By: Sanna Jallow

Residents of Sukuta-Salagie, over the weekend converged at a press briefing where they accused the Physical Planning Department of land grabbing and warned that any further attempt could cause instability.

Speaking at the briefing, Maimuna Bah, the President of Sukuta-Salagie United Association said there is a rumour that the Physical Planning Department wants to demolish the Salagie market, noting that the market will be constructed whether the Department likes it or not.

“We will never stop until we get what belongs to us, and that is the market that was allocated for the women of Sukuta-Salagie and it surrounding,” she stated.

Mrs. Bah accused Mamadi Manjang, the head of the Physical Planning Department and few individuals of Salagie Layout Community Association of illegal land dealing in the community, emphasising that they will never relent in fighting for what belongs to them.

She further alleged that a group of people who formed Salagie Layout Community Association have taken their lands and have sold them to other people.

“We are not blaming the government, but the Physical Planning Department and Salagie Layout Community Association. Let them allow us to build our market in peace,” she said.

Prior to the allocation of the market in Salagie, women in neighbouring communities travelled all the way to Serekunda, Bakoteh, Coastal Road Market, among others to either buy or sell commodities.

The residents urged the government to support women and petty traders who are struggling daily to make ends meet.

Lamin Jatta, the Public Relations Officer of Sukuta-Salagie United Association said the native of Salagie allocated land for the women of Salagie and its surrounding to earn their living from the market.

He stressed that women in the country continue to face challenges in terms of feeding their families and in other domestic work they do at home.

Abdoulie Cham, a resident of Sukuta Salagie, said that lot of senior government officials are occupying lands belonging to the people of Salagie while denying women the only place allocated for the market.

“We are not going to surrender to them because we are ready to fight back and we await anything that we come out of it,” he said.

He explained that before they started the market they wrote to the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Local Government and the Ministry of Interior informing them that the women of Sukuta-Salagie wanted the land to operate the market and we sent the letters with 300 signatures from the women.

Bintou B Colley, the Secretary of Sukuta Salagie United Association said one major problem they are facing is the construction of the market, not only for  women of sukuta-Salagie but also for other communities like Yuna, Jarbang and labakora.

“Women are suffering a lot in this area, and we demanded for the market during the presidential campaigns, and it was promised to us,” she stated.

Gibril Bojang, a resident of Sukuta Salajie and a construction engineer said they have issues with the Physical Planning Department which took their lands from them.

“They have given some of the land to their girlfriends and their relatives and we have evidence on that, and if they want they can come and prove themselves,” he said.

By Modou Touray

The Gambia Standards Bureau over the weekend engaged the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) members of West Coast Region on the draft standard for vehicle emissions.

The forum was held at the Governor’s office in Brikama. The technical advisory committee is a body comprising heads of government institutions and non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) in the region.

The meeting, which was marked by arguments and counter arguments by various participants, provided stakeholders the opportunity to get their inputs captured in the document.

Responding to concerns that it’s a custom to develop draft laws but implementation is normal the problem, Mr Ebrima Jallow, the Director of Standardization at the Gambia Standard Bureau, assured participants of the political commitment on the effective implementation of the vehicle’s standards regulations.

Madam Binta Sey Jadama, who represented the governor at the forum, spoke of his appreciation for allowing members of TAC to brainstorm on the draft standards document. “I urge you to provide hard copies of the final document to relevant stakeholders. It is often different if you ask people to access the document through online,” Binta Sey pleaded.

The National Environment Agency was the institution assigned to draft the document and where ably represented by Seedy Barrow who expressed the willingness of his institution to partner with Standards Bureau in the national task.

The document, if successfully implemented, is said to significantly contribute to the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and respiratory illness as smoke from non-roadworthy vehicles pose a threat to the environment and people’s health.

Consultation on the draft document is ongoing but as it stands, the recommended emissions limits for all light-vehicles is 10 years and 15 years for heavy duty vehicles.

The forum for regional authorities in West Coast Region is part of their nationwide engagements prior to the gazetting of the document.

