By: Ousman Saidykhan

The trial has begun for Sainabou Mbaye, Cherno Mbaye and Kibily Dambally at the High Court in Banjul as the trio faces a two-count indictment which alleges their involvement in the alleged manslaughter of one Muhammed Mbaye, who is a nephew to the first and second accused persons.

Sainabou, Cherno and Kibily; 1st, 2nd, and 3rd accused persons respectively, were arraigned on Monday, 4th October 2022 before Justice Jaiteh of the Banjul High Court where the charges of “manslaughter” and “child exposure” were read to them. They denied both charges giving the prosecution, who had their witnesses on hand, the burden to prove its case.

In what was a marathon hearing – from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Prosecution called three witnesses who were all police officers from the Serious Crime Unit in Banjul Headquarters, and each of them being an officer who obtained statements from one of the three accused persons regarding the alleged manslaughter.

Jankey Manneh was the first witness to testify in the case. She told the court she was assigned by her supervisor to obtain the cautionary and voluntary statements from Sainabou Mbaye, the 1st accused person in the trial, which she did on the 22nd and 23rd of July 2022 with one Babucarr Colley as the independent witness.

“I took the 1st accused to one of our offices where I asked her if she would be comfortable in that room. She replied, “yes,” the Corporal told the court, adding that she explained to the 1st accused that she needed not to say anything unless she wishes to because the statements would be presented in court.

The witness continued that the suspect, who is now the 1st accused told her she was tired and wanted to rest because she travelled from Senegal and arrived at 8 p.m. The witness told the court she contacted her supervisor who commanded her to allow the suspect to rest.

The following day, she narrated that, she got an independent witness in the name of Babucarr Colley, at around 8 a.m., who she said is a businessman.

“At the end, I read everything and translated it in Wollof to the suspect which she confirmed to be the true version of the statement,” Corporal Manneh narrated.

During the cross-examination, counsel Drammeh for the 1st accused asked the witness about where she got the “so-called” independent witness and how long he stayed at the station. The witness replied that he was brought by her supervisor at 8a.m. and was there till 11 a.m. on the morning of 23rd July.

The Defence for the 1st accused asked whether there was any autopsy report during the obtaining of statements; to which the witness replied “no.”

“It is correct, is it not, that your statement taking was just a question-and-answer session,” counsel asked, putting it to the witness that Mr. Colley is a friend of the police.

The Prosecution tendered the cautionary and voluntary statements of the 1st accused which were admitted and marked as exhibits P1 and P2 respectively.

The Second witness (PW2)

Another witness that testified for the Prosecution was Samba Mballow. Mr. Mballow is a Farato-native corporal who works at the Serious Crime Unit, just like the first witness.  He was the one who obtained the statements from Kibily Dambally, the third accused person in the case, on the 20th of July 2022. He told the court he was assigned by his supervisor to obtain statements from the 3rd accused.

“I invited an independent witness and interviewed him. I recorded his details and I read the details of the statements in the presence of the independent witness. He confirmed it was his statement. I asked him to sign.”

Kibily was provided with a Sarahule interpreter in the courtroom because he said it was the language he speaks well. The language issue was a bit contentious during the cross-examination when the Defence counsel for the 2nd and 3rd accused persons asked the witness about why he interviewed her client in Fula, when in fact, her client preferred speaking in Sarahule.

“In fact, he preferred to speak Sarahule but you told him there was no Sarahule interpreter or speaker” but the witness replied, “Kibily Never told me that.”

The independent witness called by the 2nd witness is Fabakary Kinteh whom the witness said he did not know when asked by the council.

“I’m telling you that Fabakary is a friend of the police and always offers to serve as an independent witness,” saying Mr. Kinteh was the one who served as the independent witness in the NIA 9 trial.

The cautionary and voluntary statements of the 3rd accused were also admitted and marked as exhibits P3 and P4.

Third Witness (PW3)

Mr. MI Senghore was the third witness called by the Prosecution. He is an Assistant Supervisor at the Serious Crimes Unit. He was the one who obtained Cherno Mbaye’s statements, the 2nd accused who he said spoke in the English Language.

“An independent witness was called and was cautioned and charged,” Mr. Senghore, who became known as the supervisor of the first and second witnesses told the court.

The witness was one of the investigators who went to Brusubi to “reconstruct the scene.”

“When we reached at the scene, the first thing we did was to position the vehicle exactly it perhaps was,” the witness said, referring to the vehicle used by the accused persons.

“We also met a neighbour who goes by the name Adama Bojang and interacted with her as to what she saw on that fateful day,” continuing that they observed, “the vehicle used by the accused persons was parked some meters from the gate of the newly rented apartment of the first accused (Sainabou Mbye).”

The Counsel for the 1st accused asked whether the investigators have investigated how the deceased got into the vehicle to which the witness replied, “our investigation focused on the circumstances surrounding the death of the child.”

The Counsel asked whether they have investigated the effect of water poured on the deceased by Adama Bojang, a neighbour the witness said they interacted with at the scene. He replied “no.”

The Defence counsel also asked whether the witness was aware of the suspension of Paracetamol Syrup which was the cause of the death of some children. She said the deceased was prescribed and had taken the drug; asking the witness if they investigated whether that was the cause of his death. The witness responded in the negative.

“I’m putting it to you that your investigation is not correct that is why you brought charges,” counsel Drammeh said.

