By: Alimatou S Bajinka

President Adama Barrow has embarked on a tour of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) project sites, ahead of the OIC summit scheduled to be held in The Gambia in November 2022.

The aim of the President’s visit to the project sites is to monitor and assess the progress of the work.

Speaking to the media at the end of the tour, His Excellency Adama Barrow, expressed disappointment over the slow progress of the construction of the 50km project of 20 roads within the Kanifing Municipality and West Coast Region. He also said the progress is about 1%.

“Definitely we are not happy with the progress because all the assessments can be contested. Their progress is about 1% and this job started about 7 months ago, we were expecting by now, according to the schedule, they should have been at least 40 to 50%, so if they are about 1% that is very bad and we cannot explain that anywhere, they should have at least achieved more than what they have achieved now under any circumstance,” he said.

The project is divided into two components that is Lot 1 and Lot 2 given to both foreign and local construction companies. Lot 1 will include the New Jeswang –Jokor Junction, Kanifing hospital, Bertil Harding road, Westfield junction—Abuko road, Sukuta-Latrikunda road, Junction Baa–SOS road, Sukuta Health Center–Senegambia road, Kololi–Senegambia road, Kanifing hospital – GTMI road and Banjul-Serrakunda highway.

While Lot-2 road is a 28km road and would include Kololi Tavern—Bijilo road, Bijilo–Bertil Harding Highway, Sukuta Nemasu–Latrikunda road, Sukuta–Wellingara road, Kombo Coastal Highway–Wulinkama road and Brufut—Ghana Town road.

According to the President, all these roads are part of the preparation for the hosting of the OIC Summit, while expressing disappointment towards the progress of the roads.

“Looking at the 50km project, we are definitely not happy, I am not happy and I am even disappointed with Lot 1 and Lot 2,” he said.

The President further revealed that there is a problem with the two project sites and that a meeting would be conducted today July 15 2022 at midday to find solutions.

“There is a problem, but I have called for an emergency meeting at my office at 12:30 so that all the stakeholders will come together to discuss the roads, and how we can move faster. There is a problem and we have to sit and discuss and find solutions to the problem because there is no problem without a solution,” he said.

By: Ousman Saidykhan

The Ministry of Health has validated a bill seeking to establish the first ever post-graduate medical training in the Gambia to improve health service delivery in the country.

The validation which was held at the Kairaba Beach Hotel on the 14th July 2022 began with a “technical session” where the Bill was scrutinized by delegates from the health sector and with assistance from top individuals from established colleges in Ghana, Liberia and Nigeria.  These experts were present to guide the process, having already gone through it in their various countries.

“There will be many challenges, even from your residents, from your faculties for funding policies. But let me encourage you not to give up. Remain strong. Please, don’t give up,” John Mulbah, the 1st Vice President of the Liberia College of Physicians and Surgeons advised.

The bill, when becomes an Act, will see the Gambia get what will be called “the College of Physicians and Surgeons of the Gambia” one of whose objectives would be offering internationally recognized training and certification in relevant faculties within the college.

“I’m certain by the end of the day, the Gambia would be proud to have validated a very important bill that will strengthen the health sector and also the health service delivery,” Fanta Bai Secka, a representative of the Permanent Sectary, Ministry of Health said in her welcoming statement.

The Minister of Health, Dr Ahmed Lamin Samateh who claimed the Barrow government inherited what he called a “challenging health sector” with outdated or no life-saving equipment and poor infrastructure, was quick to mention the need for capacity building of health workers in The Gambia.

“But of course, irrespective of whatever we have as a health sector, even if the hospitals are beautiful as the hotel we are in right now, if we do not have competent people, qualified, well-trained people to provide the services, we’ve not started. And I think that is why this is very important today. We seriously need to build capacity and we seriously need to train people,” Samateh said.

By: Dawda Baldeh

Musa Camara, Director of Diaspora and Migration Directorate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs International Cooperation and Gambian Abroad, has confirmed to The Fatu Network that plans are ongoing for the repatriation of over eighty (80) Gambian irregular migrants stranded in Niger desert.

Mr. Camara made these remarks while responding to concerns raised by the migrants who are currently kept at refugee camps in Niger.

Prior to the ministry’s respond, The Fatu Network was reliably informed about the conditions of the migrants in Niger.

Ebrima Dambelleh, one of the stranded migrants, said they are facing numerous challenges at the desert with little food to eat. He said they are housed in UN camps where they await  deportation. “We are deported from Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, Morocco and other countries. We are really tired and devastated and we want the government to help us return home,” he said.

According to him, 42 Gambian migrants are kept in Arlit camp while other forty (40) migrants are in a different camp. “We arrived in Agadez about two months ago but still we don’t have any support. We don’t have food to eat and place to sleep apart from the sand. Our fellow migrants from other countries are getting support from their people but in our case, it’s different,” he lamented.

Mr. Dembelleh added that they are living in terrible conditions in Niger, adding that they embarked on the journey to search for greener pastures but life has been extremely difficult for them. He further revealed that they travel for kilometers to get internet for them to communicate to their people back home.

However, Musa Camara, Director of Diaspora and Migration Directorate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs International Cooperation and Gambian Abroad said the Ministry is aware of the stranded Gambians migrants in Niger revealing that plans are underway for their repatriation.

“We are working with the International Organization for Migration to facilitate their return home. As a government we are working on have to identify and confirme those that are Gambians. Sometimes, some migrants claimed to be Gambians when they are not. Some may have committed crimes in their country of origin and they don’t want to return to their countries. So, all these are factors that delays the process,” he explained.

He said IOM is preparing a none-schedule flight to bring the migrants back since they are the UN body responsible for migration issues.

As part of their efforts to identify the actual Gambians, Mr. Camara said they are conducting online interviews with the migrants to confirm their identities, revealing that the migrants will be given emergency travelling certificates that they will use to travel back.

