Gambians celebrated on Wednesday after the Scorpions’ historic 1-0 victory over Mauritania in their first ever TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations appearance. A win by a lone goal from Ablie Jallow.

Hundreds of kilometers from the main Gambian cities and towns, in Déni Birame Ndaw about fifty kilometers from Dakar (Senegal) where the headquarters of Génération Foot is located, the young people jumped to the ceiling, Balla Djiba, the Senegalese coach who first discovered the Gambian striker, told CAFOnline.com.

” Wednesday was joy as if Senegal had just won,” said the coach, commenting on the cries of joy that crossed the walls of the Senegalese academy from which Jallow emerged.

The Senegalese coach recalls that there was not much debate around Jallow, currently on the books of Belgian Premier League side Seraing.

”He had come to a tournament organized in Diambars and when our technicians came across him, they immediately flashed and the debates began to see how to welcome him,” added Djiba, indicating that the Gambian international ‘ ‘has a Messi profile’.

“Generation Foot had just got their hands on a very good prospect, he had to be pushed to work more, especially on the physical and athletic level”, continued Djiba, the former player whose career was halted by injury in the early 2000s.

“Nobody doubted that he will shine in professional football, and Génération Foot counted a lot on him to win their first league title in 2016-2017”, he added.

At the end of the season, Jallow joined FC Metz (France), the partner club of the Senegalese academy.

“I called on Metz leaders to be patient with him,” recalled President Mady Touré when asked about the reasons that did not allow the young Gambian to assert himself more with the French side.

“I was convinced that he will explode at a very high level,” said the president of Génération Foot, currently present in Cameroon to follow the flagship competition of African football.

“And we are happy to see him as the leader of his team,” added Mady Touré, stressing the objective is to see his academy train the players of the first African national team that will win a senior world cup.

By Sarjo Brito

The Ministry of Trade and Industry has in a press release given reasons for the shortage of bread in the country, assuring that the scarcity is being addressed.

The release indicates that the shortage was due to what the Ministry described as ‘production problems’ suffered at the same time by the two main flour supplier companies in the country: Nessim Company ltd and Gambia Milling Corporation, causing a halt in flour production and supply.

“The shortage in flour was due to production problems encountered by these two companies simultaneously: a rare occurrence in the history of the sector. In the case of Nessim, it was due to the lack of power supply from NAWEC compounded by faulty generators whilst for GMC, it was due to power supply issues and a delay in receiving wheat supplies due to freight issues. The ship carrying the stock for GMC is expected to arrive in Banjul on 26th January 202’’

The Trade Ministry also noted that the issue has been resolved and the production of flour has started.

“The power issues are now resolved, and production has started. Flour supplies are now flowing, and the bakers should have adequate supply of flour by Saturday January 15th, 2022’’

While many attributed the shortage to inflation, the Ministry of Trade said it will continue its engagement with the relevant stakeholders involved in the production of flour on the pricing issue with a view to minimize increments, adding that similar engagements will also take place between the Ministry and bakeries.

The Brikama Area Council has in a press release issued on 13^th January and signed by the council’s public relations officer Lamin Singhateh, urged all taxpayers in the locality to pay their taxes on or before Wednesday 2^nd February 2022 or risk facing legal action and the publication of their names in both print and electronic media.

“Management wishes to urge defaulters to settle their arrears for 2021 and beyond in the form of rate, tax and trade license fees at various designated revenue sub-stations within its jurisdiction. Upon the expiration of the stipulated deadline [2 February 2022], the Council will institute legal action against defaulters and publish their names in both the print and electronic media,” the press lease stated.

Speaking to The Fatu Network, Rate Manager of Brikama Area Council, Mr. Joof confirmed that the notice applies to all taxpayers, stressing that it is the obligation of citizens and business owners to pay taxes which are used to enhance development.

By Amara Thoronka  

In Sierra Leone, the Office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice has been disintegrated into two. The Attorney General is no more the Minister of Justice.

The disclosure was made by the country’s President Julius Maada Bio on Thursday 13 January when launching the Government White Paper (government’s position) on the report of the said constitutional review committee (CRC) which was established by erstwhile president Ernest Bai Koroma who reportedly put out a white paper which did not reflect the recommendations of the then Justice Edmond Cowan’s constitutional review committee.