The Case was adjourned to the 5th of October 2022 for the continuation of cross-examination by the Defence of the 2nd and 3rd accused persons.

By: Modou Touray

The president of the National Farmers Platform, the Gambia Mr Sheriffo Bojang has frowned upon the wrong representation of farmers at overseas seminars, conferences, and important agricultural forums meant for farmers engaging in functional agriculture. Mr Bojang expressed disappointment that scrambling for per diem and allowances lead to the manipulations of the selection process.

“Farmers want to be fully represented in the Conference of Parties (COP) which is an international conference of stakeholders in agriculture, climate change and biodiversity. I call on the Ministry of Agriculture and other concerned bodies responsible for identifying participants to choose the right people. The Conference of Parties (COP), the 27th edition is approaching, and we are faced with who is going to represent us,” Mr Bojang stated.

He further challenges the agricultural authorities to bring scattered Agric groups together for smooth coordination which he stressed is indeed timely.

“We have different farmers groups who are independently implementing their projects with various government departments and agencies. Our farmers produce crops, and the foreign traders buy them and value-added them and sold to us. If we unite together, we could end this system and empower our own farmers,” he stressed.

Mr Bojang spoke at length on the need to ensure food security and empower local farmers which is all geared towards the selection of proper persons to highlight the plight of Gambian farmers at international forums.

“The international conference I just attended in Vietnam was focused on how the forest and farm facility projects are implemented worldwide and all participating countries were all given the opportunity to narrate their own way and level of implementation,” he said.

In the Gambia, the National Farmers’ Platform is implemented with their partners, the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Natural Resources consulting (NACO).

The Farmers’ Platform president was speaking at a meeting he convened at his office in Brikama to share the outcome of his trip to farmers.

“It is important to give feedback after attending a program on behalf of farmers. This is a norm here, you must prepare a report of programs you attend so that even if you are not here, those coming will reference it.”

He discourages the culture of attending international conferences without sharing the outcome with the farmers whom you represent, noting that the impact of the overseas trips on agriculture must be felt.

The international conference Mr Bojang attended on behalf of Gambia farmers brought together farmers’ representatives to discuss how business models can foster food diversification not uniformity.

The conference according to Mr Bojang, enhanced peer learning through south-south and triangular cooperation and also engendered share innovative examples of inclusive climate resilient business models, financing structures, enabling policy environments and messaging championed by forest and farm producer organisations.

By: Hadram Hydara

Honourable Madi Ceesay, veteran journalist and United Democratic Party (UDP) National Assembly Member (NAM) for Serrekunda West Constituency, has described statements from President Adama Barrow’s State of the Nation Addresses (SONA) as “bogus” and referred to him as the “chief” of a “camp that is made of corrupt people”.

The NAM, who is on his second term in Parliament, was answering a question about another NAM, believed to be a staunch supporter of the President, who said in Parliament that Police should be encouraged to take bribes.

“It is disappointing but then it is also not disappointing because it is coming from a camp that is made of corrupt people; that is the NPP, and the chief is the President.

I will tell you why I said the President. As we speak now, we have imprest amounting to 31.7 million dalasis that is pocketed by people. It is not members of his government that took that imprest, this was before he came but where I am holding him responsible… that president now is gone, and people have now given him mandate to man the affairs of this country and he has found those records there. For six years now his government has done nothing about recovering that 31.7 million.

All that was recovered is 2.5 million or around that, but then the outstanding is now 29.7 million. So, if a NAM should say that Police should be encouraged to take bribes, it is disappointing, very disappointing,” he admitted.

Madi further said corruption is the cancer derailing the country while noting the Speaker of the National Assembly should have asked the NAM to withdraw his statement.

“In fact, corruption is really what is bringing the Gambia down. So, on the floor of the National Assembly, if I were the Speaker, I would have asked that NAM to withdraw his statement because that is not good to be on the records coming from Parliament. But then, like I said, I am not disappointed too because you look at where he is coming from.”

When asked why he has not been attending the President’s State of the Nation Addresses for four consecutive years, Madi said: “Because his statements are bogus, that’s all”.

By: Dawda Baldeh

Residents of New Jeshwang-Ebotown in the Kanifing Municipality are calling on the government to intervene in addressing the issue of people settling illegally on their wetland which they said is a growing concern.

They attributed the current environmental crisis facing the community to the settlement on the wetland. The youths said they will address the issue on their own if the government and relevant authorities do not address it.

Habib ML Ceesay, the Councilor of Old Jeshwang Ebotown Ward, said the issue of people settling illegally on the wetland is a growing concern that needs urgent government intervention.

“All those building on the wetland don’t have documentation from the Alkalos and if the government do not address the problem, we the youths will address it by ourselves. We would rather not reach that stage. The stakeholders should come and address the situation before it gets out of control,” he said.

Mr. Ceesay claimed that those buildings on the wetlands are illegal settlements, and they (youths) will demolish all those buildings.

He added that the settlement is affecting their wetlands, thereby causing other environmental hazards in the community.

“I am calling on the government, and other relevant authorities such as the Physical Planning, our National Assembly representative, the Local Government and Lands Ministry to address the issue. If not, we will go and demolish all those structures and that will lead to chaos, which we don’t want.”

Mr. Ceesay challenged all those buildings on the wetland to produce authentic documentations they acquired from the Alkalos.

He claimed that the youths are furious currently because the environment is everyone’s concern.

