African Union member states through resolutions and recommendations.

Currently, there are military governments in Mali, Guinea Conakry, Burkina Faso, and Chad. The Republic of Mali experience double coups and Guinea Bissau as well experience an attempted coup.

The Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU) made numerous calls for the total abolition of military takeovers but couldn’t materialise due to poor governance across Africa, the violations of the rights of citizens and ignoring the presidential term limits.

Other activities from South Africa, Ghana, Kenya and other African countries spoke on democracy and good governance in Africa.

By: Modou Touray

Students at the Gambia College – Brikama campus have expressed health concerns over the poor condition of their facility which they say expose them to a range of health risks.

Many dormitory residents, who requested anonymity, called on authorities and the public to help them fix the said sanitary problem.

“The condition of the toilets is deplorable. The college administration needs to replace the facility. We have nine rooms in this dormitory block and each room is sometimes up to three students. There are three toilets here and only one bathroom for more than 20 students,” a male student said.

Many students come from the provinces and only rely on the university for accommodation.

“I came from the province to stay here for the duration of my course. I have no relatives in Brikama to lodge in town, therefore I have no choice but to stay here,” another student told this reporter.

Fatou Njie, a student, noted that many students have passed through such conditions at the dormitory and the situation seems to be the same.

President of the general student council of the Gambia College – Brikama Campus, Fatou M Yaffa, confirmed that water supply at the dormitory is insufficient and appealed for support to fix that.

“For 40 years now, the dormitory hasn’t undergone any major refurbishment. Our student council normally intervenes to help to clear the filled toilets. Also, we help fix the bulbs when they fuse. We are looking for immediate assistance from the public. The mattresses are getting old too and they need to be replaced,” the student president appealed.

In his reaction, the principal of the Gambia College, Mr Abubacarr Jallow said:

“The management of the dormitory is in the hands of the students’ leadership. They are the ones collecting the rental fees. I wanted to close the dormitory because we have issues maintaining it but the students made an appeal and I decided to leave it. Only 200 students are staying there currently.”

The Gambia College is a public tertiary institution with campuses in Banjul and Brikama.

If you’d told the 16-year-old me that at 46, I’d be divorced, single and having a baby on my own — by choice! — I’d have shuddered and firmly said “no!”

Back then, I had very definite ideas about the future course my personal life would take, and it didn’t look like this. I imagined something way more straightforward and dare I say it, conventional.

I’ve been blessed to build the career of my dreams over decades as a journalist — 13 years on air for CNN International, travelling the world to cover global events and interviewing presidents, movie stars and world leaders.

I published a book, became a UN Goodwill Ambassador and started a nonprofit to help empower African girls, but in my quiet moments the one thing I wanted the most, to become a mother, remained out of reach.

A brief marriage to a kind man didn’t result in children, and then the year I turned 40, my mum had a catastrophic stroke, leaving me no emotional space to contemplate anything other than caring for her. Six years went by and a few months ago I found myself in a subpar relationship with a man who took about 12 hours to reply to all my texts, among other red flags.

It was then, in the aftermath of our inevitable breakup, that it hit me: Not having a child would be the greatest regret of my life. And with my biological clock ticking down, if I was waiting for the right man to come along before I did it, well, I might just find myself out of time.

So, I decided to take control of my life and settle on the bravest and scariest decision I have ever made: to have a baby on my own. I had many long conversations with myself and tried to get to grips with questions about what it would mean to not have the support of a partner, both emotionally and financially. How would I handle society’s questions?

What would being a single parent mean for my child? I still don’t have all the answers, but I decided to take the leap because I refuse to let fear, social conventions or judgment hold me back from seeking this joy.

The process hasn’t been easy. The endless array of meetings with various doctors has also required a battery of blood tests, pelvic exams, bruising injections, nausea-inducing medication and an unexpected fibroid surgery.

But perhaps most challenging of all has been the emotional dimension of this journey, especially surrounding my choice of a sperm donor. The decision asked of me to confront questions surrounding the importance of the race, ethnicity, religion and educational background of my child’s father.

Essentially, it forced me to re-examine my own upbringing, values and worldview. But harder still was the task of trying to tease clues from the questionnaires that would tell me whether a donor was a good man? Did he have a moral compass? Was he truly kind, empathetic, and open-minded?

Ultimately, I made a decision — entirely on my own — and I have no regrets.

My first IVF attempt was unsuccessful, and I cried for days afterwards, before I could find the strength to start the process all over again a few months later. But with each passing day, I grew more fearful and anxious about my chances of being able to successfully carry a child.