The current government of former army general, Julius Maada Bio, is said to have done some justice to the CRC report whose process cost the country thousands of dollars.

“Government accepts the recommendation to separate the office of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice. The Attorney-General shall be the principal legal adviser to the Government but not a Minister. And that where a Minister of Justice is appointed, he or she shall have a seat in the Cabinet. The Government further proposes that the age for qualification for appointment as Attorney-General be reduced from twenty years to fifteen years and be subject to Parliamentary approval,” the white paper states.

The White Paper further states that people who are unlawfully arrested will either be compensated or be given a public apology. This move is believed to caution law enforcement agencies, particularly the Sierra Leone Police, to professionally adhere to and respect the fundament human right of people against unlawful and arbitrary arrest.

Also on human rights, state of emergency no longer prevents the exercise of certain rights.

“Government accepts the recommendation to add a new paragraph to section 29(6) stating in clear terms that the right to life, the prohibition of torture, the principles of legality, and the freedom of thought, conscience and religion shall not be derogated from during a State of emergency.”

The life span of a state of emergency has also been reduced from one year to six months.

On the existing controversy of citizenship acquisition and the involvement of dual citizens in national politics, the White Paper points out that government is committed to addressing such once and for all.

“The revised Constitution would contain a chapter on citizenship detailing how citizenship can be acquired (by birth, naturalization, marriage or adoption) as well as addressing concerns over dual citizenship with relevant safeguards to protect issues of national loyalty arising from dual citizenship and the circumstances in which it may be revoked.”

These adjustments among others are believed to settle many controversies that have been arising from the gray areas of the current 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone.

Pa Modou Mbowe, spokesperson of the non-alliance faction of the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC), has resigned from his capacity as spokesperson of the party.

Speaking to The Fatu Network, Mr. Mbowe disclosed that his resignation is based on personal grounds.

He noted that he did not regret in any way working with the party, adding that he is still a member of the party and is available to continue rendering his service when needed.

Mr. Mbowe thanked the party structures, family members and friends for their cooperation and understanding, emphasizing that nothing adverse prompted his resignation.

It could be recalled that during last year’s presidential election, the party of the former President Yahya Jammeh was split into two factions: those in favour of an alliance with the incumbent party (National Peoples Party) and those against such alliance.

Pa Modou Mbowe represents the non-alliance faction.

By Sarjo Brito

The United Democratic Party has expressed disappointment in the newly established commission of inquiry to investigate allegations of corruption and malpractices at the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC).

The party in a press release issued on Friday 14 January said while it advocates for open governance and the reduction of corruption in the Gambia, it however described the actions of the Local Government Minister against Mayor Bensouda as “politically motivated.”

‘’The actions of the Minister are not only politically motivated but vindictive against the person of Mayor Talib Bensouda. The Minister is reminded that the office he occupies is not personal to him or any other holder. KMC under the leadership of Mayor Bensouda lodged a complaint against the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Kanifing Municipal Council  on allegations of graft and corruption several months ago. Instead of the Minister investigating the matter, he belligerently demanded the return of the CEO to work with armed police officers escorting her to the council premises’’

As Gambians head to the polls in April for local government elections, the United Democratic Party believes the KMC inquiry is a plan orchestrated by the local government minister to derail Talib’s bid for re-election.

‘’Citizens of the municipality will go to the polls in the coming months to elect a new mayor and the actions orchestrated by the Minister have political undertones that aim at using instruments of state to derail Mayor Bensouda’s bid for re-election’’

A five-member commission of inquiry was constituted and sworn in by the Local Government Minister on Tuesday January 11th 2022, to investigate allegations of corruption at the Kanifing Municipal Council from 2018 to now. The Kanifing Municipal Council was involved in one of the biggest corruption scandals in August last year after its CEO was alleged to have acquired a loan to a tune of 12 million dalasis on behalf of the council’s staff association without their consent.

By: Aja Musu Bah-Daffeh  

As bread remains scarce in The Gambia, some Gambians, especially senior citizens have called on Gambian youths to venture into the baking industry, adding that government and the private sector should invest in the industry to avoid frequent shortage of bread.