According to him, they have reported the matter to the Local Government and Lands Ministry on several occasions when Honorable Musa Drammeh was the minister, but to no avail.

He added that the community is concerned about the illegal settlement on the wetland.

“We have engaged the two Alkalos on the wetland issue and they both told us that they have not sold any land to anyone, and we trust them. They (alkalos) informed us that anyone who claimed to acquire the lands from them should present their documentation,” Habib ML Ceesay told reporters yesterday.

He accused non-Gambians of involving in selling the wetland within the area. “We are assuring the community that there will be no new buildings within the wetland from now on. I am elected by the people to represent them, and their concerns are my priority. Before I take any step, I will have to consult my people because I am answerable to them.”

By: Dawda Baldeh
Shine Light in Girls Education (SLIGE), a non-profitable organization helping girls academically, donated school materials to sixty-seven (67) girls with support from their German partners.

The materials donated include shoes, bags, books, set-boxes, pens, pencils, calculators, and uniforms among other school items. The beneficiaries are 67 girls in the Lower River Region, West Coast Region and Central River Region. The gesture is geared towards empowering girls in education by reducing the burden on their parents.

According to the officials, the organization began by supporting 6 girls in 2020, 44 in 2021, and now 67 in 2022 to empower them in their academic careers.

Ebrima Fadera, the President of the organization, is concerned about the importance of educating a girl child.

“Educating a girl child is like educating the whole nation because they play a crucial role in the development of every sector in our societies. It is not easy because we live in a world where girls are struggling to have their voices heard, and we want to achieve that goal to ensure girls’ voices are heard,” he reiterated.

Mr. Fadera emphasized the need for the importance of girls’ education and the cultural norms and practices that hindered girls from equal opportunities like a boy child to be addressed. This, he added, is silencing girls and limiting their goals.

He noted that Shine Light in Girls’ Education (SLIGE) aimed at creating a conducive environment in which girls can explore their potential ranging from academic and other forms of social, economic, political and decision-making processes.

Njie further called on people to give equal learning opportunities to girls and also allow them to participate in social and political activities.

He recalled that they have been working tirelessly to support parents to ensure their girls go to school and supported them with school materials and cash as well to facilitate their smooth academic performances.

According to him, girls and women are given fewer opportunities in accessing education in many communities as well as participating in decision-making.

Tijan Fadera, the Regional Coordinator, said the concept of not registering girls in schools in many regions has been declining since their intervention over the years.

He added that they have been supporting girls and also monitoring their academic performances to ensure they participate well in school.

Mr. Fadera urged parents to allow their girl child to be educated, noting that the importance is huge. “Girls should not be marginalized, and the narrative needs to change,” he emphasized.

Amie Manga, a beneficiary since the inception of the organization, said the donation will go a long way in helping them.

She expressed her profound gratitude to the organization for the gesture. Described by many as a brilliant girl, Amie confirmed that they have received school materials and cash over the years from the organization, which she attributed to her growing academic excellence over the years.

“These materials will definitely help us, and I am pleased to be part of the beneficiaries again,” Amie said.

According to UNICEF, girls who receive education are less likely to marry young and more likely to lead healthy, productive lives. They earn higher incomes, participate in the decisions that most affect them, and build better futures for themselves and their families. Girls’ education strengthens the economy and reduces inequalities.

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

Political commentator and social activist, Coach-Pasamba Jow, has argued that Citizens’ Alliance (CA) Doctor Ismaila Ceesay’s claim that the CA’s alliance with the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) is done out of national interest is deceitful.

Coach-Pasamba explained that CA as a party and Dr. Ismaila Ceesay have the right to associate themselves with any group or party but argued that CA’s alliance with NPP is misleading.

“CA as a party and Dr. Ceesay as a private citizen have the right to associate themselves with any group or organisation but arguing that it is done purposely in the ‘national interest’ is to my estimation, disingenuous. The question remains, does being in the opposition in a democratic country against the national interest?” he quizzed.

Coach-Pasamba, who referred to the NPP-CA Alliance as so-called, pointed out that only a few Gambians will be surprised by the alliance. According to him, President Barrow and Dr. Ceesay have been playing footsies for a while.

Yesterday, October 1, the Citizens’ Alliance political party leaders visited the President at the State House, after which the party leader announced they are in for an alliance with the ruling party. However, Coach-Pasamba questioned why CA should ally with NPP without a memorandum of understanding.

“Ironically, how can CA, a party that is supposed to be of the new breed of Gambian politicians, ally with another political party without a Memorandum of Understanding signed? I guess Dr. Ceesay and CA will have to reconcile their past utterance against Barrow and their recent actions,” he said.

Speaking on the future of CA as a political party after forming this alliance, the resignation of a founding member and chairman Dominic Mendy and the suspension of former spokesperson Neneh Freda Gomez, Jow said he doesn’t see CA recovering from this.

“There is a great chance that CA will suffer the same fate as the other parties that joined Barrow. The CA may very well be consuming the NPP,” he said.

At the beginning of Adama Barrow’s presidency, Dr. Ismaila Ceesay was a vocal critic of his government. Together with others, being unsatisfied with the government, formed a political party to unseat Adama Barrow. However, when Dr. Ismaila Ceesay was rejected to run for the presidency and later successfully appealed, he was given a vehicle to campaign for NPP, a claim that was confirmed by his party after an investigation.

CA, for the past months, have been hit with the resignation of the founding chairman, Dominic Mendy, citing deviation of the party leadership from its founding principles.

