Written by: Dawda Baldeh

Scores of students at The Gambia College are demanding improved internet services or the complete removal of the mandatory D1,000 annual internet fee. Fatima Jabbie, a second-year student at the college, is among those affected by the persistent poor connectivity.

“This year, I decided not to pay, but our student executives said if I don’t, I won’t be cleared by the accounts office or allowed to register my courses,” she said. “It’s unfair to pay D1,000 for nothing, because the purpose of the payment is not being fulfilled.”

Students say the network is so poor that they even struggle to send basic text messages. Bubacarr Jarju, another student, lamented the ongoing frustration they endure on campus due to the unreliable internet. “We are using our personal data to do research. The Wi-Fi connections on campus are poor,” he told The Fatu Network. Like many others, Jarju said the internet cannot adequately serve the college’s student population. “If the school cannot provide us with reliable internet, they should remove the fee so we can buy our own data. It’s not about the amount—it’s the lack of service,” he emphasized.

Despite the seemingly small amount, Mr. Jarju said the school administration does not understand how difficult it is for some students to come up with D1,000. “The administration is only interested in students paying the fee, but not in the service students receive after paying,” he alleged. “Sometimes, students have to leave their classrooms to find internet access elsewhere just to submit their work or conduct research.”

This medium understands that the annual ICT fee is intended to cover internet access and the student portal. However, many students remain frustrated by the consistently poor service. The Gambia College has an estimated enrollment of over 11,000 students across its campuses, meaning that for every 1,000 students, the school collects D1 million in ICT fees. With such a large student base, students argue there is no excuse for the lack of reliable internet service.

Babucarr Gassama, a former student union executive, clarified that their concerns are not about the fee itself. “We are disappointed that the service we’re receiving does not reflect the value of the payment. Students deserve a reliable and strong internet connection to support their academic needs, especially in an age where online research, virtual learning, and access to educational resources are essential,” he said.

Students are now urging the college administration to address the issue and take immediate steps to improve internet infrastructure. Efforts to reach the school administration and the student union for comment were unsuccessful at the time of this report.

Written by: The Fatu Network Editorial

The Gambia Transport Services Company (GTSC) has been awarded “Best Transport Services – West Africa” by African Travel Quarterly, a Ghana-based travel magazine that focuses on travel and tourism issues in West Africa.

The award recognizes GTSC’s role in connecting people and places across West Africa. African Travel Quarterly is described as the first travel magazine in West Africa dedicated solely to travel and tourism matters.

Ikechi Uko, publisher of African Travel Quarterly, stated in a congratulatory message: “As one of the key players in regional road transport, your services have made it easier for travelers, tourism and business people to move across borders with ease. Your commitment to safety, affordability, and regular routes has helped support tourism, regional trade, and cultural exchange across cities and countries.”

GTSC General Manager Seedy Kanyi responded to the award announcement, saying: “The Board, Management, and the entire staff of GTSC are highly elated by this unexpected yet deeply appreciated award. It comes as a pleasant surprise and a powerful reminder that the work we do does not go unnoticed. This recognition is not just a testament to our individual and collective efforts, but also a reflection of our unwavering commitment to excellence in public transport service delivery.”

Kanyi added: “It is truly gratifying to know that stakeholders beyond the borders of The Gambia are observing and appreciating the strides we are making. Such acknowledgment inspires us to aim higher, continue improving, and deliver even greater value to our customers, partners, and the general public.”

According to the press release, the GTSC team has expressed gratitude to African Travel Quarterly and reaffirmed its dedication to providing transport services both locally and across the sub-region.

The award ceremony is scheduled to take place in Accra, Ghana, on Friday, June 27, 2025. The event will bring together tour operators, government officials, and business leaders from Ghana, Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Sierra Leone, Senegal, and The Gambia.

By Dawda Baldeh

The commander of the Ghanaian troops participating in the ECOWAS mission in The Gambia, Lieutenant Colonel Ronne Agbemafle, stated that nothing can be accomplished without mutual support.

He made these statements during the donation of medical equipment by Ghancoy 9 to the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital, Ndemban branch in Bakau.

This act of goodwill is part of Ghancoy 9’s ongoing Civil Military Cooperation aimed at alleviating healthcare challenges at the hospital.

“Without assistance, nothing can be achieved. We are not solely here for peacekeeping missions. We are part of a community, and it is essential for us to build a strong relationship with that community,” he remarked.

Lt. Colonel Ronne explained that the mattresses are meant for patient escorts who frequently sleep on mats outside.

“This hospital serves everyone in The Gambia and is doing an exceptional job. This is why we find it important to assist them with this medical equipment,” the Ghancoy 9 Commander told reporters.

He highlighted that enhancing relationships with the communities is vital for facilitating their work.

“We value the efforts this hospital is making,” he added.

Kebba Sanneh, Principal Public Relations Officer at Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital, stressed the importance of such gestures.

“This is a timely gesture, and on behalf of the hospital, I extend my gratitude to the Ghanaian troops for their support. This is the only main referral hospital in the country, and supporting it equates to supporting everyone,” he explained.

“This facility caters to all. When patients’ conditions become complicated, they come here.”

Mr. Sanneh assured the donors that the items would be used for their intended purpose.

“This will improve service delivery at the hospital,” he added.

The donated equipment includes various medical tools essential for patient treatment.

By Alieu Jallow

The Regional Disaster Management Coordinator for the North Bank Region (NBR), Lamin Saidy, has called for increased budgetary allocations to the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), citing persistent funding challenges that hinder effective disaster response in the region.