In an exclusive interview with The Fatu Network, Pape Sambou, a tailor at Lamin Haryalla encouraged youths, especially the unemployed, to venture into bread baking rather than imbibing a lazy culture of sitting idly, smoking and brewing or drinking green tea (Attaya).

He said that bread baking is a skill, a noble job and a lucrative business young boys should venture into than shying away from it and stop blaming the few in the trade for not providing bread for people.

“Most Gambian youths live on dependency and do not want to be involved in bread baking, fishing, agriculture and other skillful jobs that will give them a meaningful life than to consider these jobs as menial jobs,” Mr. Sambou stated.

He stressed that the country cannot be developed without youths taking active roles. “Government cannot be blamed for everything that is happening in the country,” Mr. Haryally emphasized.

A breakfast vendor at Tallinding, Fatou Manneh cried that her business is on the verge of collapse due to the scarcity of bread in the country.

“This is the only business I do to help my husband in meeting the needs of our family. He cannot do it all, so it is my responsibility as a wife and mother to help him take care of the children,” she lamented.

Mrs. Manneh decried that the government and more especially the Gambian youths should take a bold stance in ending such problems in the country.

Another concerned citizen, Lamin Cham opined that to overcome the shortage of bread in the country, every Gambian should learn how to bake bread in their various homes and be baking it for family consumption.

He equally said that Gambians should now grab the ultimate responsibility to venture into the bakery industry.

Mr. Cham advised that the government should provide the necessary supports to encourage Gambian youths to go into baking, adding that it is one viable way of tackling youth unemployment in the Gambia.

Bread is hugely part of the daily meals consumed in the Gambia. Many depend on it for either physical or economic survival.

By Amara Thoronka

The Government of Sierra Leone has accepted the recommendation of a constitutional review committee for general elections in the country to have a fixed date.

This was disclosed by President Julius Maada Bio on Thursday 13 January when launching the Government White Paper (position of government) on the report of the said constitutional review committee which was established by erstwhile president Ernest Bai Koroma who reportedly put out a white paper which did not reflect the recommendations of the then Justice Edmond Cowan’s constitutional review committee.

According to the current white paper, all elections (presidential, parliamentary and local council) are to be held in one day with a specific date, adding that the date for the inauguration of the president should also be specific.

“Government accepts this recommendation for Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Government elections to be held on a fixed date, preferably the second Saturday in March in the election year,” the white paper notes.

The inaugural ceremony, after presidential election, will now be held on the country’s independence day.

“Government accepts the recommendation to have fixed date for inauguration, preferably on 27 April in the election year. However, a person elected to the office of President shall assume that office on the day he/she is declared by the Chief Electoral Commissioner so that there will be no power vacuum.”

The current 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone does not give specific dates for public elections in the country. It only dictates that presidential election shall be held within ninety days after the incumbent completes his/her five-year term.

Also, the government has reduced the threshold for winning presidential election from 55% to 50%.

“Government believes that the fifty-five percent threshold set for a presidential candidate to be elected has resulted in unnecessary second election with great cost to the economy, peace and security of the nation. Government proposes that a threshold of more than fifty percent of the valid votes cast should suffice for a candidate to be elected President.”

According to the white paper, a sitting president or vice president shall no longer cease to be president or vice president on the loss of his/her party membership.

In 2017, ex-president Ernest bai Koroma came under pressure and criticism from opposition parties and civil society for what was deemed to be lateness in the announcement of the date for the conduct of 2018 general elections which brought current President Bio to power. Koroma was also criticized for sacking his vice president Samuel Sam Sumana after the VP lost his party membership in addition to the criticism of giving less consideration to the recommendations of the very legal reform body he established.

The introduction of specific dates for elections and inauguration is believed to put an end to the previous controversies around election timeline. The reduction of the threshold to 50% is also believed to prevent.

Party Leader and Secretary-General of the United Democratic Party (UDP) Ousainu Darboe has on behalf of himself and by extension the UDP expressed his deepest condolences to the bereaved families of the tragic New York fire incident.

The United Democratic Party he says is shocked and saddened to learn about the tragic fire accident which occurred in an apartment complex in the Bronx, New York, USA on January 9 causing fatalities and severe injuries to the residents.

“On behalf of the National Executive Committee and on my own behalf, I wish to express our deepest condolences for the great loss of lives. The Gambian diaspora is an integral part of our close-knit community, and as such this is a shared loss for all Gambians,” he says.

