Citizens’ Alliance (CA) party has confirmed the candidature of Neneh Freda Gomez for election as national assembly member of Serrekunda West Constituency in the forthcoming National Assembly Elections scheduled on 9 April 2022.

On the role of National Assembly in enhancing democracy, the party believes that Neneh Freda Gomez will actively take part in the advocacy in ensuring accountability, democratic governance and the rule of law.

CA assures that Madam Gomez will work to preserve the integrity and sovereignty of The Gambia and promote the ideals of rule of law, inclusivity, and respect for human rights through the National Assembly.

The party notes that, as a woman, Nenneh Gomez will challenge the status quo, break barriers and inspire young women to take up the mantle of leadership and become active participant in the process of change.

CA reiterates that through her representation, trust will be built and hope and dignity restored in women and Gambians at large, adding that Nenneh believes change is only possible through solidarity and that she therefore solicits the supports and votes of people in the said constituency to realize her vision for a better Gambia.

Four suspected Robbers believed to be behind series of reported robberies with violence in the west coast settlement of Brikama were arrested on Tuesday 8th February 2022, after their hideout in the Methodist mission forest was raided by men of the Brikama PIU and CID.

This came after residents of Jamisa and Nyambai raised concerns to the police of the heinious activities of these criminals.

The suspect were identifies as Muhamed Danso of Busumbala, Famara Jallow of Brikama Madina, Saikou Njie of Brikama Nyambai, and Ebrima Danso of Farato all adults.

At the time of their arrest by the men of the Brikama PIU & CID, these four men were found with dangerous weapons like Knives, Scissors, suspected canabis, Alcohol, cooking utensils and a cooked lunch of the local ‘ benechin’ dish. They are currently detained and investigation is ongoing and upon completion of the probe, they will be charged and paraded in court.

Residents are urged to continue sharing vital information with the police to ensure the activities of these unscrupulous people is curtailed.

Credit: Polisco Magazine

By: Dawda Baldeh

The General Manager of The Gambia Ferry Service, Mr. Lamin Jawara has on Friday 11 February 2022  told reporters that the Kunta Kinteh Ferry, which was undergoing maintenance, is now ready for service.

“Three brand new engines have been replaced in the Ferry and they are ordered caterpillars through their agency in Dakar, Senegal,” The installation was done by our engineers but the commissioning was done by caterpillar engineers.”

Mr. Jawara informed pressmen that upon completion of maintenance, the Ferry was tested and that it is now ready for service, disclosing that the refurbishment of the Kunta Kinteh, Kanalia and the provincial Ferry, Johe, cost Thirty-Five Million Dalasi (D35m).

In a similar development, the management announced the introduction of a new service called ‘Gambia Ferry App.’ The App contains features which include the Ferry tariff, schedule and also a map which can be used to trace the Ferry.

“All announcements regarding the Ferry service will be uploaded on the App. The App is available on Google Play Store or App Store and the public can download it,” he disclosed.

He also disclosed that management intends to introduce ticketing system which is said to be launched next month.

With the new ticketing system, travelers can buy tickets and receive a QR code in their phones that will be scanned by the controllers for authentication. “If you don’t have a smart phone, the QR code will be send to you via sms which will indicate a number that the controllers can use for authentication,” Mr. Jawara explained.

Yankuba Manneh, GPA Communication Officer reiterated that three new engines have been purchased and installed in the Kunta Kinteh Ferry. “These engines are all installed successfully and the Ferry is now set for operation,” he emphasized.

The Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Mambury Njie on Thursday laid before parliament agreement documents between The Gambia and the United States of America through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The Finance Minister gave an overview of one of the agreement documents.

“The grant initially amounting to 2 Million US Dollars with possible increment to 15 Million US Dollars subject to availability of funds from USAID. The Government of The Gambia under the Leadership of His Excellency President Adama Barrow is committed to strengthening democratic institutions and enhancing accountability to the Gambian people”

Mr. Njie also called on lawmakers to consider and ratify the Millennial Challenge Corporation (MCC) threshold program grant agreement between the US and The Gambia for the energy sector.