“We are aware and there is a process that has to be follow. We are working on their repatriations with IOM, however it follows a process and there are different countries whose citizens are stranded there,” he added.

Mr. Camara noted that the migrants are taken care of in the camps but noted that it can be different from what they get home.

“They are taken care of, however, it may not be as good as in their home countries. They are under the custody of the UN agencies responsible for migration. They have been registered and the process is ongoing. IOM is providing breakfast, lunch and dinner for them. I know it is an undesirable situation for them but we are doing all we can and we are following the processes required by IOM to repatriate them as early as possible,” he said.

According to statistics, over 40,000 Gambians arrived in Europe by irregular migration between 2014 and 2021. In 2020, net migration rate for Gambia was -1.37 migrants per thousand population.

However the country is facing alarming youth unemployment as it stands at 41.5% according to latest statistics compared to 12.44% in 2019. This is believed to have contributed significantly in the increase rate of irregular migration, especially among youths.

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

With The Gambia Football Federation Presidential elections looming, the incumbent Lamin Kaba Bajo has rated himself a thousand per cent better than his opponent Sadibou Kamaso as the two tussle for the biggest office at the football house in Kanifing.

Served for eight years and still wants another four years, Kaba told The Fatu Network that he is unmatched in terms of football administration compared to Sadibou Kamaso.

When asked who is the better person to lead Gambian football in the next four years between him and Sadibou, Kaba uttered:

“Is difficult for me to blow my own trumpet.  I am a thousand per cent better.  I am thousand per cent better than him in leading Gambian football… hundred thousand times”, Kaba asserted.

He added: “My records are there. If you look at Sadibou’s football profile, that will tell you. All other football responsibilities  he has from 2018 in football, and the  experience he has in football management, are thanks to my leadership. So how can he be better than me?” Kaba asked.

According to him, Sadibou Kamaso is not his match not only in football administration but in many other things.

The former minister and diplomat told TFN that Mr.kamaso, despite being an opponent, is his special younger brother whom he has high regard for. He said he despises castigations or talking bad about Kamaso, noting that politics will go but brotherhood stays.

In 2018, when Lamin Kaba Bajo was seeking re-election, Sadibou Kamaso was the campaign manager for Team Kaba. After four years now, Kamado has metamorphosed from being a campaign manager of team Kaba into a strong opponent.

Speaking to TFN earlier, Kamaso said he shifted to a different camp because Mr Bajo failed to fulfil the promises he made in 2018.

Kamaso will later resign from the federation two months ago citing bad governance at the federation.

The incumbent has launched his manifesto yesterday, July 13.

He told The Fatu Network that he has a lot to say and is open to a debate with his opponent.

By: Modou Touray

School authorities of Bottrop Kindergarten in Kembujeh-Madina have expressed concerns over the disposal of waste within the environs of the school.

In an exclusive interview with The Fatu Network, the school authorities condemned the act and spoke of its effect on the teaching and learning process.

“People often dump thier gabbage at night and during closing hours. They don’t only dump outside but they throw rubbish in our garden. The waste normally consists of plastic and usedclothes. Its difficult to know the perpetrators because no-one has been apprehended,” Jainaba Sowe, the headmistress of the school explained.

According to the co-ordinator of the Bottrop project, Mr Pa Jaruna Jagana, the unpleasant smell from the illegal dumping site negatively impact on the comfort of children.

“We have been complaining about this but people have never stopped. The alkalo [village head) has been informed about it too. We sometimes clear the environment but the waste dumping continues. Kids normally play around the smelling dumping site during break and leisure time.”

The chairman of the school management committee, Mr Yahya Jammeh, emphasized the urgent need for people to desist from such “illegal and  irresponsible behavior.”

“We told the alkalo to inform the residents of the neighborhood because anyone  caught will face the law”.

Momodou Lamin Drammeh is the care-taker of Bottrop Kindergarten. He told this medium that he often sees people carrying waste trying to dump at the place but will stop them.

“For those that I see, I don’t allow them to dump waste at the site but it’s hard really because they always wait when I am inside then they dump their waste and run away.”

The school is located in the neighborhood of Kembujeh- Madina. The Alkalo of the area, Malick Jatta, said he was briefed by the school authorities on the issue.

“It’s not only those within this environment but people traveled from other places to dump waste at the site.”

He expressed solidarity with the school and called for positive attitude towards the environment.

The National Environment Agency’s regional director for West Coast Region, Mr Borry Mansa warned that anyone caught will be punished.

“Illegal dumping is an offence specially within a learning environment. We have legal unit which takes care of these issues.”

Mr Lamin Barry, a public health expert spoke on the health implications of the dump site near a school.

“Generally, a place where dirty materials and rubbish are dumped is very unhealthy for a person. It can cause skin infections and contamination. If kids touch the dirty materials and don’t wash thier hands hygienically, they may get diarrhea as well.”

Illegal dumping is punishable according to rugulations of the National Environment Agency. Advocacy for the cleansing of the environment is ongoing but attitude of some residents towards the environment is still challenging.

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

The late Ebrima Solo Sandeng’s successor in the United Democratic Party (UDP) hierarchy, Kemo Bojang has said that what the deceased former UDP youth Secretary General fought and died for has still not been accomplished six years after his demise.

“It is a bit unfortunate and sad that what he fought and died for is still not accomplished,” he said.

Speaking to The Fatu Network  after the ruling of Solo Sandeng’s murder case yesterday,    the UDP Youth SG, a position Solo was occupying at the time of his murder, told TFN that the Gambia has a progressive democracy compared to April 2016, however, the country still cannot fulfil the electoral reforms which he said Solo died for.

