Tamsir Jasseh has confirmed he will throw his hat into the ring for the December presidential election.

The former director general of the Gambia Immigration Department first announced running for the highest office in the land on July 1.

Mr Jasseh who is the national president of Gambia Action Party has now confirmed to The Fatu Network he will seek the Office of President in December.

In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Mr Jasseh asked Gambians for their support while announcing his bid.

“To all my Facebook friends, please be informed that Insha Allah I intend to seek the Office for the President of the Republic of The Gambia in the upcoming general elections. I kindly ask for your support,” he wrote.

Mamma Kandeh has donated D100,000 to the National Disaster Management Agency for onward delivery to victims of last week’s deadly windstorm.

Ten people died last week Wednesday while hundreds of people are still without shelter after the powerful windstorm swept the nation.

Mamma Kandeh presented D100,000 to NDMA as response to calls by President Adama Barrow for Gambians to come forward in helping the victims, MC Cham Jnr told The Fatu Network.

Mr Kandeh presented the cash to the disaster agency on Wednesday.

The Ministry of Health said today The Gambia is currently experiencing a rapid increase in the number of people testing positive for COVID-19, ‘which is a cause for concern’.

“The data from this week’s situational report showed an overall 13% new case increase in comparison to the preceding week data, with significant increase in admissions,” the ministry said in a statement.

It added: “This current trajectory is worrisome and should it continue its course, the country’s response capacity will likely be challenged which could lead to more transmissions and severe case.

“The public is therefore urged to take COVID-19 prevention and control measures seriously by meticulously observing social distancing, wearing of face mask, avoiding overcrowded places, avoiding handshaking, frequent hand sanitizing and washing hands with soap and clean water.

“If these measures are strictly followed by all, transmission will decline and the Ministry will be in position to quickly control the spread of the COVID-19 virus.”

Four students of the Senegalese School have left their families in a complete state of shock after drowning at Leybato beach on Wednesday.

The students, two boys and two girls, drowned after entering the sea on Wednesday afternoon, a witness told The Fatu Network. A fifth person survived after being pulled from the sea.

Police spokesman Lamin Njie could not immediately comment on the tragedy.

The family of Ousman Koro Ceesay have issued a statement following the conviction and sentencing of Yankuba Touray on Wednesday.

The High Court on Wednesday found Mr Touray guilty of killing Koro Ceesay and sentenced him to death by hanging.

Below is a statement by Mr Ceesay’s family;

Justice Delayed Isn’t Justice Denied in the case of Late Minister of Finance, Mr. Ousman Koro Ceesay.

“And among those We created is a community which guides by truth and thereby establishes justice. (Quran 7:181)

It has been 26 years since the death of Ousman Koro Ceesay, and today, on what would have been his late father’s 90th birthday, justice is served with the pronouncement of a guilty verdict for Mr. Yakuba Touray in the murder of our beloved brother. We wish our parents, Mr. Seni Sise and Mrs. Fatoumatta Sise were here to witness this before they passed, however, we hope they are looking down and grateful for this day.

Although it has taken more than two decades, we know Allah’s timing is perfect. Today, the court has shown us that no one is above the law.

We would like to sincerely thank the people of the Gambia who have stood with us from the first day, who rallied, petitioned, prayed, and supported our family; this judgement is for all of us. You lifted us, walked with us, and served as our voice. You never forgot Koro! You kept his name and pictures in the media to ensure the world would not forget him. You remembered his love for country, people, integrity, and patriotism, you stood alongside our family in demanding for justice from every corner of the globe. We extend our gratitude to the Gambia justice system, the TRRC (everyone who was involved in Koro’s case), the Gambia Bar Association and the attorneys who wrote the amicus brief in support of the case. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. God bless you.