“The MCC threshold program grant is 25 Million US Dollars. The Government of the Gambia under the leadership of President Adama Barrow has made tremendous strives to redress the energy challenges this country is facing. In recent years, the electrification rate has increased by over 50% and the Government remains committed to the ambitious goal of achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) on universal access to electricity”

National Assembly Minority Leader, Hon. Samba Jallow said the document presented by the Finance Minister was not controversial and therefore called on colleague lawmakers to ratify the agreement.

Hon. Ousman Sillah of Banjul North Constituency noted that such agreement could help strengthen democracy and the legal sector.

Hon. Sulayman Saho of Baddibu Central Constituency said Parliament have been ratifying similar grants, claiming that they ended being “misused” by people.

Hon. Halifa Salah of Serrekunda Constituency was critical of the content of the agreement document, describing it as an “affront to the independence of the legislative authority;” citing the facilitation of the passage of the Anti-Corruption Bill into law.

Majority Leader, Hon. Kebba K. Barrow asked colleague members of the assembly to closely study the agreement and other documents before the assembly for better decision making in parliament.

After a thorough scrutiny, Parliament ratified the agreements on democracy and the energy sector.

On Thursday 10^th February 2022, Nigeria’s parliament declared ritual killings a national emergency.

Minority leader Toby Okechukwu blamed the vice on Nollywood films with storylines that feature juju.

The film licencing board has been directed to ban all productions that have ritual killings as part of the plot.

The move follows the murder earlier this month of a 20-year-old woman in a suspected ritual killing case that has shocked the country.

Those behind the killing are accused of planning to use her body parts in some kind of money-making juju.

BBC

By Sarjo Brito

The Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs Mamburay Njie on Wednesday, February 9, 2022, appeared before lawmakers where he was asked to explain the dramatic surge in the price of essential commodities and what is being done to address the situation. 

Minister Njie told lawmakers the dramatic increase reflects the global trend seen due to the coronavirus pandemic as supply chains across the globe continue to suffer disruptions.

“Domestic structural challenges such as congestion in the seaport, shortage during the peak of the pandemic, all further fuelled inflation,” Njie said

The Minister, however, assured lawmaker’s that steps are being taken by the Gambian government to address the situation as they continue to monitor both national and international developments and how they impact domestic inflation.

 “The Government and MPC [Monetary Policy Committee] are monitoring national and global developments and their possible impacts on domestic inflation”, the Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs said.

The coronavirus pandemic has posed major challenges for supply chains globally and The Gambia is no exception. lockdowns continue to slow the flow of finished goods and even raw materials, thereby disrupting manufacturing. While countries blame this global trend on why prices of commodities are rising, some Gambians believe the COVID-19 pandemic is being used as a farce to justify the hike in essential commodities while ignoring other relevant market issues like monopoly and price control among others. 

In recent weeks, the country has not only witnessed a hike in the prices of basic commodities but also a shortage of other essentials like eggs, flour etc

By Amara Thoronka

Republic of The Gambia is among 15 countries recently elected members of the African Union Peace and Security Council to champion peace and security in the continent.

The Gambia secured 45 of the 48 member States that were eligible to votes during the election conducted by the 40^th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union held from 2-3 February 2022 at the African Union headquarters in Ethiopia.

The validation is said to be linked to the democratic gains made by the small West African nation over the years.

Nigeria, Cameroon, Djibouti, Morocco and Namibia were elected for a three-year period.

The Gambia, Burundi, Congo, Uganda, Tanzania, Tunisia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Ghana and Senegal were elected for a two-year period.

The Peace and Security Council is the standing decision-making organ of the African Union charged with the responsibility of conducting early warning and preventive diplomacy; facilitating peace-making; establishing peace support operations; and in certain circumstance, recommending interventions in Member States to promote peace, security and stability.

The Council also enhances the implementation of key conventions, instruments and treaties to combat international terrorism; promote coordination between regional mechanisms and the African Union with respect to peace, security and stability in Africa.

The 15 seats of the Peace and Security Council of the AU are distributed as follows: 3 seats to Central Africa; 3 seats to Eastern Africa; 2 seats to Northern Africa; 3 seats to Southern Africa; and 4 seats to Western Africa.