By: Modou Touray

As indiscriminate cutting down of trees in the Kombo Darsilameh community forest and its surroundings has prompted the village Alkalo Musa Balla Tabally Bojang to task his villagers with scouting for illegal logging and offenders of deforestation and all forms of destruction to their community forest park.

In an exclusive interview with The Fatu Network during a tree planting activity, Mr Bojang warned that anyone captured will be prosecuted accordingly.

Kombo Darsilameh settlement borders the southern Senegalese region of Casamance which makes it more challenging to protect the environment.

“When a forest is cut down, there is no place left for the creatures that once lived there, and they die off. Biodiversity is decreased accordingly. The more forests that are cut down, the more associated organisms have no place to live, and the more biodiversity decreases,” Alkalo Bojang revealed

“Since most of our valuable forest trees have been cut down and the animals’ species also aren’t visible anymore. I beef up vigilantism in our endangered forest park to avert deforestation,” he continued.

Although the charges attached to forestry offences are minimal, but the Darsilameh village Alkalo is not relenting on his quest to bring offenders before the law. For example, section 109 of the forestry offences Act, fines up to D3000 for charcoal burning, failure in which the offender will serve a sentence of up to 6 months.

“Trees give off oxygen that we need to breathe. Trees reduce the amount of stormwater runoff, which reduces erosion and pollution in our waterways and may reduce the effects of flooding. Many species of wildlife depend on trees for habitat. Trees provide food, protection, and homes for many birds and mammals,” Alkalo Bojang said.

Vigilante groups in the environment are people keeping a watchful or close eye on activities in the forest. Sometimes a vigilante will make news for catching a criminal, and sometimes vigilante groups form to target criminal activity.

Mr Bojang further asserted that trees provide many benefits to our cities, towns, and villages. Trees benefit communities by improving air quality, mitigating stormwater, providing shade and enhancing aesthetic beauty, providing wildlife habitat, and increasing property value.

“The loss of trees and other vegetation can cause climate change, desertification, soil erosion, fewer crops, flooding, increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and a host of problems for human beings,” he added

Experts believe deforestation causes habitat destruction, increased risk of predation, reduced food availability, and much more. As a result, some animals lose their homes, others lose food sources – and finally, many lose their lives. Deforestation is one of the main causes of extinction.

In the Community forestry concept, communities have the right to manage the forest resources upon which they depend, with a view to improving their living conditions. Recognising, securing, and enforcing forest communities’ rights is the most effective and inclusive way to preserve, restore and enhance forests.

The Community Forest management approach helps to mitigate increasing deforestation and forest degradation to address the negative impacts on rural livelihoods.

By: Sarjo Brito

Political Science professor and leader of the Citizens’ Alliance (CA) party made headlines today October 1st after announcing his party’s coalition with President Barrow’s National People’s Party (NPP). Dr. Ceesay, who has been known as a staunch critic of the Gambian president has told local media that the Citizens’ Alliance party has decided at the executive level to coalesce with the ruling party to support the government’s agenda.

“It is a partnership and an alliance with the NPP to work for the interest of this country. And let me emphasize that we see the Gambia first. It is not about Dr. Ismaila Ceesay; it is not about President Barrow; it is about The Gambia.’’

While supporters of Barrow’s NPP bask in their newfound ally, Citizens’ alliance members and the general public share their thoughts on the newfound political romance involving the Gambian President and the Citizens’ party leader. Dawda Ceesay, who has been a member of CA since its launching said he is disappointed about Dr’s alliance with President Barrow, especially at a time when the Gambian leader’s popularity is declining and the country grappling with many other issues including crime surge, and corruption among others. Dawda Ceesay confirmed to this network that he is giving up his party’s membership effective immediately as a result of the alliance.

“I’m just disappointed with everything that’s going on. With Barrow losing popularity regarding the high crime rate, corruption, and high influx of potent drugs, the least CA could do is to form an Alliance with NPP who are in bed with APRC and are planning to find a way to bring Jammeh back. To say I’m disappointed is an understatement. How can CA convince Barrow to tackle corruption and the high mortality rate of women in hospitals? I wish them all the best.’’

Asked about his future in the party after it decides to go into a political marriage with Barrow, and whether this is the end for him, Ceesay said: “Yes, I am out.”

National People’s Party’s spokesperson and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Honourable Seedy Njie said the new alliance has been months in the making. Njie said the alliance is in the greater interest of the Gambia and her people.

“The President has asked all NPP supporters in the country and the diaspora to welcome and work with CA in all structures and levels.”

Meanwhile, the new NPP-CA alliance has also raised eyebrows in the context of the forthcoming local government elections. Some observers offer this explanation: They believe Dr. Ceesay might be selected by the NPP to contest the Brikama Area Council Chairmanship, a position that is already being sought by one of the founding members of the NPP, Ahmad Gitteh.

By: Dawda Baldeh

Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, leader and 2021 presidential candidate of the opposition Citizens’ Alliance (CA) party, has officially announced a formation of alliance with the ruling National Peoples Party (NPP) after a close-door meeting with President Adama Barrow at State House, Banjul on Saturday 1^st October 2022.

Speaking to journalists after his meeting with the President, Dr. Ismaila Ceesay said the purpose of the alliance is in the interest of the country and not on personal interest.

“We wanted to contest for the 2021 presidential election with our ten-point manifesto, but we were not able to do so. President Adama Barrow won the election and has called on Gambians to work with him. This is the called we answered to for the best interest of the country.”