“We wanted to pass a new constitution which will encompass all of these things, but the state, through its apparatus, did not allow it to happen. Our party and its leadership gave their full support to it, but unfortunately, that new constitution could not be passed”,  he explained.

Mr Bojang told TFN that the late Ebrima Solo Sandeng died and fought for the whole Gambia and not UDP alone.

He called on President Adama Barrow to remember his then friend at UDP and effect reforms. He said the President should make sure that Solo’s death is not wasted and that what he fought and died for becomes a reality.

He explained that the party is glad that justice has been served for Ebrima Solo Sandeng.

On April 14 in 2016, the then UDP Youth Secretary General took to the streets to protest over electoral reforms in the Gambia. He and others were arrested by state security officers. He was later reported dead at the hands of the State Intelligence Agency (NIA).

Since the change of government in 2017, a trial was set up against the 9 NIA officials on the death of Solo Sandeng and others. After a long trial, judgement was delivered yesterday 13th July 2022.

Justice Kumba Sillah-Camara, delivered the verdict and sentenced Solo’s killers to death.

By: Modou Touray

Shops owners who were evicted by authorities of Brikama Area Council for the construction of a new market building have demanded their shops back as the building nears completion.

Sidat Kuyateh, a tailor who lost his spot because of the eviction, said tailors who were once doing business at the spot where the new market is being constructed have strong hopes that due consideration will be given to them with regards the allocation of shops in the new building.

“I have been here since 1993 until the Area Council asked us to move. The condition is that when the construction of the modern canteens is done, those of us previously occupying the shops will move in.”

Mustapha Barrow, a fashion designer, who has a tailoring workshop next to the new canteens, is optimistic about being allocated a new shop.

“Many of us lost our customers when we moved from our previous workshop and business became dull. It took me some time to be able to get a temporal place,” Mr Barrow said, adding that the Council’s officials should consider their plights. “As you can see, the building is almost done and it is better to lament now before they will decide otherwise.”

Yahya Saidy, another shop owner in the old market building, said he will soon enter his new workshop and work comfortably.

“What convinced most of us to abandon the place is the promise of getting back to our shops. We have families and this is our source of earnings. If we don’t get permanent workshops, our customers can’t locate us easily.”

Omar Mbye is another shop owner who sells vegetables and cooking materials and eagerly awaits the completion of the new building. He is currently being accommodated in a friend’s shop.

“We are Gambians too and we pay our taxes accordingly. The promise was 8 months and that’s why it is important to trigger the discussion again. It has now been 8 months since we left our shops.”

Baba Camara for his part made similar comments and stressed that it will be disappointing if the shops are allocated to different people without due consideration to the previous occupants. “I believe they shall keep their promise,” he said.

Many former canteen/ shop owners of the space where the new market is being built have all expressed hope and also appealed to the Brikama Area Council authorities to give them new shops.

Speaking to The Fatu Network, the President of the Brikama market committee Foday Manjang, confirmed that the Council indeed had an agreement with the shop owners, however, the number of shops in the new building is few compared to over 200 shop owners in the old building.

“The council promised and we hope that they will honour that. Unfortunately, more than 200 people were doing business in the area and the number of new modern shops is only 88, which means not even one will be able to get their canteen back.

The Public Relations Officer of the Brikama Area Council, Lamin Singhateh, outlined that a special committee is tasked with the responsibility of the project and if the contractor formally hands over the project, they will discuss the matter.

“We will inform the general public with the relevant information at the appropriate time.”

It could be recalled that this particular new building started eight months ago by GAMWORKS and the eight months’ timeline is almost met. It is part of the initiative to transform the Brikama market into a modern one.

Fire outbreaks were rampant in the old market set-up, resulting in the loss of huge cash and valuables. With the construction of the modern structure, that could be minimised to a large degree.

By: Jankey Touray

In a recent interview with Star Tv, former Imam of the State-House of the Gambia and member of the Supreme Islamic Council, Abdoulie Fatty, expressed distress over the existence of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at in the country.

He said what Sheikh Muhammad Fadil Fadera and other Islamic scholars recognized in the Ahmadiyyas is the same thing he sees in them as non-Muslims.

Mr Fatty said this was the reason why he and former Lead Council Essa Faal had a long argument on the TRRC as he wanted to pick him out as the only one against the Ahmadiyyas which, he said, was not the case. He said the entire Islamic Council is against their existence in the country.

“The Ahmadiyyas should accept that they are not Muslims so that all this problem will end. What the Pakistanis government, Saudi Arabia, and the Arab world see in them and other Muslim scholars is the same thing I am emphasizing here; that they are not Muslims,” Said Imam Fatty.

Imam Fatty went on further to say that if the Ahmadiyyas agree to the fact that they are not Muslims and stop misquoting and trying to change the verses of the Quran and the Hadiths of the Prophet Muhammed, then they can be allowed to build schools, hospitals, and live freely. He also said he has been asking people to stop going to their hospital and other anything they own but they refused.

Speaking on the high cost of going to the Ahmadiyya hospital and schools in the country, Mr Fatty said their hospital and schools are not free, yet people don’t talk about it.

“Other Muslim organizations give free education, medications, shelter, and accommodation to the needy which the government does not talk about and has not spoken on. It is as if the Ahmadiyyas are the only ones contributing to the development of the country,” he added.

The former State House imam said even the leader of the Ahmadiyya Jama’at, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, admitted to the huge difference between Muslims and the Ahmadiyyas.

“Ghulam Ahmad said if people think they and Muslims have differences is a mistake, we (Ahmadiyyas) are not the same as the Muslims even on the aspect of God. He said (Ghulam Ahmad) his God does get married,” adding that his God does sleep while our God does not and he also said his God forgets while ours does not. “God makes mistakes when he writes and corrects them, that’s not God.”