By: Sarjo Brito

The United Democratic Party’s National Assembly Member for Serrekunda West Honourable Madi Ceesay says he is withdrawing his bid for re-election in the forthcoming parliamentary elections slated for April 9, 2022.

His decision to withdraw his re-election bid came following a decision by the UDP Serrekunda West Constituency Committee who told Ceesay that he was not a ‘winning candidate’ as far as the upcoming election is concerned.

“For public information, I hereby opt out of the 2022 Parliamentary race, reasons being that the constituency committee of Serrekunda West advanced that I am not a winning candidate. I prefer me losing than the United Democratic Party. I thank all those who have contributed to my election in the 2017 National Assembly elections,” Hon. Ceesay said.

Adding that, “Serrekunda West committee met with the regional committee under the chairmanship of Amara Jobe and they said they are satisfied with my work at the parliament but the people who voted for me said I do not have a good rapport with them and so if they choose me the people will not vote for me.”

While he took the decision of the committee in good faith, Madi during a radio interview alleged that the application process was marred with fraud and betrayal as he was the only person who applied for the Serrekunda West Constituency under the ticket of the United Democratic Party.

“When applications opened, I was the only one who applied for Serrekunda West under UDP ticket. So, this is why I feel there is fraud in the process, there is betrayal in the process,’’ he alleged.

He used the opportunity to express his delight at not disappointing his constituents in terms of his performance at the National Assembly whilst reassuring them that his support and love for the UDP is unshakable.

Samuel Sorie Sesay, one of a dwindling group of West Africans who fought in the British army in World War Two, died last month in Sierra Leone at the age of 101. Ahead of his funeral today BBCs Umaru Fofana looks back at his life.

His memories were vivid but he felt forgotten. Celebrating a century of life in 2020 and surrounded by his large family, Pa Sorie, as he was known, was keen to talk.

Dressed in a neat suit, adorned with his medals, the affable war veteran recounted stories of his time fighting the Japanese in Burma more than 75 years earlier.

He was one of the 90,000 West African troops who were shipped to Asia. They formed two divisions that are rarely memorialised and fought in a conflict that was overshadowed by events closer to Britain’s shores.

Adding to the feeling of being ignored, Pa Sorie, like many of his comrades, said that he had been promised a lump-sum payment after the war which he never received.

When it came to a pension, the British army did not pay them to World War Two veterans, unless they had been injured in fighting, regardless of where they came from.

But a document uncovered in 2019 indicated that African soldiers were paid less than their British counterparts while in service. Pa Sorie did however get money from a UK-based charity, the Royal Commonwealth Ex-Services League.

Despite lamenting the lack of financial compensation, Pa Sorie maintained that he had no regrets enlisting as a teenager in 1939 and taking part in what he called “the good fight”.

He could still remember the old army songs and clenching his fist he chanted: “Hitler ayy bongolio!”

He said the words were in Hindi but could not remember their meaning. However, the mention of the name of the German dictator gives a hint to what may have persuaded him to sign up.

Following the end of the war he went into the civil service in Sierra Leone and ended up working in the country’s mission in what was the USSR.

But his war efforts were not celebrated either before or after independence in 1961.

He was not feted by the government and despite being one of the last World War Two veterans in Sierra Leone was not well-known in the country.

But still able to walk without a stick well into his nineties, Pa Sorie was a familiar figure near his home, determinedly climbing the hills of the Tengbeh Town area in the west of the capital, Freetown, according to his grandson John Konteh.

“He was a very resilient human being, and represented and embodied our character as a nation as a resilient people,” Mr Konteh said.

At his funeral today, Pa Sorie’s family will remember his war effort and hope that others will begin to recognise his contribution and those of his comrades.

 Source: BBC

Gambia’s Minister of Lands, Musa Drammeh has stated that the appeals court ruling on the proposed KMC commission of inquiry does not mean that the case is over, assuring all concerned that his office was waiting for “legal opinions” on how to proceed with the matter.

Last month (January) the minister established a commission of inquiry to probe into allegations of fraud and malpractice at the council.