He further prays that all those who mourn are comforted by Almighty Allah, the Most Merciful and the Most Beneficent.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of all the deceased and injured at this very difficult time for them. May they be granted the fortitude to bear this great loss. May Allah grant the souls of all the dearly departed Al Jannatul Firdawsi,” he concludes.

Seventeen people, including eight children, died and dozens more were injured in the fire which engulfed a Bronx apartment in New York City. The fire erupted around 11 a.m. on Sunday.

In one of the most candid interviews in recent years, Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo made it clear he wants to see improvement in a club he believes is underachieving.

Ronaldo sat down for over 20 minutes for a video interview widely distributed to Premier League rightsholders around the world. He didn’t mince words about the current state of the club, which sits in seventh place and 22 points adrift of the top spot.

“Manchester belongs in important things. We have to change that. I don’t want to be here in the club to fight to be in sixth place or seventh place or fifth place. I’m here to try to win, to compete, and I think we compete, but we are not yet in our best level. But we have a long way to improve and I believe that if we change our mind we can achieve big things.

“I believe that you have a few things that we have to change,” Ronaldo said later in the interview. “We have a long way to improve. But I believe. New year, and we have to believe that things are going to change in a better place.”

Those words won’t dispel rumors about his wanting out of the club. But Ronaldo, when pressed on what specifically needed to change, was hesitant to speak out. It was evident that he did have an opinion, but was keeping it to himself.

Source: SPORTINGNEWS

Gambia’s Supreme Court has yesterday heard the United Democratic Parties (UDP) application for review.

This came after UDP lead counsel Borry S Touray made a submission before the panel of judges at the Supreme Court. He urged the court to consider the application asking for a review of its decision taken on 28th December 2021.

The motion is supported by the affidavit of Alagie S. Darboe sworn on the 10th of January, 2022. The fact contained in the affidavit in support of the motion is that the petitioner filed a petition on the 14th of December, 2021, pursuant to sections 49 and 127 of the constitution and provisions of the Elections Act seeking to invalidate the election results by reason of corruption, widespread irregularities and illegal practices.

The petitioner also filed a motion ex-parte on the same day pursuant to sections 98(2) and (3) of the election petition and rule 9 of the election petition rules.

The case stands adjourned for ruling on the notice. The date according to the court will be communicated to the parties

It is now up to the supreme court to decide whether it will hear the matter again or stick to its earlier decision.

A fake army general has been arrested after allegedly forging the signature of the Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari to commit fraud.

Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said Bolarinwa Oluwasegun, who was posing as an army general, defrauded Kodef Clearing Resources of over $650,000 (£475,000).

EFCC said the suspect claimed that he had been shortlisted for an appointment by the president but needed the money to pay some bribe to get the appointment.

Mr Oluwasegun has not said anything about the arrest and the EFCC said he would be prosecuted when they conclude investigations.

He was arrested at his home in Lagos on Wednesday where the EFCC said it found six pump action guns, a swagger stick and several forged documents.

The suspect was said to have forged an appointment letter as Nigeria’s chief of army staff signed by the president which he used to defraud the victim.

BBC

By: Yerro Mballow

General Saul Badjie Former President Yahya Jammeh’s top military aid is set to be arraigned in court on Monday17th January 2022.

Badjie is charged with the murder of two Gambia- American citizens in the persons of Mamut Ceesay and Ebou Jobe. He is also accused of killing veteran journalist Deyda Hydra.

18 years ago prominent Gambian Journalist Deyda Hydra who was editor of The Point Newspaper was gunned down in a drive-by shooting by unknown assailants on December 16, 2004, on his way from work. Hydara was also the president of the Gambia Press Union

The murder charges according to our sources are mainly for the Gambia- American citizens in the persons of Mamut Ceesay and Ebou Jobe.

According to our sources, the family of the two deceased citizens have hired lawyers from the US to take up the matter.

The duo went missing upon arrival in the Gambia from the US in 2013. Their whereabouts could not be traced until the TRRC was set. It was at the TRRC that killers of the American citizens were disclosed.

By Sarjo Brito

The National Youth President of the opposition Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC), MC Cham Jr has called on all opposition parties to form what he calls “a tactical formidable alliance” ahead of the highly anticipated national assembly election.