In line with Koro’s vision to transform his country and her people, our family founded the

Ousman Koro Ceesay Foundation (OKC Foundation) in 2014, a non-profit, non-political organization that supports equitable access to quality education and healthcare for disadvantaged Gambian citizens. In the past six years we have partnered with individuals and organizations to offer scholarships to outstanding students with financial needs, as well as provide free educational supplies for students and teachers. Additionally, in collaboration with health institutions in the United States and local medical professionals, the Foundation has donated over 5 tonnes of medications, medical supplies, and equipment. Through the OKC Foundation’s medical missions, the most recent one being June 2021; highly skilled doctors and nurses have delivered impeccable medical diagnosis and treatment, conducted community training, promoted principles of prevention and contributed to improving the overall health and well-being of underserved and disadvantaged communities and citizens in the Gambia.

Koro was a man of discipline, integrity, and service, with a fantastic sense of humor and love for his family. Today marked the beginning of a new dawn with one conviction, we trust that by the grace of God, the rest of the people who took part in the murder will be brought to justice. Justice delayed is not justice denied.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, Dr. Mamadou Tangara, on Wednesday morning signed a Joint Commission with the Internal Affairs Minister of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Mr. David Panda Noah, in his office in Banjul.

The signed Joint Commission is meant to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in the areas of economic development, trade and investment policies, financial services, information and intelligence sharing, education, health, tourism and culture, infrastructure development, security and military, agriculture, agro-processing, forestry and livestock development, fisheries and maritime resources, science, technology and innovation, youth and sports, local government and issues of traditional Leaders, migration and settlement of the nationals of the two countries.

Prior to the signing of the Joint Commission, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Mamadou Tangara welcomed the Sierra Leonean delegation to the country and assured them of the commitment of H.E President Adama Barrow and his counterpart President Julius Maada Bio in developing their countries. He said the Sierra Leoneon delegation’s coming to The Gambia is an indication of the excellent bilateral ties between Banjul and Freetown.

Minister Tangara informed the delegation that President Barrow’s intention and focus is to leave a legacy that would be the envy of the world. This he added is based on consolidating democracy and improve the socio-economic status of Gambians.

The Honourable Minister used the opportunity to return gratitude to Sierra Leone for the immense contribution it made to the development of the human resource base of The Gambia through education. Many Gambians in the past decades did their studies in Colleges and Universities in Sierra Leone through scholarships.

For his part, the Internal Affairs Minister and Head of Delegation, Honourable David Panda Noah thanked the Government and the people of The Gambia for the warm welcome. He said the trip was possible as a result of the shared opinion of the two Presidents in developing their respective countries. “It is time to put words into action,” he posited.

The Gambian High Commission in Sierra Leone negotiated and facilitated the delegation’s visit. The delegation to the country comprised the following officials: Mr David Panda Noah, Minister of Internal Affairs & head of Delegation, Dr. Edward Hinga Sandy, Minister of Trade and industry & Head of Delegation, Ms. Mamadi Gobeh Kamara, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs & Internal Cooperation, Mr. Henry Nyandemoh, Deputy Director, Africa, Mr. Emmanuel Konjor, Technical Director, Minister of Trade, Mr Alimu Barry, Businessman-Pavefort & Works, Mr. Hamza Hashim, Businessman- Sierra Juice Company, Mr. Krish Sabharval, Businessman- SL Co. Ltd & Pee Cee & Sons.

UDP spokesman Almamy Taal has confirmed the party’s former Upper Fulladu chairman Amadou Manneh has returned to the party.

Mr Manneh over the weekend met President Adama Barrow in Mankamang Kunda as NPP officials confirmed he has joined NPP.

But Manneh has left NPP and has returned to UDP, according to Almamy Taal.

The High Court in Banjul on Wednesday sentenced former AFPRC junta member Yankuba Touray to death by hanging after finding him guilty of murdering former finance minister Ousman Koro Ceesay.

Mai Ahmad Fatty has vowed not to take blame for the killing of Kanilai native Haruna Jatta during a rare protest.

Mr Jatta was murdered in 2017 as the people of Kanilai took to the streets to demand an end to the presence of ECOMIG forces in the village.