Imam Fatty said Muslims believe in Prophet Muhammad as the last servant and messenger of Allah and Essa (Jesus) as the son of Mariam from Israel and not Pakistanis.

He also said Ghulam Ahmad cannot be Pakistanis and also a prophet and be Mahdi as his parents are Pakistanis and he is a Pakistanis too.

He said that Ghulam cannot be three individuals from different tribes and claim superior, then it is clear that the Ahmadiyyas are non-Muslims, as Essa is from Israel, Mahdi is from Mecca while Ahmad is from Pakistan.

“This is why the scholars and Islamic Council are against them, they said anybody who is against them is a nonbeliever and they don’t pray behind any Muslim other than themselves. These are people who are banned by Saudi to perform Hajj because they are not Muslims,” Imam Fatty said.

Fatty said Ahmadiyyas should not be allowed to operate in the country, and if the government allows them to operate based on religious equality, then other religions like Baddihism, Hinduism, Boku-haram and others must be allowed to operate, something he said is against the Islamic principles and that will bring destabilization in the country in future.

By H.E. Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu

On the evening of July 15, 2016, the “Fethullahist Terrorist Organization” (FETO) launched a bloody coup attempt against the people and the government of my country. Their aim was to establish a radical, fundamentalist regime, loyal only to their ringleader Fetullah Gülen.

As FETO affiliated army units left their barracks to occupy key locations, such as the Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul and fighter jets and attack helicopters bombed strategic targets including the Parliament, Presidential compound, army and police headquarters; thousands of civilians took to the streets to stop this unprecedented heinous coup attempt. The plotters killed 251 innocent civilians and left thousands injured. On that night the Turkish people defended democracy with their lives. This heroic response was something the conspirators did not foresee.

To understand what transpired, one has to understand the true nature of FETO. FETO was established in the late 1960’s as a so-called “religious movement”. In the guise of promoting education and inter-religious dialogue, it managed to cover its malign intentions.

The well-planned and wide-spread infiltration by FETO members and converts into the army, law enforcement, judiciary and numerous government institutions, including my Ministry, was carried out for decades clandestinely for an overarching plan, of which the final phase was unleashed on July 15, 2016.

Had the coup attempt succeeded, there would have been a very different Türkiye today. Democracy would not have existed and fundamental rights and freedoms would have been suspended indefinitely. The nation would have fallen in the hands of an extremist government.

FETO not only controlled a significant portion of educational institutions, but also owned numerous financial institutions. Their bank accounts were fed by prominent FETO members in industry and commerce, as well as by officials and members of the public. Many innocent civilians were also lured into contributing to FETO’s finances as their piety was manipulated. The enormous income driven from their schools around the globe was channeled into these accounts clandestinely waiting for their ultimate move.

Following the bloody coup attempt of July 15, 2016, a resolute cleansing of the public sector, including government institutions and the military, as well as of the private sector from all FETO affiliated persons and companies was initiated.  Some prominent conspirators have been apprehended. Others escaped justice and found refuge in foreign countries. The head of the FETO terrorist organization, Fethullah Gülen, still resides in the United States. Our government has been requesting the extradition of Gülen to Türkiye from the United States as well as that of FETO members from European countries for years. Unfortunately, these requests have not been fulfilled yet.

On the other hand, elsewhere in the world, an increasing number of governments understand the danger this terrorist organization also poses to them and are taking the necessary steps. FETO is also engaged in illegal activities such as visa fraud, money laundering and arms trafficking. Consequently, FETO members are being cleared from public and private sectors in many countries. Many schools affiliated with this terrorist organization abroad have been transferred to the Turkish Maarif Foundation after 2016. Today, Maarif Schools are functioning in many countries and are providing excellent education worldwide.

The nature and scope of Türkiye’s fight against FETO is no different than that exercised by other countries against organizations which had terrorized officials and civilians alike, and endangered democratic values, fundamental rights and freedoms. Türkiye is doing what the respective countries in their fight against terrorism have done in the past. All procedures are in compliance with law.

Terrorism does not have a nationality, ethnicity or religion. This menace threatens humanity as a whole. Therefore, the response to this threat must be united and determined. No state has the luxury to differentiate between terrorists and no terrorist organization can be classified as “useful” according to preferences. FETO is responsible for the loss of hundreds of lives as well as other grave crimes against the Turkish people. Six years after July 15, 2016, Türkiye continues its resolute fight against FETO, just as it continues its fight against other terrorist organizations such as the PKK, PYD-YPG, DHKP-C and DAESH.

We expect the international community to stand in solidarity with Türkiye in the fight against terrorism.

By H.E. Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye

By: Alimatou S Bajinka

Residents of the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) together with the waste management janitors of KMC have expressed fears and disappointment over the recent faltering nature of the widely hailed waste management initiative of the municipality.

Residents of Tallinding Kunjang have said that the waste collection trucks are no longer punctual and that they do not show up for several weeks at a stretch.

Babucarr Mansally, Councillor of Tallinding North, explained that the age of the trucks is one of the main reasons the KMC waste collection efforts are no longer as it was. He also said the trucks have run for over two years and are now old and experiencing frequent breakdowns.

“The unpunctuality of the waste collectors is because the trucks have served for more than two years and that they are getting old, so they face a lot of breakdowns and during that period they cannot function as they should”.

He also noted that the poor working attitude of the janitors is another problem hindering the progress of the waste management initiative.

“Most of the time, the janitors are also a major problem. They were so active and punctual at the beginning of the initiative, but now only a few would show up. They always come up with excuses for not coming to work, yet they are all being paid at the end of every month. Waste collection requires a lot of hands and cannot be done successfully by the few that turn up for work”.

Meanwhile, a janitor who asked for anonymity said the poor treatment of janitors and other waste management workers by the KMC was the reason for the demotivation.