Cham said the approach would be the only way to stop the incumbent from forming the majority in parliament. His appeal came following pronouncements from certain opposition parties that they will be contesting all seats in Parliament.

‘’We are gearing up for one of the most important elections which is the parliamentary elections. I see a lot of opposition parties saying they will be contesting alone and that they will be contesting all the seats. I think all opposition parties must come together and have a tactical approach if we really want to dominate the National Assembly’’

The GDC youth leader noted that the December 4 Presidential election could have easily been won by a formidable coalition of opposition parties. Cham explained that even in areas where President Barrow won, the votes of the opposition parties if combined, could’ve earned them victory.

‘’This is why I believe we need to sit down and have a dialogue. Opposition parties running alone means we will be easily handing victory to President Barrow and his National Peoples’ Party. Dominating the house by the opposition will be impossible without a tactical approach. We cannot allow our National Assembly to be under NPP.’’

National assembly elections are due to be held in April 2022. The country’s main opposition United Democratic Party won 31 of the 53 seats in the last legislative elections held in April 2017.

Government of The Gambia has in a press release issued on Thursday 13^th January and signed by Ebrima Sankareh – Government Spokesperson – denied and described the allegations circulating on social media on government allocation of 250 hectares to an Indian Company as “utterly false and malicious political propaganda.”

The release noted that the issue is being falsely portrayed on some social/online media platforms.

“This morning, an online platform, alluding to a local television advertisement, falsely posted without verification, scurrilous and malicious allegations that the Barrow Government allocated vast hectares of land to an unnamed Indian company. Evidently, the report, a laughable piece of ‘yellow journalism’, failed to provide evidence to support the authenticity or veracity of the allegations. Instead, the rambling piece of political propaganda degenerated into insults and innuendoes, maligning the character of innocent citizens.”

It disclosed that the land in question was totally a private transaction between Mr. Nandu Rajwani, a naturalized Gambian-Indian businessman who has lived in the country for forty years and the village community of Bissari-Madi, Foni Bondali District.

The press release further confirmed that CEO of EMK Stores Limited, Mr. Rajwani who employs over a thousand Gambians entered into a 5.5 Million Dalasis private land transaction with the said community in July 2021, adding that the land has since been put to use and currently creates employment opportunities for 7 Indian agronomists and over 100 Gambian agricultural workers.

It emphasized that the government has no hand in the said transaction, calling on people to first verify information before publication.

“The Gambia Government wants to make it abundantly clear that contrary to the false report of complicity in the land deal, it was neither a party to the transaction nor involved in the negotiations, sale and transfer of the land to Mr Rawjani.While The Gambia Government encourages public scrutiny as evident in the newly-enacted Access to Information Law, it equally urges journalists and citizens who take to Social Media to verify stories to avoid constant misinformation.”

Nigeria has lifted its ban on Twitter – seven months after clamping down on the social networking site.

Nigeria’s government suspended Twitter last June after the company deleted a tweet by President Muhammadu Buhari about punishing regional secessionists.

Authorities accused the social media firm of siding with the secessionists.

But the government said it was reversing the ban after Twitter agreed to conditions including opening a local office in Nigeria.

According to the Nigerian government, Twitter has agreed to: register in Nigeria during the first quarter of 2022, appoint a designated country representative, and comply with tax obligations in Nigeria

Enrol Nigeria in its portal for direct communications between government officials and Twitter to manage prohibited content that violates Twitter community rules

Act with a respectful acknowledgement of Nigerian laws

Twitter did not say if it had agreed to the government demands but tweeted that it was “pleased” to be restored in the country and was “deeply committed to Nigeria”.

The move allows millions of people in Africa’s most populous nation to use the platform again.

Many Nigerians had continued to access the site after the suspension using virtual private networks (VPNs) but most corporate organisations, including many media outfits, had obeyed the government’s order.

Analysts believe the ban has cost the Nigerian economy millions of dollars, especially the small businesses which use the platform to reach their customers.

The move last year by Nigeria’s government sparked an international outcry over freedom of speech.

The social media company’s decision to register itself in the country showed it was committed to Nigeria, the country’s information technology development agency said.