Mai Fatty, interior minister at the time, went on GRTS saying one must obey the law or be consumed by it. Claims soon after abounded he is responsible for Mr Jatta’s death.

But in a strong rebuttal today, Mr Fatty said: “It has been made abundantly clear that the late Haruna Jatta did not lose his life under my watch. He died allegedly during and as a result of confrontation between protesters in Foni against ECOMIG forces. ECOMIG was not under my command as Interior Minister. I had no control or jurisdiction over ECOMIG and they were not answerable to me or my Ministry. The sad event occurred while I was in Monrovia, participating at ECOWAS regional security meeting. I cut short my visit, returned home to expeditiously tackle the ensuing internal security complexities created by the protest.

“My Ministry intervened to comprehensively restore law and order in Foni, after the tragic event had already occurred. Assets under my Ministry were not involved during the fatal scuffle against the military in Foni. ECOMIG soldiers who allegedly shot the late Haruna Jatta, were under the direct coordination and supervision of the Ministry of Defence at Office of the President, and NOT the Ministry of Interior. That explains why the investigation into the incident was led by the Ministry of Defence at State House and supported by Ministry of Interior.

“I am willing to take responsibility for the Ministry of Interior, which excluded ECOMIG forces in Foni and elsewhere. Every State Minister must own up to his/her responsibilities. I will not assume liabilities for another Minister or Ministry and I will not accept blames for things outside my authority and duty. This does not vitiate the principle of collective responsibility in Cabinet. Therefore, it is utter falsehood, to continue to allege that the late Haruna Jatta was “killed” under my watch. It happened under the watch of the Ministry of Defence, NOT Interior. I have NEVER had personal issues with Foni. Those who peddle such falsehood do so out of malevolent political motives.

“Yet, no nation is viable without respect for the law. My pronouncements and actions  on the unfortunate incident at the time, were based on intelligence reports, detailed security briefings and expert advice availed to me as Minister, from relevant agencies, and this is normal in all democracies. That I asserted and enforced obedience to the law or be consumed by the law, is a cardinal principle of democracy.

“I have no regrets about this in particular and will not change my beliefs about the sanctity of law and respect for the rule of law. Lastly, I am very proud of the GPF. Based on my work experience, the GPF could be one of the best in the Region if their basic professional requirements are provided

Facts have been made abundantly clear to all. Those who are NOT interested in the truth will continue their futile attempts to discolour the reality.”

The Gambia remains on Tier Two Watchlist – signifying that The Gambian government does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so, according to the newly-released 2021 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report.

The report, produced annually by the United States Department of State as required by the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), ranked The Gambia just above the lowest possible ranking.  

The country’s most serious shortfall is in completing prosecutions of traffickers consistent with the due process and speedy trial rights of the accused, the US Embassy in Banjul said in press release.

The release added: “The country did not complete a single criminal case against a defendant accused of trafficking during the 12-month period covered by the report. For the fourth consecutive year, no traffickers have been convicted. Punishing traffickers convicted in a fair trial is an essential component of obtaining justice for trafficking victims.  

“The efforts made by the Government of The Gambia include adopting a new national referral mechanism (NRM) and training government officials and service providers on its implementation. The government identified more victims and continued efforts to raise public awareness of trafficking and to train law enforcement and government employees on trafficking. However, the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts compared to the previous reporting period, even considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its anti-trafficking capacity. Government agencies charged with combating trafficking continued to lack resources and training, and victim services remained inadequate.  

“A country can remain at Tier 2 Watch List for only two years and must address identified deficiencies to progress fully to Tier 2 or be automatically downgraded to Tier 3. A downgrade to Tier 3 negatively impacts assistance funding from the United States. We encourage the Gambian Government to expand the work undertaken over the past year and redouble efforts in the following critical areas: increase efforts to investigate, prosecute, and convict traffickers, including allegations of child sex tourism; direct and fund law enforcement to investigate all reported trafficking cases, including those brought forward by civil society; ensure human trafficking cases are resolved through the judicial system rather than extra-judicial or administrative means. 

