By: Ousman Saidykhan

A pressure group dubbed ‘Coalition of Progressive Gambians’ has on Wednesday 9th October 2022 cancelled their scheduled November 11 protest; instead, they will now embark on dialogue with the government after series of consultations with Supreme Islamic Council and other bodies.

“…the general public is hereby informed, the planned November 11, 2022 peaceful demonstration is postponed with the commitment to continue the dialogue between the two parties,” a joint statement of the pressure group, Supreme Islamic Council and different government institutions reads.

‘Coalition of Progressive Gambians’ planned to embark on a nationwide protest demanding the government to address the high cost of living, promote transparency amongst others.

Another group called ‘Gambia for five years’ had since reached to the Coalition’s plan. They said in a statement that they would also take to the streets on November 12 to counter planned November 11 demonstration as they believe all the countries are facing hardship.

The Supreme Islamic Council (SIC), who were the main mediator said they were concerned about the group’s plan of conducting the demonstration throughout the country which was why they intervened to solve the problem.

“Their demands are important; but demonstration is not the only means to solve it. It can be solved through dialogue and consultation,” Supreme Islamic Council’s President, Essa Darboe told journalists in a press conference at SIC headquarters.

A meeting of Coalition of Progressive Gambians’, SIC, Peace Network and government institutions such as the Ministry of Interior, Office of the IGP, Ministry of Information and others revealed there was consensus on two points.

The first one was assurance given by the government that they are willing to dialogue with the pressure group and the second one was that the SIC and Peace Network would continue being the mediators between the coalition and the government.

By: Dawda Baldeh

Staff of Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) have undergone training on transfer pricing in revenue collection. The training was conducted by GRA in partnership with West Africa Tax Administration Forum (WATAF) and United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs.

The training intends to build the capacity of GRA staff on the fundamental principles of transfer pricing.

Yankuba Darboe, the Commissioner General of Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA), underscored the process and significance of the training.

“A very careful selection was made for the trainees. We expect those who are lucky to be part of the training to take it seriously so that they are well-equipped with the understanding of transfer pricing.”

He urged the participants to emulate Marry Sarr, who according to Commissioner Darboe, is a hardworking, dedicated and ambitious staff whose efforts have been recognized by the GRA board.

“Marry is a young man that I admire because he has dedicated all his life to GRA, and I pray that he achieves his dreams.”

Commissioner Darboe asked the trainees to share the knowledge gained with their colleagues who were not fortunate to be part of the training.

Babatunde Oladapo, executive secretary of WATAF, said the objective is to build the capacity of tax officials in West Africa.

“Gambia is a key member of WATAF and its chairman is the Commissioner of GRA who is serving his second term. One of the objectives of this is to develop Gambia tax officials so that they can appropriately collect tax for national development,” he said.

Mr. Oladapo disclosed that the training came after a request from GRA to train its officials on transfer pricing.

“The world has changed with how we do business and now we are doing business with multinationals. If you want to retain your fair share of the tax revenue, you need to be abreast with current tax practices.

Transfer pricing is one of the keys that you need to upgrade yourself. Tax officials need to be sufficiently empowered with skills to be able to track transactions. Sometimes, multinationals are advised by their tax advisors to avoid paying tax,” he added.

He further stated that there are issues of trade mispricing by companies setting up businesses. “You need to have specialized skills to be able to track such business operators,” he advised.

Ms. Emily Muyaa, chief of Capacity Development Unit at the United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs, said the training has come at a better time. She expressed optimism that the training will effectively help the tax officials in their daily work.

“Transfer pricing continues to be a key critical area for developing countries. This training will help the tax officials to understand more about tax pricing and share the knowledge with their colleagues,” she explained.

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

The Coalition for Progressive Gambians Chairman Seedy Cham and Secretary General Modou Jane have said that the government of The Gambia has only today, November 8, to accept the demands by the group, or they will proceed with their planned protest on Friday.

Speaking to The Fatu Network, the leadership of the group outlined that the government has to come out with a press release accepting to address their demands otherwise they will proceed with the protest.

“Today is the last day. They have to accept our short-term demands by releasing a statement to meet our demands on price control, the investigation into the 2017 audit report and justice for the AKI victims,” said Seedy Cham, chairman of the group.

According to the Secretary-General, Modou Jane, the group will be having a final meeting with the government including the mediators Supreme Islamic Council, Gambia Police Force, SIS and Peace Network in finding ways to have a solution to the problem.

The Fatu Network understands that The Coalition for Progressive Gambians have been engaged by the state on the 13th of October. Yesterday, they had a meeting with groups including Supreme Islamic Council.