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

Four days since he was attacked by his student at Scan Aid Upper and Senior School in Brufut, Mr Amadou BB Jatta told the Fatu Network in an exclusive interview what actually happened and clarified that he was not stabbed and never being in a critical condition, contrary to the widespread rumour that he was stabbed.

“He hit me with an iron bar on my shoulder and face. He pulled out a knife and attempted to stabbed me, but I seized the hand where he held the knife,” he explained.

Mr. Jatta told TFN that immediately after being attacked and assaulted by his student, he rushed to the Brusubi Police Station and then to Sukuta Health Centre. After the arrest warrant for the student, he went to Medic Care. He confirmed that he sustained injuries in his eyes.

“When I went to Medic Care, the Doctor I found there said my vision is compromised and that I have internal wounds in my eyes, so they are affecting me, but I am better and taking treatment.”

Yesterday, Monday, June 20, Mr. Jatta confirmed that the student Abdoulie Manneh reported himself to the Brufut PIU and was later taken to the Brusibi Police station. This came after he was on the run since Thursday. The boy, he explained will be charged.

However, at the time of going to press, the police PRO, ASP Lamin Njie didn’t confirm the arrest of the student.

But what happened and how?

On Thursday, June 16, a 10th-grade student name Abdoulie Manneh assaulted his teacher, hit him with an iron bar on his soldier and face and attempted to stab him.

It all began when Mr Amadou BB Jatta (Amba) reported the student to the school principal’s office because the student missed going to school for a while.

According to Jatta, he talked to the student several times and one time invited the guidance to the school to address Abdoulie’s irregularity in school and his behaviour.

On this Thursday, when he reported him to the Principal, he could not explain why he was not going to school. He was then asked to surrender his bag. When a search was made, a pair of scissors was found in the bag plus a book that does not belong to him. He was then asked to go and call his parents.

The young teacher then escorted the student, but they had a push and pull. When the boy was leaving, according to Mr Jatta, he rained insults on him and the school administration.

“After that insult, he threatened to stab me to death when I leave the school campus,” Mr Jatta narrated.

According to him, the student then went home and then went back to the school, but he was denied access. When he was not allowed to enter, he went to the graveyard.

In a few minutes, Mr Jatta left the school campus to meet a staff who was supposed to hand over something to him but before he reaches the meeting point, the staff then called him and told him that a student was going to bring the materials to the school.

“When I was on my way back to school, I felt a hit from behind and I fell to the ground. Before I turned to know what was happening, I was hit with an iron bar in the face. As he tried to hit me with the iron bar for the third time, I held the iron in my hand and we had a push and pull. Then I also hit him with my hands.

“We fought there and he pulled out a knife. He attempted to stab me, then I moved backwards. When he attempted to stab me for the second time, I hit the hands and the knife fell to the ground. When it fell to the ground, he was the first to reach the knife as we both struggled to get the knife.  When he picked up the knife, I held his hand that was holding the knife with my both hands.”

“He then used his other hand to hit me on my face and eyes. I tried to fight back but he overpowered me and sat on me. As I was struggling to get the knife from his hand, he continued using the other hand to hit me.  When I managed to get the knife from his hands, people came and separated us. That is where he eventually ran away,” Jatta narrated to the Fatu Network.

By Modou Touray

The Association of Physically Challenged Persons has explained its successes and challenges in 2021 and its desires for persons with disability in The Gambia.

In an exclusive engagement with The Fatu Network, Eduward Preira, the chairperson, highlighted that within a year of existence, the group has succeeded in finalizing all due processes to stand as a viable association. Mr. Preira is also the nominated councilor for persons with disabilities at the Brikama Area Council.

“This association is registered under the umbrella of the Gambia Federation of the disables, which is responsible for all the differently disable persons in the country. Our Association is specifically looking at physically challenged persons, that is, those who have challenges with their legs, hands or on wheelchairs,” Mr Preira explained.

Disability he clarifies, has many types but he concentrating on the physically challenged. He said with virtually a year old, they were able to mobilize funds through local initiatives to assist themselves but however recognized the patronage of the government, civil society and the community at large.