He said they want to share their manifesto with the President to help in developing the country. He added that they don’t want to sit on their manifesto and not share it with the President.

“We reflected at party level on why we should not seat on our manifesto, so we deemed it necessary to share with the President who is entrusted to lead the country. The President has called on people to work together, and the party thought it wise to answer to the call,” he stated.

Dr. Ceesay, a critic of President Barrow in the 2021 presidential campaign, said part of the alliance is for them to work with the NPP for the upcoming local government election.

“We see Gambia first; it is not about Dr. Ismaila Ceesay neither is it about President Barrow. It is about the country. The country is facing challenges. Some challenges are inherited since colonial times while some are globally induced because we know what is happening globally because of the pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war,” he explained.

He said the President Barrow led government trying in addressing the challenges in the country but noted that the government cannot do it alone.

“We find ourselves in very challenging times. We want to move from the old politic which is based on tension, insults and so on. We intend to bring a new type of politics. We believe the opposition and the government can work together for the interest of the country. If NPP and CA are fighting on social media and if CA is going out to protest every day, the poor farmer in Foni, Badibou, the child who doesn’t have access to education, the woman dying at the hospital lacking proper healthcare will suffer.

Our problems are bigger than our personal interests. We are calling on all Gambians to come together as this is a time for national convergence of ideas and resources to build this country,” Dr. Ceesay narrated.

Asked about the party’s future, Dr. Ceesay said the party is owned by its members. He highlighted that politics has different interests: national, partisan and individual, emphasizing that the alliance is for national interest.

For Dr. Cessay they will share development ideas with the President for the advancement of the country, saying both parties have strong support based which can change the political dynamics in the country where young people can learn that politic is not about protest, insult or barrage but a competition of ideas.

However, Dr. Ceesay confirmed to journalists that they have not reached a state of signing agreement with the NPP, but they have declared their intention to work together.

Mambanyick Njie, NPP administrative secretary, said the move by CA is a welcoming initiative that can help in the development of the country.

“Development or nation building is an ongoing process. It is a process that needs redefining and rethinking. This is a welcoming move, and we are pleased. CA has recognized the efforts of the President, and they believe to share their ten-point manifesto with the President for our development.

We will seat with them and look at their manifesto and see how it will be operationalizing,” Mr. Njie noted.

By: Sarjo Brito  

Political scientist and social commentator Essa Njie has in an exclusive with The Fatu Network described the country’s opposition as election-oriented political parties. His statement comes at the hills of recent scandals that have rocked the country, saying opposition and civil society are doing little in pressuring and holding the government into account. Njie said holding the government accountable has been left in the hands of party militants whom he said sometimes divert people’s attention from more pressing issues.

“With all the scandals that we have seen on the papers since last week, no opposition or civil society is coming to talk about these things. There is a scandal in this country every day. The National Assembly debate that is going on just told us that they have discovered over 20 million dalasis that was unaccounted for according to the National Audit Report, but nobody shows concern. It is sad to say but we have election-oriented political parties. Opposition parties that will just come and contest elections and when they are over, they go back to their political bureaus.’’

The Political Science Lecturer also described the country’s civil society organizations as project-oriented whom he also said do not seem to understand their role in a democratic society. Njie further explained how civil society has played an instrumental role in removing longstanding dictators in other countries like Zambia’s Kenneth David Kaunda, adding that having a less vibrant civil society is bad for Gambia’s democratic dispensation.

“We have a civil society that is just project oriented, sad to say. They are only focused on winning projects and when it is time for elections, they go and observe elections, monitor, prepare their reports, and preliminary statements and tell people that the election is free and fair. They don’t even understand their role in a democratic society. It is very unfortunate and if you look at the history of the democratization process in Africa after the cold war, civil society was instrumental.’’

Last week, Essa Njie made headlines after he described the country’s opposition parties as dormant. Some political parties reacted to his statement describing it as misleading and unfair.

By: Modou Touray

In a decisive administrative move, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the entire local government area across the length and breadth of the country was united under a single network with the principal focus on timely service delivery to the taxpayers they serve. An initiative they believe could accelerate the routine functions of local governments.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of the Brikama Area Council and chairman of the Network of City Managers – the Gambia, Mr Modou Jonga his counterpart’s Chief executive officers will benefit from a variety of methods and tools to boost their professionalism, acquire a people-centred service and results-oriented culture and behaviour.

“We shall adopt the culture of benchmarking as well, policies evaluation and performances comparison in terms of service delivery and local administration management. Equally, we shall also participate in peer review and peer learning activities and be exposed to best practices and sharing of experiences.

The CEOs of various local government areas are the administrative heads of their councils and are also considered to be the closest advisors to the local government’s political leaders (Council chairpersons and Mayors).

“I am indeed grateful for the mantle of leadership bestowed on me as head of the network of city managers. I hereby assured you that my team and I will do our best to meet the expectations. I am Determined to change the status-quo to make councils more responsive to the needs of tax-payers.”

Mr Jonga further highlighted that realizations of local government development targets squarely lies on the chief executive officers and their staff who are the technicians implementing the policy decision of politicians.

“The mayors and chairperson, as well as the elected ward councillors, make decisions on development priorities but its effective implementation is our role. We are optimistic that with consultations with colleagues and chief executive officers we will be able to move with the same development pace to ensure that the tasks ahead of us are implemented”

The local government authorities have been facing numerous challenging in fulfilling the development needs of their people which they say is largely due to insufficient revenue and a rapid increase in urbanisation (in the case of the greater Banjul area).