“We are not being treated as we should be treated. We are being paid a poor salary that should not be given to anyone, especially to us considering the kind of work we do. Collecting waste exposes us to various health risks and we do it every single day in order to keep Municipality clean. However, the attitude of our leaders is not good towards us and that is why most of us have become reluctant.”

The KMC’s waste management initiative is one of the hallmarks of Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda’s administration, which ensured that almost every ward was provided with a truck to collect waste from homes every week and reduce littering. The initiative was well received and commended by residents.

Mariama Leigh, a resident of Tallinding North commended the initiative, saying it brought The Gambia closer to the clean country the citizens dreamt of.

The KMC waste collection is also more affordable for residents who pay D10 per bag, compared to about D50 being charged by private waste collectors.

“The KMC weekly waste collection from homes is really helpful. Before, we used to keep our waste in our homes for weeks before we could dispose of them through the private waste collectors who charge D50 per sack. If you have a struggling family like mine, you will not afford to dispose of your waste every week, but the KMC made it easier and cheaper for us,” Mariama Leigh said.

Leigh went on further to say the Municipality has been regressing in their waste collection efforts in recent times and falling back to the old days. This, she said, is one of the reasons for their unpunctuality compared to the beginning of the initiative.

Omar Colley, Project Manager for the KMC waste collection project, which is also known as the ‘MBALIT PROJECT’ said the Municipality is doing everything in its power to make sure there is a clean environment.

“Some trucks are getting old and under maintenance, their inconsistency is not deliberate.” Said Mr Colley.

In its efforts to stop littering and dumping in the streets, the KMC has also placed trash bins at busy places like Westfield, Traffic Lights, junctions along the Brikama Highway and so on.

About 20 waste collection trucks were unveiled at a ceremony presided by the Lord Mayor of KMC on 24th June 2019.

The KMC Mayor, Talib Hamed Bensouda was quoted saying, as part of the ‘Mbalit Project’, the Municipality has allocated D100M that belongs directly to the community of 19 wards in the Municipality. The project was a partnership between The KMC and QGroup.

According to a source, waste collection and disposal is one of the most expensive challenges faced by the Municipality and council authorities as waste disposal continue to account for a significant part of their daily financial expenditure. The waste collection helps to keep communities and nations clean and can also guarantee peoples’ health and the conservation of resources for development.

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

The Head Coach of the Gambia’s male Senior National Football Team, Tom Sainfeit, has said that he is happy to make it to the final list of nominees for the African Coach of the Year Awards but disappointed that players Musa Barrow and James Gomez, as well as the Gambia National team, missed out on the final cut.

After guiding the scorpions to their maiden continental football competition in the African Cup of Nations in Cameroon earlier this year, the Belgian tactician was nominated for the continent’s Coach of the Year Awards and subsequently made the cut for the final list alongside Aliou Cisse of Senegal, Carlos Queiroz, Pitso Mosimane, and Walid Regragui.

“I am very honoured and happy to be on the list with several top coaches in African football. It is fantastic. This is a result of the whole technical team, the players and the GFF. I have to be very grateful to them”, he said.

However, the coach expressed disappointment over his star players Musa Barrow and James Gomez missing out on the final list of nominees for the Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year Awards respectively, as well as the team missing out on the National Team of the Year award.

“I am very disappointed that as a team, we didn’t make it to the Team of the Year and also Musa Barrow and James Gomez deserved to be on the final list and even more players from our national team deserved to be there. I am disappointed that they didn’t make it to the final list.”

Speaking further on his chances of winning the award that is set to be held in Rabat, Morocco on July 21, the Scorpion’s gaffer said he is expecting Aliou Cisse to be the top candidate for the trophy. He outlined that being in the top five is a great thing for him.

The 2022 CAF Awards will be held on July 21 in Rabat, Morocco, where the final winners of all the categories will be announced.

It is the first time in the history of the Gambia that the players, coach and the National Team are nominated for the CAF awards.

By: Modou Touray

Residents of Brikama have told The Fatu Network that the number of garages is increasing and scattered everywhere, thereby causing obstruction to traffic among other things.

“They park the cars they are repairing on the highway and streets. If you want to operate a mechanic workshop, you need to look for a land with enough space. Most of the garages do not have enough space to accommodate the number of vehicles they service so they use the highway and streets to park the cars,” says Lamin Federa, a resident of Brikama Nemataba.

Yusupha Dumbuya said he once knocked own a pedestrian while driving near an automechanic workshop.

“I was driving. When I reached the workshop, I was obstructed by packed vehicles at the highway around Newtown. So, I decided to deviate but unfortunately knocked a woman who was passing by.”

The garage he said is located few meters away from the Brikama Newtown mosque.

Bubacar Bojang shared his experience and highlighted that streets and highways must be free from obstruction hence they are meant for free flow of movement.

Making his point to this medium, Zakaria Joof blamed government for not regulating the auto mechanic industry

“They have right as citizens to operate their business but they should not only follow their interests. These unnecessary incidents could have been avoided.”

Saikou Njie and Rabiatou Mbye both students of the Gambia College made similar sentiments, pointing out that even the auto mechanic garage near the College is causing obstruction.

“We have to use the main highway to get to the College because the footpath near our fence, where people use to access the College, is currently occupied by auto mechanics.”

At least 2 mechanic workshops are located near the College premises and students have expressed concerne about that.

Fita Garage could be seen around Brikama in an unorganized matter which does not only obstruct traffic but also has poor hygiene conditions.

Allhage Sillah and Morr jagne both auto mechanics attributed the problem to lack of space.

“It is definitely not easy. The number of cars in country is too many now so we have to service them daily. We are appealing to the Brikama Area Council to help us with space which can accommodate more vehicles.”

The Public Relations Office of the Brikama Area council, Mr. Lamin Singhateh was quick to react and clarified that the council is not a custodian of lands.