On the difficulties, he admitted that lack of mobility for the association hampered the poor attendance of the monthly meetings of the association. “We have a membership of 73 and we have members from foni, Lamin, Kombo Darsilameh and other remote villages. Our people travel from far places. For those on wheelchairs and other conditions, it is not easy for them to attend meetings on time because they always need the company of other people.”

On their new year resolution, he said they intend to assist their membership with education and other socio-economic engagements.

The Association is glad to hear that the Disability Bill has been enacted by the National Assembly and looks forward to its implementation.

By Sanna Jallow

The Gambian chapter of Pan-African Network for Artistic Freedom (PANAF) was launched over the weekend to connect African artists and culture producers by defending artistic freedom through shared experiences.

The PANAF launch was spearheaded by SELAM and team GOMSA SA BOPA.

The main objective of PANAF is to build effectiveness in countries, regional and continental advocacy, and a sustainable network in music and film.

The network also aims at building knowledge among members on how to use international, regional and national human rights frameworks in advocacy for legal reforms, mechanisms protecting artists’ freedom and how to overcome structure, discrimination and barriers, especially for female artists.

Lucy Llado, the Regional Programme Director of SELAM, which is a pan-African cultural organization, said arts has always played a crucial role in the fight for freedom, human rights and democracy. But artists all over the world continue to come under attack.

“The pandemic period amplified this violation, from censorship to silence of criticism of not just art but also the media, and at most, when these violations occurred the victim will have little or no legal or paper support,” she explained.

She said the challenges being faced by women in the creative sector, which is heavily male-dominated, are the reason they will be launching a study which will focus on women’s empowerment to upskill their participation and longevity in the creative sector.

Sanna Jawara, a cultural lawyer talked about the legal perspective on artistic freedom in the Gambia and he has said copyrights law covered the right to performances, fashion and creative industries in general.

“There is no future without creativity and in the Gambia, we have creativity but what is lacking is protection of copyright”,

He stated that the first law created in the world is the Status of Arms which was legislated by the British parliament in 1709, saying that since then up to date, the Gambia copyright is not felt because people feel there is no copyright protecting intellectual properties.

Matty Jobe, performing Arts Officer at the National Center for Art and Culture talked about the role of stakeholders in progressing artistic freedom. She said there are stakeholders in the country that can support the interest of the artists which will help them express themselves.

“We are tired of dialogue and workshops. It is better we use the resources  to help our artists to be more creative along with freedom”, she mentioned.

Pa Momodou Sarr, President of the Musicians Union of the Gambia said artists have been battling with the problem of conducive ground to put across what they have.

“We have been having this problem where musicians talk about things happening in our communities which have been turning out to be violent. Example, Killa Ace’s artistic freedom was violated because of one of his songs”, he explained.

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

As The Gambia Football Federation’s presidential elections loom on the horizon, Team Restore Confidence, a camp that is set to go against the incumbent Lamin Kaba Bajo has accused Kaba’s camp of breaching FIFA ethics as well as plans to amend the Federation’s constitution before voting starts.

Led by Sadibou Kamaso, a former Executive Member of the GFF and the current General Secretary of Hawks FC, Team restore Confidence accused the Kaba Bajo administration of paying allowances to members of the federation who chose not to attend the African Cup of Nations in Cameroon and stayed at home and get paid for their allowances.

“The GFF Executive have already breached the FIFA ethics code by paying allowances to GFF Exco members who chose not to travel to the AFCON but sat home and got allowances”.

The camp went further to accuse the federation of not selecting a second-place winner, Sanger in the GFF League last season by selecting PSV Wellingara to AFCON.

“It is the same GFF Executive who claimed to have chosen the winners of being 1st and 2nd Division leagues to take them to AFCON but chose PSV Wellingara instead of Samger FC. Everyone knows the Falcons win the league and Sanger came 2nd. We are all baffled as to how PSV got a ticket to go to AFCON.”, the camp claimed.