According to them, the protest will only go ahead if the government fails to accept and release a statement addressing the hike in the price of commodities and investigate the 2017 audit report and the recent Acute Kidney Injury tragedy in the country.

The group, whose main purpose is to fight corruption in the country, said they will protest with or without a permit from the police or if the government fails to accept their short-term demands today.

By: Modou Touray

The outspoken former chairperson of the National Youth Council, Dembo Kambi, has disclosed that he has forsaken the chance to be naturalised as a United Kingdom citizen and returned to the Gambia to bid for the Brikama Area Council (BAC) chairmanship for the national interest.

Mr Kambi who once also served as the regional youth committee chairperson of the West Coast Region pointed out that effectively contributing to the socio-economic development of his country is a top priority for him.

“I have been to the United Kingdom and returned home with a valid visa and stayed with it for complete 6 months until it expired. When I went to the UK to re-unite The Gambia National Youth Council to the Commonwealth Youth Council, there were chances to stay and naturalize there but I decided to ignore the great opportunity which could have greatly transformed my status,” Mr Kambi stated.

He further highlighted that in electing leaders, they must be carefully vetted to gauge their level of selflessness and commitment to national duty rather than voting for people whose interest is to deplete the youths of their palatable future by embezzlement and other forms of unethical behaviours.

“There are people in government assigned for the overseas mission but upon their return, they usually tender their resignations to go back or never come back to the Gambia to report to the authorities. I am proud to raise my hands and say that I put the interest of my country at heart. When I was the chairman of the National Youth Council, I travelled to different countries but never stay there,” he said.

Mr Kambi spoke at length on the need for youths to take care of the country’s responsibilities hence they are the cream of society, and the development of any nation squarely depends on them while calling on the elderly to stay aside in the race for the Brikama Area Council chairpersonship.

“Our elders should pray for us but not for leadership, they need to give chance to younger ones. They must try to support us the young in delivering the West Coast Region we want. I was part of the team that designed, developed, evaluated and adapted the current strategic plan of the Brikama Area Council,” Mr Kambi stressed.

Responding to the question about the appearance of prominent United Democratic Party heavyweights for the BAC chairpersonship bid, Mr Kambi was quick to respond that there is no one heavier than him.

“They are mostly known in their constituencies and UDP, but I have regional coverage and prominence than them. None of them enjoys being a household name in this region than me who served my district Kombo central and my region West Coast Region as chairpersons of the grassroots youth committee before being elevated to National Youth Council Chairperson.,” Mr Kambi revealed.

Mr Kambi told this medium about his prior achievements which include serving as the district youth chairman for Kombo Central for 4 years, and chairman of the West Coast Region Youth Committee for complete 5 years and has made marks in all districts of this region.

“I have enjoyed and continue to enjoy responsive and cordial relationships with women and youth of the West Coast region,” he concluded.

By: Sarjo Brito, FPC International Reporting Tour Participant, Raleigh, North Carolina

It is barely 24 hours to what analysts say might be one of the most consequential midterms in the history of the United States.

As activists, minority groups, and experts among others share their opinions about the high-stakes election, Gambian Americans prepare for election day and discuss their political leanings amid growing fear of what could happen next depending on who takes over Congress.

Laye Jallow voted two weeks ago. For him, this midterm is the most critical given the recent extraordinary challenges facing democracy in the US in general. As a liberal Democrat, Laye fears the possibility of a radical shift in policy and law if Congress falls into the hands of the GOP. For Laye, election denialism, and radicalism make this midterm a do-or-die, especially for people who identify as Democrats.

“The liberal Democrat in me wants the Democratic party to hold onto both the Senate and House. I do not want to see what comes if Republicans gain a majority. Democracy will be doomed in America,’’ Laye said.

Dr. Omar Bah, a registered Democrat and former Congressional candidate in Rhode Island said a Democratic-controlled House and Senate will ensure the smooth passing of tangible economic policies, and immigration reform, among other things. Dr. Bah who is an immigrant himself and runs the Refugee Dream Center in Rhode Island believes Africans can take away a lot from observing how US politics operates.

“Despite the intense, often polarized atmosphere, US politics is issue-oriented. For instance, in these midterms, the US voters are most interested in the economy. The prices of everything from gas to groceries are exorbitant. Thus, many voters are not even necessarily stuck in the dogma of party divides. Rather, a Republican can vote for a Democratic candidate and vice versa, depending on who convinces them about solutions to such economic issues. I believe many African countries can benefit from this. In the US, the real power lies in the vote, and not some tribal affiliation, or aristocratic inclination,’’ Bah explained.

Modou Thomas lives in the State of North Carolina. He has always voted Democrat in past election cycles but the current state of affairs under the Biden administration and the politicization of issues by both Democrats and Republicans is making him question his political identity. Thomas fears the United States might have another recession if current economic issues are not addressed.