“Human trafficking represents a threat to international peace and security.  It undermines the rule of law, robs millions of their dignity and freedom, enriches transnational criminals and terrorists, and threatens public safety and national security everywhere.  It is the United States’ sincere desire to continue to partner with the government and the people of The Gambia to ensure that trafficking victims are cared for, and the government of The Gambia uses its rule of law mechanisms to fully enforce Gambian law and bring the perpetrators of such exploitation of human beings to justice.  In this regard, the United States continues to support the work of the Gambian government to combat trafficking via grants to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) which bolster the work of the Gambian government in combatting trafficking. 

“The full Trafficking in Persons report, including The Gambia country narrative, can be found online at: https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report/.”

The Independent Electoral Commission has revealed registering 987,484 Gambians in the just ended voter registration exercise.

In a statement on Monday, the IEC said 559,996 female and 427,488 male formed the provisional total number of registered voters.

According to the IEC, the provisional list of voters shall now be displayed at the various registration centres where they were compiled for 10 days. It shall be followed by the establishment of the revising courts to decide on the objections and appeals on provisional lists.

Police have announced a new operation dubbed ‘Operation Clear the Roads’ to free the country’s roads of ‘objects’ that obstruct the free flow of traffic.

In a statement signed by their spokesman Supt Lamin Njie, police said: “The Office of the Inspector General of Police in collaboration with National Road Authority, Banjul City Council, Kanifing Municipal Council, Brikama Area Council and Physical Planning will launch ‘Operation Clear the Roads’ on Monday 26th July 2021.

“The aim of this exercise is to ensure that, all objects that obstruct the free flow of traffic most especially during rush hours are cleared.

“Therefore, all wrongly parked vehicles, derelict vehicles, car tyres, vendors, stalls, building rubbles and other materials along the sides of the highways and roads, whether for private or commercial purposes, as well as shops encroaching into the highways and roads must be removed by owners with immediate effect.

“Consequently, the public is further informed that starting Monday 26th of July 2021 the police together with relevant partners will embark on the operation to clear the roads using towing vehicles to remove all vehicles wrongly parked along the roadsides. Vehicle owners who fail to remove their vehicles will attract fines to regain their vehicles.

“For shop owners on the highways, Physical planning in consultation with relevant authorities will verify boundaries and if they are found to have encroached into the road, they will be removed with immediate effect.

“In a bid to improve road safety and allow free flow of traffic, the Inspector General of Police urges all individuals to comply in clearing the roads of all obstacles causing traffic obstructions. The cooperation of the public, particularly vehicle and business owners is highly solicited.”

Justice Basirou Mahoney on Tuesday ruled that the actions of the Mayor of Banjul Rohey Lowe in issuing attestation to the people of Banjul ran counter to the law. The appellate court justice also ruled that the action of the IEC in conferring the power on the mayor of Banjul to issue attestation contravened the Elections Act.

He ruled in a judgment that lasted nearly an hour: “Let me conclude by emphasizing there is no carte blanche or free hand for public bodies and authorities to perform their functions. They’re required to act within the law, intro vires, and not outside the law or ultra vires. This accords with the doctrine of separation of powers and rule of law.

“In light of the above, the following declarations are hereby made; one, it is declared that the actions of the mayor of Banjul in issuing attestation to the constituents of the city of Banjul in the Independent Electoral Commission general voter registration exercise are in contravention of Section 12(2)p(e) of the Elections Act.

“It is also declared that the action of the Independent Electoral Commission in conferring the power to the office of the mayor of Banjul in administering attestation form generated by the IEC for the purpose of [] voter’s cards in the city of Banjul are in contravention of Section 12(2)(e) of the Elections Act. I award costs of D20,000 in favour of the appellants.”

Two civil society groups and a councilor in Banjul had last month sued the mayor of Banjul, the IEC and the attorney general arguing that the mayor was acting unlawfully in issuing attestation in Banjul.