Although Lamin Kaba Bajo is yet to announce publicly his desire to run for the office in August, it is clear that the former minister is bracing up for another term.

According to Team Restore Confidence, Lamin Kaba Bajo and his team are planning to amend the Constitution shortly before the election to create a portfolio for the 4th and 5th Vice President positions.  This, according to the Kamaso’s camp through the campaign manager Baboucarr Sey, is part of Kamaso’s manifesto.

However,  he went on to claim that the Constitution can only be amended through an AGM or an extraordinary AGM and that cannot happen before the August election unless 40% of members make the request.

“Let it be known to everyone that the constituent Amendment can only be held within 2 months when 40% of members make the request.”

Kamaso’s team further stated that they have a lot of ethical issues against the Kaba Bajo administration to bring to the attention of football stakeholders.

“There are lots of FIFA Ethics issues that we have up our sleeves to bring to the attention of the stakeholders including certain individuals holding positions in two clubs playing in the same league and findings of reports that were to be sent but still kept”

Team Restore Confidence led by 42-year old Sadibou Kamaso is expected to bring out allegations against the Lamin Kaba Bajo-led executive but the August election.

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

Gigo Construction Company Limited has over the weekend commenced construction of the four hundred kilometres Brikama Jambarr Sanneh road. This comes after years of complaints of residents on the poor condition of the road from the tenure of one Nyambai ward councilor to another.

The road is usually worse during the rainy season. Whenever it rains, the road will be tarred with water and the water will be stagnant for days. This will barricade vehicles from using the road while those on foot struggle to access the road. Many avoid, while those who use the road will either walk carefully on fall to the ground.

Bayaya Daffeh is a canteen owner on the roadside in Jambarr Sanneh. He does business in a small canteen as a source of income. According to the old man, he struggles to make a living during the rainy season, saying that his business is closed during such period. This is said because of the inaccessibility of his canteen due to flood and stagnant water.

“I close my canteen during the rainy season. It is my only source of earning, but I have no choice but to close it.  Who will come to buy from me? Nobody. There is no way that buyers will use it because here is constantly filled with stagnant water during this time”, the old man told TFN.

On the 15th of this month, the Brikama Area Council gave a contract to Gigo Construction to construct the road within four months. This will cost the Council Nine Million, Nine Hundred and Ninety-four thousand and Nine Hundred Dalasi. According to Chairman Sheriff Sonko of the Brikama Area, the project is devoid of external funding. He said it will be wholly funded by his council.

When TFN visited the site, Bayaya narrated that when the road is erected after over two decades of promises and failures, they will call for celebration and this will be marked by dancing even for the elderly men and women.

Lamin Darboe too is an old man who owns a canteen on the roadside. He told the Fatu Network that the road is bad and so many people be it residents and those that use the road to access the market or the vicinity suffer a lot. He said in the rainy season, so many people will fall on the road due to its slippery nature and that so many mobile phones will be lost.

“The number of mobile phones that are lost here is too much.  Here, you will fall if you don’t walk slowly and carefully. People cannot avoid this road because it links to the market and from the market to the vicinity.  We only hope this time around, it will not be an empty promise”.

To Lamin Darboe, after several years of promises and failures, he will not believe that the road will be constructed until he sees that it is done.

The Jambarr Sanneh road links the highway from the police station in Brikama to the Brikama-Gunjur highway.

After signing the contract on June 15, Amadou Gigo of Gigo Construction promised that he will deliver a first-class road at the end of the contract.

The Chairman of the Brikama Area Council also acknowledged the productivity of the construction company. He cast no doubt that Gigo construction will do the job well.

Residents around the Jambarr Sanneh road have now seen a glimmer of a better road over the weekend when the company started levelling and digging holes on the road.

The road, when done, is expected to decongest the already congested traffic in the Brikama Market.

By Ousman G Darboe

In a telephone interview with West Coast Radio’s Banna Sabally on Coffee Time, Suwaibu Touray, National Assembly Member for Wuli East said he has used his share of the hundred thousand Dalasi clothing allowance to support people in his constituency.