The government had ordered internet providers to block Twitter, alleging it was being used to undermine “Nigeria’s corporate existence” through the spreading of fake news that could potentially have “violent consequences”.

This came after Twitter removed President Buhari’s post referring to the 1967-70 Nigerian Civil War and to treating “those misbehaving today” in “the language they will understand”.

Twitter is popular with many Nigerians, and the platform has been used as a mobilising tool. Activists used it to rally support during protests against police brutality under the hashtag #EndSars, which gained global attention.

Despite the ban many Nigerians continued to tweet and some are now taking time to recognise the VPNs that enabled them to do so.

User Ugegbe tweeted that she didn’t want to delete her VPN, as it would feel like a betrayal.

BBC

By: Christian Conteh

Two prominent Civil Society organisations AdvocAid and Purposeful have expressed their dismay at the fact that only five (5) women out of 160 incarcerated people  were pardoned during the New Year’s Day Presidential pardons.

The organisations further expressed frustration that no women imprisoned in Correctional Centers in the provinces were pardoned.

It also highlights that neither two girls incarcerated at the Approved School nor a number of women who are imprisoned with young children were considered for a Presidential Pardon. The CSO’s maintained that apart from Presidential Pardons international and regional standards stress that alternatives    to imprisonment should be preferred in many cases.

Examples include a scenario in Bo Correctional Centre where there is a young woman with a baby serving a three year sentence and in Freetown Correctional Centre a woman with a young baby who is serving a seven year sentence.

These facilities where the women are held the CSO’s say do not have the appropriate medical, educational or support services for such children who are at risk during detention.

The statement from the CSO groups went on to catalogue several examples of women that could have been considered for release. These include

A young woman who is currently imprisoned in Kabala Correctional Centre with twins, detained since October 2020, while pregnant. She gave birth in the Correctional Centre. She was sentenced to seven years imprisonment for wounding with intent and did not have adequate legal representation during the length of her trial and a 15-year-old survivor of child marriage and gender-based violence detained at the approved school.

The organisations raised concern that several men were pardoned for serious offences, such as murder, when   women and girls convicted for lesser offences were not considered for pardon.

They urged the Government to review the pardon process, calling for it  to be open and transparent with key criteria for when a pardon will be considered. This they say should be open to submissions from legal representatives and civil society organisations.

Further the CSO groups call on the Government to review the cases of all women and girls currently detained in police stations and detention facilities across the country and to consider them for early release measures and alternatives to incarceration.

This they point out  is especially urgent for women and girls who are pregnant or detained with young children, in light of the tragic case of a baby who died in a police cell in Makeni whilst detained with its mother in December 2021.

By: Kemo Cham

Journalists in Sierra Leone are demanding a probe into alleged harassment and intimidation of a reporter by officials at the country’s Lungi International Airport.

Amadu Lamrana Bah, who works for the Freetown-based Africa Young Voices (AYV) television, said he was maltreated by airline officials while waiting to board a plane as part of a delegation that was headed to Cameroon for the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2021) tournament.

Bah was on a reporting assignment, under the sponsorship of his media. He said after going through the necessary check-in processes, his name was repeatedly announced via the airport public address system, requesting him to report to the Air Maroc check-in desk. He said when he arrived, his tagged luggage was thrown at him and he was told that his name was not on the list of passengers.

The journalist said he was only allowed to board the plane after the intervention of a senior fellow journalist who was traveling on the same flight.

“I felt humiliated as other passengers were looking on as I continue to ask what is happening,” he lamented in a posted on his facebook page shortly before boarding the flight.

Bah, who is the President of the Sierra Leone Reporters Union, heads the Digital Media department at AYV.

He told ManoReporters that he believed the attempt to stop him from traveling to Cameroon, a trip that was paid for by a GSM company, might have something to do with a post he had made on social media lamenting an uncomfortable experience they went through at the airport.

The incident which happened on Monday, 10^th January, sparked public outrage, especially among media practitioners.

Although no one knows who exactly was behind it, as the airline officials told the journalist that they were acting on the “orders of someone above,” the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) holds the management of the Sierra Leone Airport Authority and Air Maroc responsible for the incident.

“SLAJ vehemently condemns the behavior of the airport officials, including Air Maroc, and finds it unfortunate that the journalist was targeted because of his opinion,” it said in a statement on Wednesday.