It came amid a huge controversy during which the mayor herself insisted she had the power to issue attestation and asked her critics to go to court.

In his judgment however, Justice Mahoney argued Banjul already had a law around the issue of birth where every child is required by law to be registered at birth and have a birth certificate unlike other parts of the country.

On the demand for the over 2,000 attestations the mayor had issued to be scrapped, the judge ruled: “Only the revising court can deal with individual entries in the register of voters.”

Police officer Lisa Colley on Tuesday picked up from where she stopped in the rape trial of businessman Bubacarr Keita.

Colley had on July 7 testified they went to the Serrekunda General Hospital after visiting Mr Keita’s house in Tabokoto a day prior.

On Tuesday, she told Judge Momodou SM Jallow: “I left with the victim and the victim’s elder sister accompanied with a brother. I don’t know the name of that brother. On our arrival at the hospital, we first visited the labour ward. There we met a nurse, a lady but we don’t know her name. The matter was explained to her. Then the victim was asked to lie down on the bed. There, the said nurse did the checking. There she confirmed that there is a pregnancy of four to five months. From there we were sent to one of the senior doctors whom I later know to be Dr Daffeh.”

Alasan Jobe prosecuting asked her who referred her to Dr Daffeh and the witness replied that it was the nurse “we met at the labour ward”.

She continued: “On our arrival at Dr Daffeh’s office, the matter was narrated to him. Myself, the victim, the elder sister and Dr Daffeh himself took us to a an office, there is a bed where the victim was asked to lie on that bed. The victim was asked to undress a second time and lie on that bed. She was examined for the second time by Dr Daffeh again.”

The witness then explained when asked by Jobe how Dr Daffeh examined her: “He put on gloves, he used a torch light where the victim was asked to spread her legs. There Dr Daffeh came in and did the examining. Dr Daffeh used his hand and put it in the private part of the victim who was lying on the bed. He held something in his hand that he used to examine the victim but I don’t know the name of the instrument. When he was done, the victim was asked to come down and dress up.

“Dr Daffeh confirmed that the victim was four to five months pregnant too. Dr Daffeh wrote the remarks he examined from the victim in the police medical book. The police medical book was signed by our office before we departed.”

According to the witness, they were assigned by their OC at Bundung station to write a report about the case “which I did and it was attached to the file and the file was sent to Bundung Police Station to our OC’s office”.

Elsewhere, the witness said she came to know about the complainant’s boyfriend Pa Modou Johm “during the case”. When asked how she knew who he was, she said “at that time they said he was boyfriend to the victim”. She also said Johm was charged but not at her level.

Still on Johm, the prosecuting lawyer asked her if she had anything or any evidence linking Johm to the alleged rape of the complainant but the witness said she did know much about Johm.

“In Pa Modou’s case I do not know much about him. The only part I know about him is when text messages were printed, he was communicating with the victim,” she testified.

The prosecuting lawyer then sparked protest from the defense when he asked the witness if text messages between the complainant and Johm showed or suggested they were intimate. He then withdrew the question after the defense counsel Lamin Camara argued it was against the principle of evidence to question a witness on something that is not before the court.

Moving on, the prosecuting lawyer then gave a document to the witness and asked if that was the report she prepared. The witness said it was the report. She said she identified it through her signature when the prosecuting lawyer asked how she was able to identify it. The report was then admitted as a prosecution exhibit.

More follows…

Top Gambia Alliance for National Unity chieftain Modou Sanyang has left the party to join United Democratic Party.

Bwiam native Modou Sanyang was the national mobiliser of GANU, the Sheikh Tijan Hydara-led party.

UDP national organizing secretary Talib Ahmed Bensouda announced the development saying it took place on Monday.

By Sarjo Brito

The latest situational report from the Ministry of Health has shown an increase in COVID-19 cases in the country.