Hon. Touray said the money was spent in constructing boreholes with the support the people in his constituency. He said the move is to address the challenges his constituents face in accessing drinkable water.

The hundred thousand Dalasi clothing allowance that was given to the parliamentarians is first of its kind since independence.

Many people including some veteran lawmakers were against the hundred thousand clothing allowance for the Parliamentarians which they said has no genuine reasons.

By: Ousman G Darboe 

Four officials who were dismissed at the Department of Agriculture have on Saturday 18^th June 2022 briefed the press about what they called an “unlawful dismissal”.

Musa Bojang, Senior Plant Protection Officer; Alhajie Gaye, Agricultural Assistant; Lamin Jaiteh, Plant Protection Officer; and Abubacarr Camara, Agricultural Officer were all dismissed on 10^th June 2022.

This came after a letter from the Personnel Management Office noted that the Public Service Commission had approved the dismissal of the four officials from the civil service with effect from 10^th June 2022 in accordance with Public Service Commission Regulation 57.

Speaking on behalf his colleagues, Musa Bojang, said the reason for their dismissal was as a result of revealing the “irregularities” that were going on at the Department of Agriculture.

“We found out that there were some irregularities in the office, the occupation of public offices by officials who are retired and are not on contract and are also out of public service.”

“For that reason, we felt that there was a need to raise the issue with the authorities so that they can do the right thing which eventually led to our dismissal from the public service,” Bojang explained.

By Hadram Hydara

Hon. Madi Ceesay, United Democratic Party (UDP) National Assembly Member (NAM) for Serrekunda West Constituency has said he has no “qualms” about the reported D1,000,000 vehicle loan that is set to be given to NAMs saying “loans are loans.”

The parliamentarian was reacting to the discontentment of some citizens regarding the one million Dalasis (D1,000,000) vehicle loan of which, fifty per cent is said to be paid by the Assembly and the other half from the salaries of the NAMs over their tenure in office.

He urged people to look beyond the National Assembly and compare it with other public institutions.

“Let’s take ministers for example who are almost serving in a similar capacity as the National Assembly. They are given an official vehicle at the cost of the State and their fuel, drivers, and maintenance are all taken care of by the government. As long as they remain ministers, they keep using those vehicles and at a certain point, they are giving other utility vehicles which the State also takes care of. But if people think it is okay for ministers to have official vehicles and everything is taken care of by the government, but a member of parliament cannot take a vehicle as a loan that he would be responsible for the fuel, maintenance and everything at his personal cost, then that is their opinion but I would beg to differ.”

He went further to shift his attention to the fleet of cars at the disposal of the President and how that costs the State.

“Let’s come to the President’s level. How many fleets of government vehicles are at the disposal of the President? The State takes care of the President’s drivers, maintenance and fuel. But you are saying a NAM should not take a vehicle on loan. Again, its people’s opinion and I have no problem with that but for me, I am fine with taking a vehicle on a loan that I am going to pay half and bear all the expenditure. I am helping the government,” he explained.

By: Hadram Hydara

Hon. Madi Ceesay and Hon. Alieu Baldeh, National Assembly Members of Serrekunda West and Jarra West respectively have reacted to recent claims that NAMs have only been enriching themselves in Parliament instead of passing relevant bills and checkmating the executive.

This comes after NAMs were allocated a one-off hundred thousand dalasis (D100,000) as clothing allowance for the next five years and a one million dalasis (D1,000,000) vehicle loan of which, fifty per cent would be paid by the Assembly and the other half from the salaries of the NAMs.

Speaking to the Fatu Network about these claims, Hon. Madi Ceesay, National Assembly Member for Serrekunda West Constituency said that other sectors of the government are receiving equivalent to, if not more than a D100,000.

“There are other sectors of government that are receiving equivalent to (D100,000) or even more but not many people are talking about that. The National Assembly is one institution that does not keep things to its chest. NAMs put everything on the table for everybody to see and form their opinions about it.”