The council later filed an application for the court to quash the inquiry. Last week, an appeals court judge declared that the Local Government Act empowers the minister to institute a commission but that, ‘there is no provision in the Act or any other law’ empowering him to establish the KMC commission as he did.

Reacting to the ruling, Minister Drammeh told local media that, “there was a decision given [at the court]. It was given against me and the attorney general. Both of us were in the case. Now, we are looking at the ruling.

They have given a decision. We are looking at that decision. The legal office will give us an opinion about it and from there we can proceed. When I was setting up the commission, I was doing it with the minister of justice. Now that there is a ruling, they will interpret to me what the ruling means. From there, I will know what line of action to take.”

He used the opportunity to discard the rumour that his ministry is being used by the Barrow administration to witch-hunt members of the opposition.

“They can say what they want to say, but anybody who knows me well, knows that’s not my nature,” he said.

By: Christian Conteh

Kemo Bojang, Regional Legislator in the Kanifing Municipality and Secretary-General of the United Democratic Party (UDP)Youth Wing has thanked former UDP financier now NPP newest convert Alagie Conteh for his tremendous contribution to the UDP party.

According to Bojang, Alagie has sacrificed a lot and that isn’t a secret to anyone.

“We cannot thank Alagie Conteh for what he has contributed to making UDP what it is today. Alagie has sacrificed a lot and that isn’t a secret to anyone. People might ask, what happened to faith? What he said yesterday and today aren’t the same, why is he not true to his words? But human tends not to understand the direction and reasoning of people when they aren’t in their shoes,” Bojang said.

He further wrote, “it is easier said than done, especially if we aren’t in the position of losing everything we have worked for in our lives. We cannot err Alagie, he has played his part and that we must acknowledge.”

Bojang went further to note that one thing is certain, and that is that UDP hasn’t lost, rather the Gambia has. He said the country’s political atmosphere in 2022 has gone back to what it was in 2012 when people especially political opponents of the government were prosecuted, suppressed, and tortured be it emotionally, psychologically or physically to support the state.

But for their ‘great party’, he reckons this is familiar reoccurrence.

“We will get up and come back stronger, this is why even Judas Jammeh, called us never die, we are a collective legion that has seen nothing but forward matching and this will not stop. Forward and onwards, we are heading to the top and brighter days are on the horizon,” he concluded.

By Amara Thoronka

After what football analysts and enthusiasts described as “unprecedent impressive performance” of the Scorpions of The Gambia at the recently played 2021 African Cup of Nations hosted in Cameroon, Gambia national football team has been ranked 125 in the world. The country was ranked 150 last year.

The 2022 ranking of men’s national teams which was released on Thursday 10^th February 2022 by world governing body, Federation International Football Association (FIFA) disclosed that the nation move 25 steps better when compared to the previous year.

The Gambia is now ahead of the following countries: Togo, Angola, The Philippines, Central African Republic, Tanzania, Sudan, Rwanda, Hong Kong, Botswana, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Burundi, Kuwait, Eritrea, Bahamas, Yemen, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Lesotho, Nicaragua, Liberia, Artigua and Barbuda, Comoros, Turkmenistan, Latvia, Lithuania, Suriname, St. Kitts and Nevis, Solomon Island, Eswatini, Myanmar, New Caledonia, Andora, Dominican Republic, Maldives, Chinese Taipei, Tahiti, Fiji, Vanuatu, Barbados, Papua New Guinea, Bermuda, Nepal, South Sudan, Grenada, Cambodia, Belize, Puerto Rica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Malta, Mauritius, Guyana, St. Lucia, Montserrat, Cuba, Chad, Moldova, Macau, Dominica, Mongolia, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Laos, Brunei Darussalam, Sao Tome e Principe, American Samoa, Liechtenstein, Djibouti, Samoa, Somalia, Cayman Islands, Seychelles, Pakistan, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Aruba, Bahamas, Gibraltar, Sri Lanka, Turks and Caicos Islands, Guam, US Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, San Mariono.

By: Dawda Baldeh

The Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) in partnership with MEGA Bank, Guarantee Trust Bank (GT Bank) and AGIB Bank on Thursday 10th February 2022, launched a New Easy Rates and License Payment System at the council premise in Kanifing.