“This is outright intimidation and harassment and constitutes a serious attack on free speech and press freedom,” SLAJ President, Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, was quoted in the statement.

Journalist Bah onboard an Air Maroc flight after a failed attempt to prevent him from boarding

Bah, who is now in Cameroun, said he still didn’t know who was behind his experience, but he was convinced that they were politicians.

“Those who were at the airport are from the Ministry of Sports, the Minister, his Deputy, the Leader of Government Business who is SLPP [governing party] and others,” he said, noting that no one had reached out to him after the incident.

Meanwhile, while reiterating its call for the safety and security of journalists, SLAJ said it is waiting for an official explanation and apology to Bah from the airport authority. It also calls for a “speedy investigation into the circumstances leading to their action and to expose whosoever gave that order to drop the journalist from the list of passengers.”

For many journalists, the incident serves as a reminder of the constant trouble they have to deal with in the hands of Sierra Leonean politicians who use their power to stifle free speech.

President Julius Maada prides himself as a pro-free speech president. And his government has used every opportunity to boast about actions taken in fulfillment of campaign promises geared towards this, including the removal of laws that criminalized free speech.

But campaigners say the president needs to go beyond passing laws and making statements, and act to contain his officials.

“No journalist, or individual for that matter, should be targeted for expressing their views. Authorities must learn to accommodate genuine criticism as part of their responsibility to the public,” said Mr Nasralla.

By Sarjo Brito

Gambia’s Civil Aviation Authority has dismissed Ebrima L Dampha, a staff member of the institution following an opinion piece he wrote on Facebook exposing alleged internal corruption.

Ebrima in his piece published a few weeks ago expressed that the newly introduced airport levy paid by incoming and outgoing passengers at the Banjul International Airport was just another strategy being applied by the officials of the institution to steal from the Gambian people.

‘’I want to state here unapologetically, and in equivocal terms, that the 20 Dollars that is obtained from incoming and outgoing passengers in Banjul International Airport is a complete daylight robbery! For the record, such charges, whether called Airport security charges, Airport tax or service fees are all levied on the ticket that passengers buy. Hence, if you bought a ticket, you have paid all these charges. Therefore, no name qualification can justify this illegal means of obtaining money,” Ebrima said.

The Civil Aviation Authority reacted to the allegations by firing Dampha for what they described as a violation of the Institution’s code of conduct which provides that no employee should contribute to any publication relating to the functions and activities of the institution. The sacked Human Resources officer’s dismissal was made known through an official letter dated January 4th, 2022.

‘’The decision was premised on your violation of the provisions of SSR (0713) which states that no employee should contribute to any publication of any matter that reasonably can be regarded as relating to the functions and activities of the Authority. Additionally, the same provision states that no employee without the expressed permission of the Director-General will express an opinion for publication on any matter affecting the organization or work of the Authority”.

Speaking exclusively to The Fatu Network, Ebrima L. Dampha confirmed his dismissal. Dampha said he knew the implications of his publication and will do it again if he could in the interest of the country.

‘’ I am sad yet honoured that my service was terminated on the basis of having an opinion on a wrongful practice. As indicated, their decision is not based on any incompetence, corruption, or malpractice, hence, I am vindicated.  But notwithstanding, I am afraid for the future of our public sector, especially for the young people. I believe this is not about me, this is kidnapping the future of the young people of our country, and this is about normalising corruption by caging anyone who wishes to speak up. This is a clarion call for every meaningful Gambian to stand up and resist, legally and professionally,’’ Ebrima said.

Asked if he will take any legal action, this is what he had to say:

‘’ Yes Sarjo, Immediately and unhesitatingly, I am going to the courts to seek redress. Leaving this matter unchallenged will be the worst precedent one could set, and don’t want to be associated with that side of history. And even further to that, I am a Human Resource Officer both in practice, learning and teaching, what will I tell my students regarding unlawful dismissal, policy opportunism and abuse of office if I did not challenge this rhetoric’’

The Gambia government last year introduced a 20USD tax levy on inbound and outbound travellers at the Banjul International Airport. The move sparked wide condemnation and disapproval from both travellers and players in the Tourism industry who believe it was bad for business, especially because airport levies on passengers are generally known to be included in ticket costs.