When contacted for his reaction to the story, the Director General of the National Roads Authority Mr. Momodou Senghor, said all stakeholders involved should play their part.

“Our responsibility is to construct road infrastructure. Enforcement is for the uniform men.”

The police spokesperson, Lamin Njie, disclosed that the police will soon announce a special operations to clear the highway, noting that that will include abandoned vehicles, garages, shops and canteens obstructing movement of vehicles and pedestrians on the highway and streets.

Reports indicated that the total number of accidents cases recorded in the Gambia by last April was 11,995 whilst the death toll accelerated to 365.

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

A business development specialist, Malang K.K Bojang has called on relevant authorities in the Gambia government to punish civil and public servants who fail to willingly report for work today as civil servants resume work after the observance of the Islamic event of Eid-ul-Adha, locally known as “Tobaski.”

He added that the government should either reduce the salary of those employees or not pay them salary for the month of July.

Different areas observed Tobaski on different days in the country. However, the government of The Gambia declared only Yesterday, July 11th as a Public Holiday.

With the attitude of civil and public servants in the country by adding an extra day, Malang K.K Bojang pointed out that those civil and public servants should be punished for not reporting for work today.

“Anyone who did not report to work willingly should be punished.  None of them should be paid the July salary or be paid 50% of the entire take home,”, she asserted.

Doubled as the Secretary-General of the New Yundum Village Development Committee (VDC), Malang added that Gambians work harder daily to pay public servants in the country and further asserted that there should not be any excuse from any public servant who fails to report to work today.

“We toil and moil daily to pay every public servant in this country. A day off should be enough”, Mr Bojang pointed out.

According to him, many public servants did not report for work last Friday and worked for a few hours on Thursday. He defended that the working hours lost on Thursday and Friday are huge and it cannot be compromised by adding another unofficial day.

“They should not go unpunished if we are a serious country”, Malang claimed.

The Gambia is divided on Tobaski day.  The Supreme Islamic Council announced the 9th July as Tobaski day in The Gambia. However, many areas in rural Gambia observed the day on the 10th of July, which was on Sunday. It is a tradition in the Gambia that many people based in the urban areas will go back to the rural areas to spend Tobaski with their families.

By: Hadram Hydara & Jankey Touray

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Freedom Properties Housing Estate, Alieu Njie, has refuted accusations of ‘419’ and fraud levelled against him and his company by two clients, who are also brothers.

Mr Njie was reacting to accusations made against him last week by Omar Jallow and Amadou Jallow, two brothers who have been engaged in business with Njie’s real estate company regarding a piece of land since 2018.

The brothers said they have paid a total of D210,000 to Freedom Properties Housing Estate for a piece of land, which dated back to 2018, however, according to them they have still not been given the documents for the land.

However, CEO Alieu Njie said these claims are misleading and defamatory while arguing that the company has explained six months, which can go up to a year, leasing duration for the land to the brothers and also opened avenues for them to be refunded if they wished.

“We told them initially that all our estates are going to be a lease and the leasing process takes time. It takes almost 6 months or a year. So while that process is ongoing, we have not received the full documentation of the lease from the lawyer who does documentation for us, but because Mr Jallow is impatient, he has been requesting his money back. Since he began asking for his money, we have asked him to come to our offices so that we can start refunding the same way he paid us. That has been our stand and since then, we have not seen or heard from him. He has always been telling us his brother will come but when the brother gets in touch with us, he will never turn up for the settlement of their funds.”

Speaking further on the false impression the story of the brothers has created, Mr Njie defended the credibility of his company while admitting that the brothers have neither been denied access to the land nor their money.

“Amadou and Omar Jallow’s story is a misleading story towards a reliable company like Freedom and that being said, Mr Jallow has never been denied access to either the land or their money. So hearing this story from The Fatu Network was very surprising and we found it to be misleading information.”

The CEO of Freedom Housing Estate added that his company always operates within the rule of law, and because of that, the company had asked Mr Jallow to give his brother, who has been representing him while he is away in Germany, the power of attorney which, Njie said, he refused.

“For the past 6 months, we have been asking Mr Jallow to give his brother, who is also his representative here, the power of attorney because in our company we always follow the rule of law and also due process in our every transaction. So as a client, since he is not here in the country, we asked him to provide a power of attorney to his brother so that he can tell us exactly what his demands are but he refused to do such. Also, we told him if he could not do that then he is also obliged to come to the office legally in order to get access to his refund, but again, we have not heard from them until this publication.”

Regarding the duration and mode of payment by the Jallow brothers, Mr Njie said the brothers paid in instalments, taking them a year and a half to complete the entire payment.

“They were paying in instalments which took almost a year and a half to complete. We started the documentation for the lease in 2018 until 2020 and during the process, we were trying to accomplish everything that has to do with the documentation, however, even though it is almost done, we have not received the final stage of the lease yet.”

By: Ousman Saidykhan

Recently, Nuha Fofana, the President of the Association of Public and Environmental Health Officers of the Gambia (APEHOG), expressed disappointment over government’s decision to suspend 371 health officers without pay; a decision he said they are working on to get reversed.

“[We are] disappointed because a lot of effort was put in by the executive to convince the membership to resume work,” Nuha said.

A letter coming from the Personnel Management Office, dated July 1st, suspended the two-month salaries of three hundred and seventy-one (371) health workers who were on strike just a day after they had agreed to resume work.

“We agreed to commence work on the 4th of July during an emergency congress we held on the 30th of June,” the APEHOG President confirmed.

APEHOG embarked on a sit-down strike since last month over demands that the Health Ministry include them in the new allowance scheme. The Ministry proposed a specific allowance for Medical Doctors and others which the association deems discriminatory to other cadres within the health sector. They demanded this be suspended.