“My worse fear right now is a recession, and I am afraid it will happen. Economists are predicting that we might go through another recession before the economy comes back. This is part of the issues I want to see addressed,’’ Modou said.

Meanwhile, Tuesday’s election will decide control of Congress, governor’s seats as well as local offices. The outcome of the midterms will set the tone for the looming 2024 presidential race where former President Donald J. Trump is expected to make a political comeback.

By: Dawda Baldeh

Veteran Gambian broadcaster and football commentator Malick Jones who is currently in Qatar for a World Cup Assignment has urged the Gambia Football Federation (GFF) to look seriously into the affairs of young people who aspire to a career in football.

Mr Jones was speaking to Nuimi Fm yesterday evening and he called on GFF to do the “right thing” to make sure that Gambia continues to excel in football.

“Let them create the opportunity for young people to be able to play the game. A lot of youths had lost a lot following Gambian football. It is not easy to wake up every morning for training without getting anything,” he said.

He added that a lot of young people have lost other careers while following football.

“When you go for training you hard to go to work because you won’t have the time. Most of these people lose their careers and football is not paying anything.

“I pity the young people because once you get into football hoping that you will be professional. If you fail, you lose a lot of other chances perhaps you will have been employed somewhere.

“I want GFF to think seriously about this and look at the future of the youths who are spending their valuable [time] trying to play football and are not getting anything out of it,” the veteran journalist emphasized.

Mr Jones stated that football has now become professional. He urged the GFF to ensure that young people who are playing football are given something that they can take home for themselves and their parents.

“Right now, they are not getting anything in football,” he noted.

Mr Jones whose assignment will last throughout the World Cup said Gambian youths should be given all the necessary support so that their dreams of playing professional football can be a reality.

He equally urged Gambians to extend their support to neighbouring Senegal who are making their second appearance in the World Cup.

“I know a lot of Gambians may want to support other teams like Brazil, but I urged them to support Senegal or other African countries that qualified,” he concluded.

By Sarjo Brito, FPC International Reporting Tour Participant, Phoenix, Arizona

Former US President Donald J. Trump might not be on the ballot, but he is continuing to shadow the midterm elections as Democrats accuse him of opening the floodgates for election denialism.

The former US president denied the results of the 2020 presidential election, accusing the system of fraud and vote rigging. Donald Trump’s allegations of voter fraud gave birth to the January 6 Capitol insurrection after pro-Trump supporters stormed the building in a bid to disrupt the certification process by Congress.

As the midterm election looms, some Republican candidates who also have the backing of the former president are treading on the same path, questioning the validity of the 2020 presidential election results, and using it as part of their campaign pitches to voters.

According to research, 65% of Republican voters view Biden’s presidency as illegitimate. Some GOP candidates including Arizona’s Blake Masters are already touting election denialism ahead of the November 8 polls which Democrats say put America’s democracy under threat.

Democratic Policy Advisor for the Fontes campaign in Arizona Steven Slugochi told this medium that the rhetoric of election denialism is dangerous for America’s democracy, citing instances of voter intimidation in the State of Arizona as citizens try taking matters into their own hands in an effort to monitor the system.

“I am worried about violence and what could happen. I feel like all these Republican polls – you can see them now on Twitter with them almost laying the groundwork for saying that this election is stolen. You know Blake Masters says that this election is stolen, and it hasn’t even happened yet. That is dangerous what they are saying. We have to make sure that we have faith in our democracy, faith in our elections, and that whatever happens, we accept the results, and we move on.’’

Questioning the legitimacy of electoral processes or denying the results may be the new challenge America’s democracy faces but across the world in Africa, many observers believe it is the playbook for most opposition leaders in the face of defeat. In The Gambia, during the 2021 presidential election, major opposition candidate including two other leading opposition candidates all rejected the results of the presidential election, citing inordinate delay in the transmission of results and party agents’ refusals to sign the results sheets because of the irregularities they observed at the polls.

Leading opposition candidate Ousainou Darboe of the United Democratic Party (UDP), Mama Kandeh of the Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC), and independent candidate Essa Faal were the three who questioned the legitimacy of President Adama Barrow’s 2021 presidential election victory. However, Gambia’s Supreme Court would dismiss the plea of UDP to annul the outcome of the December 4 presidential election.

Meanwhile, in the US, former President Donald Trump continues to tease his comeback into the political arena as he sets sight on the 2024 Presidential run for the Oval Office. Trump in a New York Magazine interview put an end to speculations about his political return, disclosing that the decision to run was already made and the focus is now on when to announce his bid to seek office again.

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.