Pressed on whether the amount is too little or too much as many citizens are saying, the second-termed parliamentarian would not be drawn on the right amount saying “it is neither too little nor too much.” However, responding to the debate on social media about the amount being too much for a clothing allowance for NAMs and instead focus should be on trying to improve the living conditions of citizens, Honourable Madi said even prior to NAMs being given these allowances, there has been skyrocketing of prices of goods for the last five years.

“This amount is part of a budget of an institution that is equally like any other institution in the country so unless if one wants to tell me that you want to slice all the budget lines and pumped it into other ministries’ budget lines. How could NAMs allowance take care of bringing down the cost of basic commodities? It could be possible but I don’t know how.  I think there are other means of doing that like there can be legislation to stabilise prices where the government can come in if the prices have gone up within a set period. But even prior to the D100,000 clothing allowances, has there not been a skyrocketing of basic commodities in the last five years when this allowance was not institutionalised?”

Speaking further on the D100,00 clothing allowance and the general earnings of the National Assembly Members, the Serrekunda West NAM urged people to look beyond the shores of the Gambia and make some comparisons with NAMs of neighbouring countries.

“If you go to other countries, especially our neighbours Senegal, are far more paid than us. Go to Kenya, they are the highest or among the highest-paid NAMs in the world and go to Guinea Bissau, so these are things that perhaps are new to Gambians but that is the beauty of democracy, people can always express their opinions and that is it.”

Also speaking to Fatu Network on the same issue, NPP’s National Assembly Member for Jarra West, Honourable Alieu Baldeh redirected the focus to breaking down the amount into a monthly payment.

“All I know is that it is for five years and not monthly or yearly so if you do the Maths properly you would see it is 1,666 Dalasis per month.”

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

The head coach of the senior national football team of The Gambia, Tom Sainfeit has reacted to Assan Ceesay’s move to US Lecce in Italy, noting that it is a deserved move by the all-time Gambian top scorer, however, he warned Ceesay that Seria A is a higher league than Swiss league.

Tom, whose tenure as the head coach of the national team has seen Assan flourishing in the red, white and blue colour, said that the whole country should be proud of the former Gamtel striker.

“It is a fantastic and deserved move for him. This is a good move and I am proud of him. The whole Gambia should be proud of him for this move”, Tom told TFN.

Assan, earlier today penned a two-year contract with the Italian side with an option of a further year at end of his contract.

The tall and agile striker will not be the first Gambian and the only Gambian to play in the Italian Serie A  next season. His Gambian compatriot Musa Barrow, Omar Colley, Ebrima Colley and Ebrima Darboe are all playing in the Italian top league.

Assan was a crucial player for FC Zurich last season by scoring a massive 20 goals and 10 assists. His spectacular performances earned Zurich the Swiss league trophy.

While praising Assan for his deserved move to Italy, Coach Tom Sainfeit warned his national team’s prolific striker that the Italian league is higher than the Swiss league and that the striker should adapt to the situation.

“Seria A is one of the top leagues in Europe. Lots of Gambian players went to play in Italy but not many succeeded.  He should improve and become stronger again beck the Italian league is a step higher and more difficult than the Swiss league. But I am happy for him and I think he will adopt”.

After signing his contract with US Lecce, the striker went to his Facebook page and delivered a message to his former club.

“I can’t repay the courage, affection and amazing support during these 4 years. It’ll be unforgettable. I’m eternally grateful to play for this historic club and the memories we made together”.

U.S Lecce is a newly promoted team in the Italian Seria A.

By: Dawda Baldeh

Presenting the country’s report at the ongoing ECOWAS Parliament Ordinary Session in Abuja on Thursday 16 June 2022, Honorable Billay G. Tunkara, head of Gambian ECOWAS Delegates has said climate change constitutes one of the greatest burdens to national development efforts, poverty alleviation and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

He said the government of The Gambia through the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources, and the National Environment Agency continue to work with relevant stakeholders to formulate and implement environment and climate change policies.

Hon. Tunkara added that the agency coordinates and enforces environmental regulations to address the current and emerging environmental issues.