Those feelings only intensified when my doctor decided to halt my second attempt mid-cycle because my body was responding negatively to the medication. With two failed attempts to my name, I approached my third embryo transfer with relatively low expectations.

In the two weeks that followed the procedure, my mind raced uncontrollably and I battled the urge to take an early pregnancy test. The day before I was scheduled to return to the clinic, I finally caved in and bought a home test because I couldn’t bear a repeat of the hours-long wait before the clinic called with the results.

The next morning I got up long before the sun was up, anxiously headed to my bathroom and opened the box. The minutes ticked by and I cycled through a myriad of emotions. When the word “pregnant” flashed up on the tiny screen, I screamed and fell to my knees before bursting into tears.

Even though many weeks have gone by since then and my belly is growing larger by the day, whenever I say the words, “I am pregnant,” it is with no small measure of amazement. I am elated, emotional, terrified, but above all thankful.

My pregnancy journey is just beginning, but so far I can tell you that in addition to great joy, it has also brought unenviable amounts of nausea, fatigue, food aversions, sound sensitivity and an ongoing battle with my hormones.

In the weeks ahead, I plan to share more of my life-changing experience in the hope that if there is anyone out there being held back from chasing their heart’s desire — no matter what it is — maybe my story will spark something in them and provide the little nudge they need to go for it.

Credit: Myjoyonline.com

By: Modou Touray

Gambian youths who had responded to the call by ex-president Yahya Jammeh for citizens to go back to the land (revive farming) have expressed frustrations over the coalition government neglecting them following their takeover in 2017.

In an exclusive interview with The Fatu Network, their leader Alhagie Karamo Jammeh highlighted that their agricultural production output has drastically reduced due to a lack of support from the new government. Agricultural machinery as well as financial support which were provided by ex-president Jammeh are not available now and they have no choice but to depend on their little resources to sustain their agricultural initiative.

“After the former president left, we don’t get any help from anyone. We struggle and grow and after growing, we will contact markets and rent a car from Kombo and go around that’s why we were calling on the government to give us support because, with their help, we can continue with the effective and sustainable initiative of “growing what you eat, eat what you grow initiative,” Mr Jammeh said.

The champion farmers believe that the agricultural initiative of the ex-president Jammeh is a tangible proposal and should be well nurtured to enhance food security and self-employment

“Not everything about ex-president Jammeh is bad, he championed good things for the citizens. We cannot ignore everything associated with him. Engaging in agriculture to feed ourselves is for our benefit. After the fall of the Jammeh regime in 2017, most of the youths working with me decided to return to their various villages because they were hopeless,” he explained.

According to Alhagie Karamo Jammeh, his association started in 2019 with 7 youths with a view to engender the back-to-back initiative of ex-president Yahya Jammeh and also to use it as a self-employment venture.

“This agricultural activity started with 7 youths and presently we have a total of 37 youths working together and also collaborating with some experienced Gambian farmers. We visited many institutions of the government still they are not answering our call for help this year. We have already registered 58 villages in the Gambia to engage different youths to expand our initiative and ensure that the back-to-land initiative remains a reality,” Mr Jammeh stressed.

Mr Jammeh on behalf of the Champion Farmers appeals for support in agricultural input, and technical support to enable them to harvest high yields on their farms and meaningful links with other unemployed youths nationwide.

“Agriculture is the backbone of the economy and must be enhanced. All necessary supports needed must be put together to make food security and self-employment possible. We used to link with Yahya Jammeh but since the coalition government came to power, they don’t support us,” Mr Jammeh lamented.

The Champion Farmers still won’t relent in their move to promote the farming agenda of former president Jammeh, back to the land. Grow what you eat and eat what you grow.

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

The National Youth President of the opposition National Democratic Congress (GDC), MC Cham Jrn has responded to Deputy Speaker Seedy SK Njie’s claim that responsible Gambians should apologise to the Health Ministry, urging the deputy speaker to instead apologize to Gambians and the victims of the affected families.

On Wednesday, October 22 during the National Assembly’s extraordinary session on the Indian-made syrups that killed over 70 Gambian children, the deputy speaker commended the country’s health ministry, claiming that the deaths of those kids have been politicized and urged responsible citizens to apologize to the ministry.

Responding to the Deputy Speaker, the GDC youth leader exhorted Seedy Njie to apologize, remarking that government should take responsibility for the deaths of over 70 children as a result of the contaminated Indian-made syrups.