The new payment system is meant to help properties and owners of establishments to pay their tax annually via the banks, a more comfortable method when compared to the old method when the tax had to be paid manually at the council.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Kanifing Municipal Council Kajally Janneh explained the motive behind the new initiative. He noted that with the new initiative the council will receive tax payments electronically through the banks.

“Before the council encouraged and advocated for license and rates to be paid at the main office. Now with the good initiative of the directory of finance and its staff who came up with the idea the payment system has been made easier for taxpayers.

We have been encountering lots of challenges and complaints about the old method of tax payments. As service deliverers, we prioritise the concerns of the taxpayers within the council.

As a result of this we deemed it necessary to come up with the idea of introducing a new method of tax payment,” he explained.

The CEO further stated that the council has made efforts to reach out to various banks within the council but only three responded to their call.

Sheriff Njie is Deputy Finance Director of KMC, he highlighted the challenges faced by the council in the area of tax collection.

He noted that the council is collecting rates from one location to another because it can only be paid at the main office. With the new initiative, he expressed hope that it will ease the burden on both the council and taxpayers.

“The method of payments has been in existence for long and now technology has warranted us to decentralise the payment to various banks,” Njie said.

“What the taxpayers need is for them to collect invoices which is distributed as early as January each year to ensure that every taxpayer gets their demand note and they will walk to the Bank. The Bank will log in to our platform which can give them access to our database directly. The bank will then generate a receipt that will bear the council logo,” he explained.

Sally Sarr Ceesay Head of Business Department of MEGA Bank and Malick Mboob representative from Guarantee Trust Bank expressed delight in the partnership with the Council. They said they are pleased to assist in national development. They assured the council that they will deliver quality and convenient services to the taxpayers.

“We will give the taxpayers quality and convenient services at Mega Bank and I will assure you that this partnership is a step in the right direction,” Sally Sarr Ceesay said.

The new bank payment system will help the taxpayers to pay their annual tax through the banks without walking to the council’s main office.

By: Sarjo Brito

The Police Anti-Crime Unit on Wednesday, February 9, 2022, confirmed the arrest of three individuals, a Gambian, Senegalese and Guinean for being in possession of fake currency.

The three individuals who are currently under custody and helping the police with their investigation were arrested following a tipoff, according to security operations.

“The suspects, Amadu Jah 34, Omar Jallow and Sulayman Barry are currently in custody helping investigators unravel the whole truth behind their nefarious and unlawful operations. When their residence in Jambur was searched, stash of fake CFA in 1000 denomination and Gambian dalasi of the 200 denomination was found, which are all counterfeits,” the police told the press.

The force further revealed that a search revealed bunches of black paper cut into the size of currencies which investigators believed was going to be used to print more counterfeits. Suspects they say will be charged and paraded in court as soon as investigation into the matter is complete.

Currency counterfeiting has become a major concern in recent times as reports of fake notes infiltrating Gambian markets are raised. In January 2021, The Gambia Police arrested two individuals in possession of fake money amounting to over one hundred thousand dalasi. The Police PRO Superintendent Lamin Njie gave an insight on how the syndicates operate in distributing counterfeit money.

“The suspects used the fake monies and went to the market and bought retail commodities. They would take the fake notes and buy something that is worth D10, D15 or D20, the trader or the shopkeeper would return them a huge number of authentic notes as change,” Lamin Njie said.

He further noted that the suspects would regularly go to the foreign exchange bureau to change these monies.

“They will bring along D20, 000 and say they want to change it to Euro. If you give them the authentic Euro you will only be left with D20, 000 fake currencies,” He ended.

By: Christian Conteh

The President of the Gambia Bar Association has called on the Adama Barrow led government to expeditiously introduce a new constitution and repeal all undemocratic laws.

Lawyer Salieu Taal entreated The Gambian Government to overhaul the draconian and undemocratic laws conceived, designed and used to perpetuate dictatorship in The Gambia.

“It is disheartening to say the least that we still have the same constitution that was amended more than 50 times and the same draconian laws used to persecute the citizenry under a brutal dictatorship,” Lawyer Salieu Taal said.