“Currently, there are lot of pressures facing the environment which have led to the alteration of ecosystem, change in water quality, coastal erosion, pollution, from fishing processing, tourism littering and sewage outfall,” he said.

He continued: “Land degradation, deforestation, land exchange and flow of second-have goods with high level of electronic waste and urbanization are issues of great concerns.”

Speaking further, the Kantora NAM said, measures have been put in place by the government to mitigate some of the environmental problems which include, the enforcement of the ban on plastic bags order in 2015, enforcement on environmental impact assessment regulations and guidelines, enforcement on anti-littering regulations, enforcement on National Environment Management act and strengthening the implementation and ratification of convention multilateral environment agreements.

The ECOWAS Parliament comprises members of different countries within West Africa which are currently presenting their countries report in Abuja.

By: Karimatou Jallow 

The Voice Achievers Awards, which usually takes place in Dubai, is said to be organized in the Gambia with the theme: Africa’s Future Through Participation.

Organizers of the awards yesterday held a press conference to inform the press about preparations ahead of the ceremony.

The awards ceremony will be held at the Sir Dawada Kairaba Jawara Conference Centre in Bijilo where the President of the Gambia Adama Barrow and the First Lady of Sierra Leone Madam Fatima Bio will be awarded for their contributions to their countries.

It is scheduled to run for three days, starting on the 18th to 20th August 2022 where men, women, youths, businesses, and charity organizations would be recognized for their contributions toward the advancement of Africa.

The Awards Ceremony is to encourage and show appreciation for the work of the awardees.

Pastor Elvis Iruh spoke on the economic importance of the awards to the country.

“Over one hundred diasporans will be visiting the country. They will be staying in hotels and will come up with different ideas on possible business partnership with businesses in The Gambia. Gambians should prepare to welcome them. They might even want to invest in business opportunities in country or start  charitable organizations.”

Monika Bah emphasized on how the awards ceremony can benefit The Gambia.

“To travel to Dubai for business is not easy. So, this is a platform were Gambians will have the opportunity to discuss with people from different parts of the world and sell their businesses.”

In his statement, Lamin Njie explained the uniqueness of the awards ceremony in the Gambia, saying that the tourism and business sectors stand to benefit from it.

“For the first time people from the diaspora will be coming to the country and that is a great opportunity to use partner with them which will contribute to the economy development of the Gambia especially in terms of tourism and business in the country.”

The main objective of The Voice Achievers Awards is to promote and support the government of the Gambia and the wider African community.

Organizers of the awards ceremony called on Gambians to participate in the event and make it a success.

By Sanna Jallow

The Directorate of the National Pharmaceutical Service at the Ministry of Health has announced it would be digitalizing the Logistics Management Information System (LMIS) into Electronic Logistics Management Information System to provide commodity logistics data for all levels of the healthcare system.

The project is funded by Global Fund and the World Bank.

The main objective of the Ellis project is to provide an integrated data repository system that will take health commodity logistic data to all levels of the care system.

It will also provide timely and accurate key performance indicators for all programs and stakeholders as well as serve as an analytical tool for use in supply chain decisions.

Babading Sabally, Director of National Pharmaceutical Service has said when the ministry introduced a computerised data management system later, they realised it needed more elaboration to the electronic version to collect data.

“Digitalizing the logistics management information system will help the day-to-day activities of the ministry of health within the country to collect data.”

Deborah Asante Luisier, Fund Portfolio Manager for the Global Fund said they are happy to be part of the project, nothing that an electronic logistics management information system will help the Ministry of Health to get quality data.

Dr Samvel Mills, Health Task Team Leader World Bank said the world Bank has been supporting several initiatives in the health sector.

He disclosed that in April 2022, the World Bank allocated one hundred and fifty-five million US dollars to initiate the projects for the health sector.

“There are several other electronic systems in the pipeline. We are just waiting for the ministry to pick up the date to begin the registration”, he said.

The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health Momodou Lamin Jaiteh said the project is a very important step with great efficiency toward ensuring accountability and quality service delivery.