“Wonders shall never end. I suggest that Deputy Speaker Njie apologize to the Gambians and the victims of the contaminated syrups. The government should take responsibility and review the ministry that continued to fail Gambians during the pandemic under Dr Samateh and ensure dismissals, license revocations and replaced by competency and capability and not nepotism and favouritism,” he remarked.

MC Cham outlined the Parliament should be the protector of Gambians and not detractors, adding that if the Parliament served as detractors, then there is no hope for the victims.

He reiterated that Gambians have nothing to apologize for since the ministry didn’t tell everything in the preliminary investigation regarding the syrups into the country.

“What is there to apologize for in the preliminary investigation that did not tell us since July when the outbreak was known by them but covered up and allowed importation over three months with increased death to date known to be over 66?” he questioned.

The never-silent politician said he wants to remind Seedy Njie that the ministry of health’s staff is paid by Gambians and that the preliminary investigation was inadequate.

“I would like to remind Deputy Speaker Njie that, the Gambia government MoH are paid by the people to do a job, and we should not applaud fish for swimming in the water. This preliminary investigation is inadequate,” he remarked.

On Wednesday, the nation’s parliamentarians debated over the Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) deaths that have exceeded the previous number of 66 announced by the Health Ministry.

The National Accreditation and Quality Assurance Authority (NAQAA), a technical arm of the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoHERST) on accreditation and quality assurance matters on Wednesday, 26^th October 2022 commenced the Regional Skills Competition in Basse, Upper River Region (URR), The Gambia.

The Regional Skills Competition is the Activity 7 Component of the UNESCO – KOICA Youth Empowerment through Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Project.

The competition is based on five skills areas, namely:

1. Block laying
2. Electrical Installation
3. Floor and Wall Tiling
4. Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning; and
5. Tailoring

In his opening remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of NAQAA, Dr Gibril Jaw underscored the significance of the competition, saying it is in line with The Gambia government’s national development goal of improving the country’s skills-based resources. Dr Jaw further highlighted that possessing the right skills and attitude helps reduce poverty levels and makes the youth job creators and not job seekers. He also outlined that the regional skills competition will provide more visibility to skills education and training in The Gambia.

For her part, Ms Fatou Janneh, the Principal Tertiary and Higher Education Officer and the TVET Focal Person in the Directorate of Tertiary and Higher Education of MoHERST, reaffirmed the commitment of the government of the Gambia through the MoHERST to producing home-grown technicians that will take charge of the developmental imperatives of the country. She went on to state that the Ministry calls on all partners to invest towards the sustainability of the skills competition so that it becomes an annual event with the hope of further participating in World Skills Competitions.

Also, in attendance was Mr Mamanding Ceesay, the Deputy Governor of URR, who spoke on behalf of the Governor. Mr Ceesay highlighted that the youth are the future of this country, and as such, they should be supported and guided to actualise their full potential. The Deputy Governor recommended more social policies, projects and programmes, like the skills competitions, to raise the level of expertise of our young people. He informed the gathering that the Office of the Governor in URR commends MoHERST through NAQAA for bringing this skills competition to URR. He reiterated that this maiden event would give the young people of his region the platform to showcase their talents.

In her speech, the Regional Education Director of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE), Mrs Fatou Kinneh Sey, stated that the country needs engineers and technicians. Thus, she is optimistic that the regional skills competition will boost the morale of young people to venture into TVET careers.

After the opening ceremony, the first leg of the regional competition began for the 15 young people participating in Basse. Three competitors were represented from different TVET institutions and workshops for each of the five skill sets. Five winners emerged, one from each skill set. These are:

1. Block laying – Malick Jawo of Insight Training Centre, 29 years old – Lives in Sinchu Baliya
2. Electrical Installation – Abdoulie Njie, former GTTI, and Insight Training Centre Student, 22 years old – Lives in Wellingara
3. Floor and Wall Tiling – Ebrima Fofana, GTTI, 26 years old – LRR Jara Sankule
4. Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning – Mamadou Salieu Jallow of GTTI – 25 years old – Lives in Basse
5. Tailoring – Fatou Nyassi – Bundung, studied at Sunrise Skill Centre, 27 years old

This round’s winners will participate in the national skills competition in mid-November 2022.

They will later be invited to attend the National Awards Ceremony, where they will be provided with Prizes.

The next stop is Mansakonko, the Lower River Region of the country, for the second leg of the skills competition on Saturday, 29 October 2022.