In a press release dated 28th June 2022, the Health Ministry called on the protesting APEHOG members to call off the sit-down strike and immediately resume work the following day or risk shouldering “administrative actions”, including withholding their salaries.

However, the health workers countered the ministry’s warning, saying they “sailed too far to be dictated or intimidated” and that they would resume working based on their own accord.

Meanwhile, despite being disappointed with the government over the suspension, the association is exploiting avenues to overturn the decision.

“A selected task force is working with the government to revert their decision, both the suspension and ensuring that our demands are met,” APEHOG President said.

Nuha is optimistic that they will drive home their demands through the task force’s engagement with the ministry.

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

The Muslim feast Eid-ul Adha, locally referred to as Tobaski, is just a day away. During the days leading to the day, Muslims round the world with financial power will buy rams and slaughter them on the day as a sacrifice.

The Gambia is a Muslim-dominated country. These days, rams are everywhere despite the hike in prices.

There are abattoirs and ‘Darals’, where livestock is sold. From Sheep to goats and cows. These are animals that are sold in the Brikama Daral, one of the busiest and the biggest ‘Daral’ in the Gambia.

Yesterday, July 7, three boys were apprehended as thieves for attempting to steal two rams and a goat.  This came after two others snatched rams and disappeared unnoticed to the ram dealers in the ‘Daral’.

Ansu Fabureh is a retired Chief Police Superintendent and now a livestock dealer in the Brikama Daral. He told The Fatu Network that despite the organisation in the ‘daral’ among livestock dealers, thieves still penetrate. He explained to TFN how thieves extort livestock dealers.

According to the retired Police Superintendent, thieves will appear there in disguise. Most of them will come and request to bathe rams for the dealers and get paid for the services. Bathing rams is also source of revenue for youths, especially at the moments when the market is expected to yield fortune for livestock dealers.

“So, while doing that, they will use the opportunity to snatch them and leave, to the detriment of the owners. Just a few days ago, a strong young man came and requested to bathe rams, which he will get paid for.  While doing that, he snatched the biggest ram from the owner. He only realised that later when he was counting them”, he narrated. He added some will pretend to be buying rams and they will secretly snatch rams. Some will come with a group. The person pretending will remain there to fake situations.

Another trick that they will use, according to one Alagie Saidy, a young livestock dealer, is that they will steal rams and take them to the ‘Daral’. He said that every livestock dealer in the ‘Daral’ has documented and each livestock is documented.

“Whenever we see them selling, the security will ask for their papers. If they didn’t, the security will take them to the police station. Just 4 days ago, two boys stole goats from their parents and they came here. After we reported them to the police, the parents were able to know” he narrated.

The security officers stationed at the ‘Daral’ are civilians who once served in the country’s security force.  Alagie Saidy and Lamin Darboe, all livestock dealers are expecting more thieves to play tricks in the last hours before Tobaski. They advised their fellows to be very vigilant.

On many occasions even at home, thieves will snatch rams and sell them.

By: Modou Touray

In a bid to get the needed supports from state and non-state actors and also promote the availability of quality chicken products in the country, some local poultry farmers have told The Fatu Network that government should place a temporal ban on the importation of chicken and chicken products.

Muhammad Sanyang, a local poultry farmer in Gunjur Sambouyang village claimed that government is not providing them the required financially support to develop their poultry farming business.

“I started with my little capital. I am still struggling. I am even fed-up with media interviews because we keep talking, but nothing is coming out of it. I am sure that if we get enough capital, we will produce lots of chicken and chicken products.”

He stated that, with huge capacity in poultry farming, the country will not depend on foreign chicken.

“The Gambia is now a dumping ground for low quality chicken and chicken products.”

The “G farm” which Mr. Sanyang initiated with local partners was purposely to create jobs for youths. Currently, more than 100 youths are working at the farms whiles learning the skills to make themselves self-reliant.

Marima Saine, a youth advocate underscored the importance to invest in youths farming ventures, calling for immediate actions. He described youths as the cream of society.

“If we are really serious in developing the country, youths’ advancement must always be considered.”

The National Farmers Platform, the umbrella body responsible for the welfare of famers, has also raised concerns on the challenges of farmers.

Lamin S. Fadera, communication officer of the farmers’ body, suggested the need to put an embargo on imported chicken.

“We need to form a unified force to make sure that the importation of chicken is temporarily banned. We have been advocating for this, but we have not seen any fruitful outcome.”

In her reaction, the regional livestock director for West Coast Region, Isatou Savage, spoke of government’s commitment to local livestock production and efforts to provide support.

“We do routine health check on poultry farms, give them support through advice and also create market linkages for them through the small-ruminant project.”

Poultry farming is still a major challenge for local farmers, hence the amount of chicken and chicken products being imported continues to float our market.

By: Alimatou S Bajinka

An editor-in-chief, also known as a lead editor or chief editor is a publication’s editorial leader who has final responsibilities for its operations and policies.

The editor-in-chief determines the publication of contents. He or she has the final say in what is published and what isn’t and leads the publication’s team of editors and writers.

In a country of 2.5 million people, according to Worldometer elaboration of the latest United Nations data as of July 7th 2022, news editing is predominantly seen as a male-dominated area fit for only men in The Gambia, however, a trendsetter in the name of Juldeh Njie is changing the narrative.

Mrs Juldeh Njie is the only female editor-in-chief in the entire Gambian media fraternity. Juldeh, who was editor-in-chief at Eye Africa TV and now editor-in-chief for Paradise TV, has always believed that news editing is a male-dominated area and therefore not fit for women, even as talented as her.

“I always have this self-doubt that I cannot be an editor because I am a woman. Even though I have been so confident in my abilities, I have always convinced myself that this is a male-dominated area.”