“The ministry has been maintaining its logistics information systems, manually”, he mentioned.

By: Modou Touray

One Alhagi Saikou Sisahor has on Tuesday June 14th testified against his biological son, Lawyer Abdoulai Sissokho, at the Banjul Magistrate Court.

According to the particulars of offence, the defendant Abdoulai Sissokho was allegedly collecting rent from his father’s tenants without his knowledge and the plaintiff is claiming an amount of D300,000. The case is being presided over by Justice Bakri.

“When I was 15 years old, I started travelling across Africa and Europe to acquire my wealth. I did not ask him to collect any money on my behalf. Abdoulai would always tell tenants in my houses that he is the family lawyer, which is not the case. He is my son before but not anymore.”

Ida Drammeh Esq, lawyer of the complainant objected to additional statements of the witness of the defendant’s legal team, arguing that it violates the court act. Following arguments and counterarguments from the legal teams of the plaintiff and defendant, Justice Bakri admitted the documents.

The legal team of defendant Abdoulai Sisahor insisted that their client has been disbursing money to his father, who is the plaintiff in this case, continuously based on his request.

The case has been adjourned to the 13^th October 2022.

By Sainabou Sambou

Riders of tricycles [locally known as tuktuk] have expressed dissatisfaction over the banning of tricycles effective 1^st January 2023.

Ba Musa Drammeh, President of tricycle riders told The Fatu Network that he is very disappointed in the government for giving them only six months to ply on the roads.

“We have spent over four million dalasis on our tricycles. The police officers initially told us that they want to help us by banning foreigners from plying. By December this year, we will stop plying on the roads. It means we only have six months left,” he explained.

Drammeh said tricycles have been in use in the Gambia for five years, adding that they pay tax to the Gambia Revenue Authority.

“We hope that our parliamentarians make a law allowing tricycle to be used in the Gambia,” he said.

Amadou Joof, a tricycle rider also expressed dissatisfaction over the government banning them from plying by 31st December 2022.

“The government has to help the youths because not everyone would work in the office. When the government bans us from plying by December, we wouldn’t have any other job to do. Some of the tricycle riders are migrant returnees; so if the government executes the ban, it will affect them a lot” he said.

Ismailia Chinti, a rider, emphasized that police officers told them that they would be banning only foreigners from riding tricycles in the Gambia and that, they would seize their tricycles if they break the law.

“I bought my tricycle for two hundred thousand dalasi and has plied for only three months. The six months given to us is not enough as we wouldn’t be able to have enough money to buy a tax.”

Momodou Jallow, another rider, said since their tricycles were seized, the police have not given them any reason for the seizure.

“We are very worried and don’t know what to do. I urge the government to help us with jobs if they ban us from plying by December.”

The new rule states that no tricycle will be allowed to ply the Westfield–Tabokoto, Westfield–Tippa Garage, to Sukuta Jabang Traffic Lights Road from 7am to 7pm daily.

It could be recalled that on 21st May 2022, the Mobile Traffic Department of Gambia Police Force embarked on a nationwide operation, preventing the use of tricycles as commercial means of transportation.

Yankuba Touray has on Monday 13^th June 2022 appeared at the Court of Appeal in Banjulfor the second time after he was found guilty of murder and sentenced to death on July 14 last year.

Touray was tried and convicted for the murder of Ousman Koro Ceesay, a former Finance Minister in The Gambia who was murdered in June 1995.

The case could not proceed after senior State Counsel Muhammed B Sowe, told the court that there were some missing pages in volume 2 of the records of proceedings from the high court.

Sowe said some pages in the judgement and the defense brief of argument were not part of the record of proceeding.

Abdoulai Sisahor, lawyer for Yankuba Touray, said he also noticed that some of the judgement pages were missing.

The judges ordered Lawyer Sisahor to provide supplementary copies of the judgement and his argument.

The former Minister of Local Government in the early days of Gambia’s military junta is the first former senior member of Yahya Jammeh’s regime to be tried since 2017.

His appeal’s case was adjourned to 27 June 2022.