Chief Executive Officers of the eight Local Government Authorities in The Gambia recently elected Modou Jonga, chief executive officer of Brikama Area Council, as President of the Network of City Managers – the Gambia chapter which is affiliated to Africa network of city managers (Africa Magnet)

The Gambia association of local government authorities (GALGA) is proactively committing itself to respond to the needs of the people. The regularization of the structures under GALGA which have international affiliation will expose Gambia’s local government Authorities to global platforms.

By: Ousman Saidykhan

The Gambia’s Interior Minister, Seyaka Sonko has called on people to be mindful of painting the country “so red” as he believes doing such would only give tourists the impression that the Gambia is not a good destination; an impression he believes would not favour the tourism industry which employs “a lot” [of people].

“Yes, what happened was unfortunate. We don’t really think we should brush that under the carpet, but we should be mindful of how we say it. So that we don’t paint our country so red that no one wants to come here. A lot [of people] depend on the tourism industry,” Honourable Seyaka Sonko told journalists.

Mr Sonko was speaking in his first press conference about the security of the Gambia which has been the talk of the town over the past weeks. The current security situation in the Gambia has been described by some Gambians as unprecedented having witnessed six homicides in a month, a figure that surprises some, yet the Ministry reported a decrease in crime rate.

“I think we should be mindful also that this is the only country we can call home. It is a destination for tourists – it is a destination for our people in Diaspora who want to come here and enjoy their holidays. So, if we depict it as such a horrible place; who wants to come to a horrible place where every minute someone is killed?” the Interior Minister said.

He continued, “that is why when we are talking about these things, we also point out that, yes, these are happening, but comparatively, the trend is not as high as people say.”

By: Sarjo Brito

The Ministry of Health has said it is embarking on a paracetamol recall exercise nationwide together with the Medicines Control Agency (MCA), starting October 5th. This came following the suspension of the drug in August after the death of 28 children who died of acute kidney injury. The Ministry, after its findings last month, said the mass deaths were possibly caused by E. coli and the toxicity of paracetamol syrup.

“After observing some clinical events, it gave rise to the suspicion that contaminated paracetamol syrup, promethazine, and cough syrups might be the potential contributors to the Acute Kidney Injury or might have worsened initial diarrhoea affecting the children. For this reason, effective October 5th, the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Medicines Control Agency will be conducting medicines recall exercise of all Paracetamol syrups, Promethazine, and cough syrups in circulation nationwide,’’ Health Ministry announced.

The Health Ministry’s decision to suspend all paracetamol syrup earlier this month was met with mixed reactions. While some members of the public were happy that measures were being taken by health officials, Economist and Political Pundit Momodou Sabally described the Ministry’s conclusions as mere speculations, especially after stating that their investigations into the AKI outbreak are still ongoing, thus creating panic in the country.

Momodou Sabally also argued that it will be incorrect for the Ministry of Health to generally infer that paracetamol syrup is the cause of the disease, without making it clear which brand is responsible, arguing that there are many brands and importers.

“Certainly, there is more than one brand and one importer of paracetamol. Which of the many is the suspected one making our children sick? One can infer that they have found paracetamol, a very common drug prescribed by almost all doctors, in samples; but does correlation necessarily mean causality in their world?” Sabally asked.

By: Hadram Hydara

The Office of the Chief Justice has denied earlier reports of an alleged defrauding of D11 million within the Judiciary, saying only a mere attempt was made to defraud the Judiciary which was quickly detected and thwarted.

“These reports are of great concern to the Judiciary as they create the impression that the Judiciary has been defrauded of the sum of D11 million or that the said amount has been stolen from the funds of the Judiciary,” a release reads from the Office of the Chief Justice.

The Standard newspaper broke news of the alleged fraud within the Judiciary in their 12th September issue and reported that Police were on verge of launching an investigation into the alleged corruption scandal, however, in their press release issued today September 30th, the Office of the Chief Justice said:

“That is not the case. The Judiciary has not lost any such funds. No such amount has been stolen from the Judiciary’s funds,” the release continues.

The Office of the Chief Justice in an attempt to clarify further confirmed that there was in fact an attempt to defraud the Judiciary, but it proved unsuccessful as the Central Bank of the Gambia extended a helping hand.

“What appeared to be an attempt to defraud the Judiciary was instead discovered by the Judiciary in 2021. The intervention of the Central Bank and Senior Management of the Judiciary thwarted the attempted fraud.

The Judiciary reported the matter to the Police on 15th December 2021. The staff member concerned was sent home pending the conclusion of the Police investigations.”

The release further emphasized that there are no missing funds whatsoever and regarding the alleged culprit involved in the “attempted fraud”, the Chief Justice’s office said:

“The Judiciary wishes to reiterate that no such funds are missing and wishes to assure the general public that it has strong financial control systems and measures in place to safeguard public funds.

In September, 2022, the concerned staff was taken to court and convicted and sentenced,” the release ends.

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

Girls in Gambian upper basic schools that registered for the 2022 Gambia Basic Education Certificate Examination (GABECE) have outperformed their male counterparts in the examination, per the analysis presented by the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education at a press conference held today, September 29.

According to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Luis Moses Gomez, the West African Examination Council (WAEC), released the results on the 24th of September.