After going through rigorous journalistic training and working in different institutions and under people who served as mentors and a source of motivation to her, Juldeh Njie would soon rise through the ranks from reporting to presenting news and finally to being editor-in-chief of an entire newsroom.

The bright young editor’s journey started at the standard newspaper where she would go on to work under Talibeh Hydara, the assistant editor-in-chief of the standard Newspaper and then Ebrahim Press Bah, editor of Eye Africa TV. According to Juldeh, these two people immensely contributed to her journey and career in journalism to become a good writer and editor.

Juldeh has attended Media Academy for Journalism and Communication (MAJaC), a renowned school for journalists and media practitioners, where she attained an advanced diploma in journalism.

She said MaJaC exposed her to a wide range of issues, including her vocabulary being sharpened and improved and also her understanding of journalism taking a spiking sharp turn at the academy.

After voluntarily editing for 5 months at Eye Africa TV, Juldeh realised her ability to spot grammatical errors and construct perfectly read sentences and only then did she decide to give editing a chance.

“When I realised my capabilities, I said to myself why not just give it a shot. So I went to the proprietor, Lamin Kanteh of Eye Africa and we spoke and then he gave me a contract as a news editor. This is how my journey started and from there I started to be a full-fledged editor of an entire newsroom.”

She concluded by narrating her unique story in the Gambian media landscape as it has not really been an easy journey to the echelon of the media food pie but with determination, perseverance, and passion she was able to pull through and now here she is as the Editor-in-Chief of Paradise TV.

Muhammed S Bah, President of The Gambia Press Union (GPU) expressed concern over the low number of female editors in the Gambian media.

“The GPU is very much concerned about the limited number of female editors in the media houses. It is important to have equal opportunities for both male and female media workers,” Bah said.

However, to remedy the situation, the GPU President said they have rendered support in the form of women’s advancement in the media to the Women Journalist Association of The Gambia (WoJAG). He also pledged that Union will continue to advocate for the issue of women’s advancement in the media.

“We believe everyone should be given the chance if one has the qualification and experience despite your regardless of gender”

Miss Annette Camara, the President of the Women Journalists Association of The Gambia (WoJAG) said at their level, they are training women Journalists to improve the quality of their reporting skills and setting the standards to be able to bridge the gap. “It’s only through standards we can be on the same level with men,” she said, adding that they are engaging their male counterparts in the media to know and understand the importance of equality and representation.

However, she claimed that women in this industry experience a more hostile workplace than men and that prevents them from reaching top leadership roles. “This is something we all know and the excuse we get is that we are not performing,” she said.

Dr Baba Galleh Jallow, a veteran journalist, believes there are no specific reasons for fewer female editors, saying there is no single answer to this

as there are more female journalists today than when they were journalists back in the 90s and early 2000.

“Journalism is an open field and one name comes to mind, Ndey Tapha Sosseh, she was an editor at the observer and even became president of the GPU,” Jallow said.

In Baba Jallow’s view, it is unfair to blame men for the low number of female editors in newsrooms. “I am not sure it is right to put the entire blame on men for the absence of females in the editing department, I think it is a matter of choice that women feel not to venture into editing now. There were female editors before, I can’t remember specific names but certainly there were. I worked with two female editors in the past.”

He concluded by saying women should be encouraged in whatever they want to become or pursue in their careers. “They could be editors, they could be anything they feel like, whatever a man can do a woman can do when it comes to journalism, so if they are qualified for it why not.”

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

“I am going, I can not buy it here”, a downhearted 49-year-old Musa Touray, who went to buy ram voiced after wandering in the Brikama ‘Daral’ with an amount of money that could not get him his prefered ram.

Tobaski in The Gambia is on Saturday and Muslims with the means of buying Tobaski rams are going to the places where rams and goats are sold. Brikama ‘Daral’ is one of the biggest places where animals are sold and one of the busiest these days as Muslims prepare for Tobaski.

However, there has been an increase in the prices of rams this year.  Some rams will cost a buyer 50 thousand dalasis.

Musa Touray woke up in the morning and went to the Brikama ‘Daral’ with 12 thousand dalasis to buy a ram for his family but left the place empty-handed due to the prices of the rams he pointed.

49 years of age, Musa told the Fatu Network that he cannot buy a ‘very small ram’ for his family.

” The ones they are selling for 12 thousand are very small. Only I can eat and finish the meat’, the downhearted Musa said. He added that he will leave for Abuko abattoir to see if situations will be different.

Ousman Manneh, another buyer at the Brikama Daral was able to get one for himself despite the prices of rams. He explained to TFN that he negotiated so hard for him to get it at 14 thousand dalasis. According to him,   he was not expecting to buy it at that price and confessed that he will now struggle because he spent almost all his money.

“Now, I leave everything to God. I have spent almost all I have on myself. I cannot go home without this, my kids will not understand”, he uttered.

Speaking on behalf of the Brikama Daral Association, Buba Darboe, an executive member of the association told this medium that the price of rams is not expensive compared to the price they bought the rams in Senegal.

According to him, the value of the Gambia currency is low compared to the Senegalese CFA. He narrated that they have to change Gambian Dalasi into CFA and the least that they will buy a ram is 10 thousand dalasis in addition to transportation back home.

“The price is normal. We buy a ram for over 25 thousand CFA and the least price will be 10 thousand dalasis. When transporting them to the country, we have to pay for each D300 to D400 dalasis.  If we add all of these and compare them to the amount we sell them, it is not expensive”, he said.

Lamin Touray, a ram seller said that the profit that they get from the sale of a ram is less than a thousand dalasi. He argued that they use a lot of energy and time to get rams.  To Lamin, the price is not expensive.

He further explains that a sheep can be sold for 7 thousand dalasis but nobody will want that for a Tobaski ram. He asserted some buyers will come with an amount that will not get them the type they want.