In an exclusive interview with The Fatu network, Mr Saidy highlighted how financial challenges affected their disaster response mechanism, citing the recent assessment following flash floods and windstorms that affected all seven districts in the NBR, particularly in 2021, where 10 people lost their lives, noting the efforts put in place to strengthen resilience.

“In Kerewan, there is a community hard hit by flooding, and so we tried to rehabilitate one of the roads that is heavily impacted by flooding as a process of building resilience, which is community-led with support from NDMA. We also established district committees, which include local authorities within the district, with plans to establish village-level disaster committees.”

Saidy reported that over 100 households were impacted, with 12 families displaced and currently sheltered by neighbours and relatives.

Despite efforts to enhance disaster response capabilities, including the procurement of essential equipment through international aid, the NDMA continues to face significant financial constraints. In January 2025, the French Development Agency (AFD) allocated €1 million to support flood recovery efforts and strengthen the NDMA’s institutional capacity. The funds were used to procure equipment such as tablets for data collection, motorbikes for rapid mobility, water pumping machines, and pickups to bolster the agency’s capacity.

Furthermore, the NDMA, in collaboration with partners like Catholic Relief Services and Future in Our Hands The Gambia, received $603,616 from ECOWAS in May 2024 to implement the Post-2022 Flood Recovery Response Project. This initiative aimed to provide multipurpose cash assistance, water, sanitation, and hygiene support to flood-affected communities across all eight local government areas in The Gambia.

Despite these interventions, the NDMA’s efforts are often hampered by limited financial resources. The Gambia’s National Disaster Risk Management Policy 2024-2032 acknowledges the challenge of scaling up financial resources for disaster risk reduction (DRR) implementation, emphasising the need for increased budget allocations and access to international funding. Against this backdrop, Saidy calls for an increased allocation to make their work effective and efficient.

“Government needs to increase its budget and allocation for disaster operations in the country because, looking at the cycle of the DRR, which talks about disaster reduction prevents on preparedness, mitigation recovery. So, it’s a whole lot of operations. So, there’s a need for budget-free allocation to do our work, as you know, expected,” he states.

As part their preparation efforts in disaster response Mr Saidy underscore the importance of capacity, especially for their data collectors, for effective and timely response to disaster incidents.

“We’re strengthening all the regional structures in North Bank. We’ve identified the data collectors, our disaster collection tools are prepared, they are all set, but now we call for budgetary allocation so that when we have a disaster incident, there could be a rapid response towards that disaster”.

As climate change continues to exacerbate the frequency and intensity of natural disasters, stakeholders in the North Bank Region and across The Gambia are urging increased investment in disaster preparedness and response to safeguard vulnerable communities.

By Alieu Jallow

In the rural heartlands of The Gambia, where fear and silence often defined the relationship between civilians and security forces, a new approach is taking root—one conversation at a time.

ActionAid International The Gambia (AAITG) recently organized a Community Security Bantaba in the North Bank Region, bringing together police officers, soldiers, youth leaders, and community elders. For many, it was the first time they sat face-to-face with security personnel not in fear or conflict, but in honest conversation.

Omar Trawally, a member of the North Bank Regional Youth Committee, emphasized that security is a national concern and cannot be left to government institutions alone.

“Citizens must understand the role and challenges of our security services. In return, the security forces must also be responsive to the rights and needs of the people they protect,” he said.

Held under ActionAid’s Local Rights Programme 9 (LRP9), the forum wasn’t just a platform for lectures. It was a space where fears, questions, and frustrations were aired without judgment. The message was clear: peacebuilding is a shared responsibility.

“I now realize that I have a role to play,” said Adama Nyan, a youth leader from Jokadu. “Reporting suspicious behaviour, educating my peers about drug abuse, and promoting peace are part of my civic responsibility. I used to think security was just a police issue, but today I changed that.”

Inspector Almameh E. Susoh, Regional Taskforce Commander in Farafenni, noted that this shift in thinking didn’t happen overnight, but dialogue is changing how communities and law enforcement relate.

“Civilians are the majority, and we can’t be everywhere at once. Through collaboration and communication, we can detect and prevent crime early. This isn’t just about policing; it’s about building a safer Gambia together,” he said.

For Inspector Susoh, proactive engagement isn’t optional—it’s essential.
“We believe in preventing crimes before they happen. These bantabas help build trust, clarify our roles, and allow us to listen to the community’s concerns,” he added.

Saikou Darboe, Manager of LRP9 at ActionAid, said the idea behind the bantaba was born out of rising tensions and misunderstandings between security forces and civilians.

“We saw the rising tension and misunderstanding between young people, the public, persons with disabilities, and law enforcement. So, we created a safe space where both sides could listen, learn, and reconnect,” he explained.

He added that the transformation is already visible.

“Young people who once feared the police now see them as partners in peacebuilding. These sessions are not just dialogues—they are seeds of transformation. And we are committed, inshallah, to sustaining this momentum.”

For Mariama Secka of Ngene Sanjal, the experience was personal.

“We all want the same thing—peace. But for that to happen, we must communicate, collaborate, and commit to understanding each other,” she said.

As ActionAid prepares to expand these security dialogues across other regions, the message is unmistakable: real peace starts with real conversations.

In the words of Omar Trawally:
“This dialogue is not charity; it’s our right. Peace starts with understanding, and understanding begins with conversation.”