The PS said the result analysis by the ministry does not only look at the number of aggregate 6 students but, moreover, the regional dynamics to know regions doing well as the gender side of it.

The analysis showed that 27,783 registered for the examination but only 27,018 sat for the examination, at least for one subject.

Out of the 27,018 reported to have sat for the examination, 13,424 students scored an aggregate of 6 to 42. Of the 13,424 with an aggregate of six to forty-two, 5,567 are boys while girls have a margin of 1501 above boys with a total number of 7068 passes.

West Coast Region (Region 2) has more students with a pass at the regional level with 6,760, followed by Region 1 with 3,684 passes.

Reacting to the results, Kalifa Jabbie, a teacher who has taught almost all levels of the country’s basic education sector, outlined that he is not startled by the increase in the performance of girls in GABECE.  Mr. Jabbie claimed that there has been a dramatic reversal in the rendition and inclusion of girl education.

“There has been a dramatic paradigm shift in the performance and inclusion of girls in education. Since the introduction of platforms for girls’ education, there have been a lot of advocacy groups within and outside the country which leads to the results we are seeing today,” he commented.

Number of Students With A Pass in Core Subjects

There has been a decrease in the number of students with a pass in the English Language and Science compared to 2021, while an increase in passes in Math and SES has been registered.

Out of the 27018 students who sat for the examination, 13,662 have passed in English, 10, 239 in Math, 13614 in Science and 16,556 in SES.

Aggregate 6 By Gender

The number of students with aggregate six has increased from 19 in 2021 to 31 in 2022. Out of the 31 students reported to have aggregate six, 18 are girls and 13 are boys. Compared to 2021, the number of girls with aggregate six has jumped from 7 to 18 while boys moved from 12 in 2021 to 13 in 2022.

A total of 19 schools produced aggregate six. Ten are private schools and nine are public schools. Gambia Methodist Academy and Don Mcmath Foundation Upper Basic School have four students each with aggregate six.

According to Kalifa Jabbie, the performance of the students is commendable, but questioned the post-grade performance of the students with good results.

“This is commendable, but how many of those that produce these remarkable results come from the rural areas will remain the million-dollar question. There’s clearly still a disparity between the rural areas and those in the urban areas in terms of performance as a result of lack of enough resources in the rural areas,” he asserted.

By: Alimatou S Bajinka

Environmentalist, Omar Malmo has told The Fatu Network that Climate Change has been a problem in The Gambia for a while and that it needs to be at the top of the agenda as a result of the negative impact it poses on the country.

“It is significant of a crisis because it is impacting negatively on the major drivers of our economy. Our societies are very vulnerable; our health status is highly affected; our water ecologies are affected; our farms are affected; our agriculture is affected, and our food basket is affected. Therefore, it is really impacting negatively on the major sector of our economy so climate change for us in The Gambia is significant of a crisis and it requires urgent action to mitigate its impact,” said the environmentalist.

According to the PhD holder in Environmental Studies, the Gambia bears the biggest burden in terms of the impact of Climate Change even though it contributes insignificantly to global emissions. And for him, this can be mitigated through prioritisation among other things.

“To build a climate-resilient society would include having climate change as a top priority in our government and our governance system to ensure climate change issues are factored in our infrastructural developments; that is why in recent times we have seen a lot of floods in certain parts of the Gambia. So, to fight climate change is beyond just planting trees on the ground but of course, factoring climate change issues into our development planning which is very essential,” Malmo added.

He continued that building a climate-resilient society will require “significant” capacity building as he believes the Gambia has a huge capacity deficiency when it comes to climate change education and expertise, mitigation and adaptation measures that are required to build the resilience.

Still, on the mitigating measures, he suggests the development of policies that will see the Gambia migrate from being a receiver of old electronic material.

“It is a necessity for the Gambia to begin life circle analysis of some of these electronic materials or materials that basically can increase greenhouse emissions in our communities. This includes second-hand cars that are exported into the Gambia, most of these cars are not useable in other countries, but when they come to the Gambia, we are using them. Therefore, it is important that we have strict vehicle policies so that we do not increase our pollution potential in our society,” he said.

By: Hadram Hydara

Coming against the backdrop of unsatisfactory public reactions and staunch criticism of the recent State of the Nation Address (SONA) by President Adama Barrow and the continuous timid inaction of the National Assembly in acting and addressing perennial social and political issues affecting ordinary Gambians, Political Science lecturer, analyst, and outspoken social commentator, Essa Njie, has said the country’s current crop of lawmakers is very likely the worst in the nation’s history.

Mr Njie, who was speaking on a wide range of issues, including the recent political climate and the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of the National Assembly, did not bite his tongue in his assessment.

“We saw in 2017 when the fifth legislature came, the first thing they did was to change the age limit for both the president and the vice-president and also what they did was to change the law which says that if you are removed from your party as a parliamentarian, you automatically lose your seat because that suits them.

We also saw a D54 million loan and then what we saw recently was when they allocated themselves D100,000 each for clothing allowances when a lot of people they represent don’t even have access to clean drinking water.

People are paying you from the taxpayers’ money. Do people have to provide the money for you to buy clothes to wear when going to Parliament? You get that from your salary. So, it is unfortunate, but I have to say that this might be the worst Parliament that the Gambia ever have because we have parliamentarians that don’t really understand their function, their role, or they don’t care about the welfare and wellbeing of the people that they represent,” the political scientist noted.