He further noted that the laws of the land in a democracy must not be oppressive and against democratic values or offend human rights principles, as many Gambian laws have done and continue to do over the years.

“As a rule of law institution, the Bar is calling for the expeditious introduction of a new constitution and the repeal of all the repugnant/undemocratic laws that don’t conform to international human rights norms and values in a democracy,” he said.

Taal maintained that the rule of law is the bedrock of a democratic society. Indicating that it is not only about the fair application and respect for the law of the land but goes further to presuppose that the laws of the land are just and equitable. 

“The cornerstone of the Rule of Law is the equality and fairness of the laws. The laws of the land in a democracy must reflect the republican values of the state and empower the citizens to exercise their constitutional and statutory rights without any undue hindrance,” he said.

He used the opportunity to state clearly that members of the bar acknowledge the great improvements in the justice delivery system and increased confidence in the fairness and independence of the Judiciary. 

The Bar Association he stated also recognises and acknowledges the role of the Executive in respecting the independence of the Judiciary.

He however recognised and stated that, “despite ad hoc efforts to clear case backlog, court cases take too long to be completed and Judges/Magistrates still record proceedings by hand in 2022.

The delays in criminal cases are caused by many factors and this is a great concern as it impinges on the fundamental rights of defendants,” he revealed.

24-year-old fast rising Nigerian singer Ikuforiji Olaitan Abdulrahman, better known as Oxlade, has set the internet on fire with his sextape in the last 24 hours. The musician is under serious criticism as he is alleged to be aware of the filming of the moment.

The sextape, showing him having an affair with an unidentified lady, was allegedly released by a friend to whom Oxlade had sent the video in a bid to show how powerful and aggressive he was on bed.

The friend is said to have recorded the sexual affair on his phone and published it online. Some accounts also say it is the singer who caused the affair to be recorded.

Last October, a blackmailer released Afrobeats queen Tiwa Savage’s sextape. It also set the internet on fire.

While Savage’s sextape was released by a blackmailer, Oxlade’s own was said to have been released by a friend. But both tapes shared an uncanny similarity in terms of aggressiveness and raw savagery displayed.

Born in Surulere and studying at Lagos State University, Oxlade, like Savage is a household name among music fans, having made waves with his catchy, trademark Afro-fusion sound.

Oxlade became popular after the release of the song “away,” which was included in the Rolling Stone 50 best songs of 2020.

Cape Town City have announced the signing of Gambia under-20 international Kajally Drammeh. The promising forward was tipped to join the Belgian giants last year, but he has now found a new home in the Mother City.

The 18-year-old has joined the Citizens from the Gambia’s biggest and most successful football club, Real de Banjul. Just like City’s recent signing Brice Ambina of Cameroon, Drammeh represented his country at the 2021 Africa Under-20 Cup of Nations finals in Mauritania.

Drammeh was one of the Young Scorpions’ standout performers as they reached the knockout phase where they stunned Tunisia to finish third in the continental tournament. The talented player was also a regular for Banjul and City head coach Eric Tinkler has now confirmed his arrival at the Western Cape side.

“Kajally Drammeh, a young attacking player, that we scouted from the Gambia. Someone we have been chasing since the beginning of the season,” Tinkler told the club’s media department.

“We only manage now to conclude the deal. We have obviously been watching him every single week, playing in the Gambian league. He is young, 18 years old.

“He is showing a bit of little maturity that he is more than capable of playing in the highest level. There was a lot of interest in him from Europe,” the former Orlando Pirates coach added.

“We managed to snap up a very talented player before he makes that move [to Europe].”

Drammeh was linked with Belgian giants Anderlecht after his eye-catching performances for the Young Scorpions at the U20 Afcon finals.

Belgian sports newspaper Voetbalprimeur reported that the 34-time Belgian champions were interested in the Bundung-born forward, but a move to the Brussels-based side never materialised.

Drammeh has become the fourth player to join City since last month as the 2018 MTN8 champions continue their signing spree. Ambina, former Hanover Park FC attacker Mogamat May, and Venezuelan striker Darwin Gonzalez have also joined the Citizens.

Source: Goal. Com