The 339th national sitrep shows that 46 cases have been registered as of July 9th,2021, bringing the total number of COVID cases to 6,328 cases. No new COVID related deaths were registered during this period, leaving the total number of COVID related deaths at 185.

While other parts of the world brace for a possible third wave of COVID-19, majority of Gambia’s population have become extremely relaxed on following COVID-19 guidelines and regulations. As movement continue to be restricted and the wearing of face masks still mandated in some countries, people continue to go about their businesses in The Gambia without following the basic safety guidelines.

There have been growing concerns amongst some Gambians on the total relaxation of some of these guidelines as reports of a possible third wave hits neighbouring Senegal. International Organisation UNICEF has cautioned that the country must not let its guard down as people continue to ignore COVID-19 protocols.

GMC leader and former Interior Minister Mai Fatty took a trip down memory lane in a post detailing his arrest and subsequent jailing in his teen years for defending national interest. The GMC leader said he stood up for this country when it was not fashionable and extremely dangerous to do so.

He wrote Monday: “Throughout my entire life, since school days, I committed myself to public welfare. I was sent to jail in my teen years during school hours and in uniform, direct from the classroom for defending the national interests. I was tortured and marginalised at the prime of my youth, long before 99% of existing political parties and their leaders thought of public affairs. During my active days in practice as a Lawyer, most of the cases I defended were in the public interests for little or no pay. I survived an assassination attempt on my life during the dictatorship on account of asserting the right to human dignity and for the same reason, I flee into exile, leaving everyone and everything dear to me here at home.

“In exile, I remained on the vanguard to free this Nation and led a formidable leading role in the return to democracy in December 2016. By Allah’s Grace, and with the support of a committed Team, national security was forcefully established and stabilised at one of the most volatile periods of the transition. I performed my obligations as Interior Minister to the people to help secure, protect lives and property, while enforcing the rule of law to assure peace and stability throughout the country.

“I stood up when it was not fashionable and perilous to do so. I am in this fight not for personal glory or economic gains but as evidenced by my life history, for the people. I sacrificed everything and served the people of this country all my life and will continue to do so. In the entire process, I maintain with pride that I am ready and willing to be subjected to extensive public accountability with regards to management of public funds. I may have made some policy decisions with the best of intentions and faltered in some of those, but I am a Leader with proven integrity in public office. The Gambia is my Constituency and each Gambian matters. Without you, there is no me. My goal is to bequeath a transformed Gambia to our children, radically different from what we inherited. Its possible. Its doable.”

Seedy Njie has slammed as ‘biggest lie of the 21st century’ claims by GDC national youth president that 300 supporters of NPP cross-carpeted to GDC.

In a rebuttal sent to The Fatu Network, Mr Njie said: “I read a news article on The Fatu Network purportedly from GDC’s MC Cham Jr which is accompanied by photo indicating that over 300 NPP Supporters in Sarre Abdou defected to GDC this, is the biggest lie of the 21st Century.

“The photo posted shows a crowd of less than 300 including GDC’s mobile. It defied sense and logic to address a gathering fifty people and claimed 300 switched allegiances is the height of deception and falsehood. We’ve checked our records and officials on the ground none of our party officials from National level to village level knew the said Chumban Bopp.

“I can safely say not a single person has ever defected from NPP to GDC. Politics of deception is history in this country. This fake news is baffling and incomprehensible no one in his right sense will move from the biggest and a major party like NPP to a dying party such as the GDC that virtually operate as a brief case party.

“Gambians prides themselves with the National People’s Party which is development oriented, tolerant, peaceful, law abiding, respect for people’s liberties and rights. This is false, and millions miles away from being the truth. Gambians choose hope, honor, dignity, freedom, policies, programs and unison over fear, intimidation, bullying, tribalism, insults and terrorization.

“The mantra of “Nyato taa “ is the guiding principle of our Party leader His Excellency President Adama Barrow who is preoccupied in improving the livelihood of Gambian. The GDC’s false publication can best be described as ‘fooling oneself’.”