Njie further said the current crop of National Assembly Members does not even crosscheck or critically weigh what is being fed to them at Parliament.

“What we are seeing in Parliament is those people who contribute don’t even critically…look at the statement revealed by the President in his State of the Nation Address. He made mention of something which I think every Gambian should go and fact-check. The man said since the beginning of the 2021-2022 tourist season, the Gambia received 53 flights a week: an average of 8 flights a day, where? And nobody seems to care. Parliamentarians should have asked this man, the Minister of Tourism should have been there and when he was there, he should have been asked: The President said 53 flights come per week, where are all those tourists when hotels and restaurants and bars are closed? Where is the money going to? We want to see that money coming but nobody is asking those relevant questions, instead what we are seeing is that people praising the President for delivering what I call a mere activity report,” Njie said.

Reacting to Essa Njie’s claims, United Democratic Party’s (UDP) NAM for Serrekunda West, Madi Ceesay said Gambians have gone past opinions like Essa’s while foretelling the political scientist would be proven wrong soon.

“That is Njie’s opinion, but I can tell you for certain that the Gambia and Gambians have gone past that. When we came into the National Assembly, what we had found was quite different. We tried as much as we can to look inward and make some very good legislation, trying to make the National Assembly as an institution that can be autonomous and can function because it is one thing to have a National Assembly and members and another thing to have a tool that they will use to execute their duties.

Lest he forgets, Members of the National Assembly have three key roles: law-making, oversight functions, and representation. So, I don’t know in what context he is predicting that this will be the worst National Assembly but time will tell and at the end of the five-year term, he will be proven very wrong because I see this National Assembly to be unique in the sense that since Independence to date, for the first time in the history of the Gambia we have a balanced National Assembly; a National Assembly that no individual has dominance. We’ve seen in the first Republic when the PPP was the dominant party in the Parliament and whatever the executive says that is what happens. We’ve seen the era of the second Republic where the APRC was the dominant party in the National Assembly, and they go by the predicts of the executive.

This National Assembly is different because there is no dominant party. The party that has the majority has only 18 seats followed by the second party with 15 seats and 12 independents with other parties with 2,4 and so. This is the best composition of Parliament that Gambia ever has, so therefore it will be really not in proper context if anybody should just look at the National Assembly and say this will be the worst National Assembly. But what I can assure Gambians and the political scientist is that he will be proven wrong at the end of this sixth legislature because the achievements will be enormous, no doubt about that,” he claimed.

Speaking on Njie’s claims that this current batch of NAMs barely know their functions and roles and that they seem not to care about the people they represent, the seasoned NAM dismissed those claims as just an open criticism which is not based on any tangible facts.

“Again, that I take as just an open criticism which is not based on any tangible facts. Each of the Members of the National Assembly is elected by a group of people in a particular constituency and I cannot understand how that National Assembly Member can give his/her back to those who have elected them so that one is just a baseless argument.

To say these current National Assembly Members don’t know their roles, we have 20 Members of the National Assembly who have been re-elected; they were there five years ago, and they are back again,” NAM, Serrekunda West, said.

By: Dawda Baldeh

Operatives of the Drug Law Enforcement Agency The Gambia (DLEAG) attached to the Kanifing Municipal Command, have confirmed the seizure of seven hundred and thirty-four (734) blocks of a substance believed to be Cocaine on 28 September 2022.

In a statement obtained by this medium, Ousman Saidybah, the Public Relations Officer of the Drug Law Enforcement, said preliminary test conducted by their forensic experts suggests that the blocks are cocaine positive.

“The seizure is the result of a well-coordinated high-profile intelligence-led tactical operation starting with an initial seizure of one block at West Field Junction, followed by the seizure of forty-four blocks and subsequently, six hundred and eighty-nine blocks were discovered in a store inside a private residence located near Paradise View in Salagi, Kombo North District, West Coast region,” he explained.

He confirmed that six people have been arrested, including one Gambian (Omar Fofana) and five Sierra Leoneans namely (Junior Vandy, Jeremia Thomas, Alex Thomas, Alagie Suwareh and Joy Bangura a lady).

Mr. Saidybah further disclosed that the three of the Sierra Leoneans are staying in one compound which is responsible for Omar Fofana, but he does not live there.

“The Director General immediately commissioned a comprehensive and detailed investigation into the case with due compliance with rule of law and human rights standards,” he added.

Officials of the agency said they will continue to work closely with all national stakeholders and international partners to consolidate this achievement and hold perpetrators to criminal accountability.

“Amidst a desperate disinformation campaign against the Agency by groups and individuals who are serving nothing but the interest of criminals and criminal organizations, the Agency remained focused and resolute in discharging our mandate.

This seizure is yet another demonstration of our capacity, resolve, and commitment to the fight against transnational drug trafficking. We are untethered in ensuring that The Gambia remain a hostile ground for drug traffickers, and no amount of intentional distraction will wither us from this path.”

The agency called on people to cooperate and support their investigation, and further invite residents of the Gambia to share with the Agency any information that may come their way regarding drug trafficking activities in the country.

“We acknowledge that the fight against drugs is a shared and collective responsibility, and no amount of law enforcement effectiveness can deliver the desired goal without community cooperation and support,” the agency noted.

Meanwhile, the Board, Management and Staff commend have congratulated the officers of the KM Command for this remarkable performance and reiterate their commitment to fighting the use and sells of illicit drugs.