The Association of Resident Doctors on Saturday hailed Dr Kebba Marenah after the doctor became the first Gambian doctor to successfully carry out knee replacement surgery.

GARD in a statement said: “The Executive and entire membership of Association of Resident Doctors The Gambia (GARD) wish to congratulate our very own Dr Kebba Marenah, Head of Surgery Department at Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital, for successfully performing the first ever KNEE REPLACEMENT SURGERY in the history of our country the Gambia.

“This epic was conducted today at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital. We congratulate you sir and your entire team for this milestone and wishing you well and more successes in future surgeries.”

Presidential hopeful Marie Sock on Saturday travelled to the Bundung Maternal and Child Health Hospital to give new mothers starter baby kits.

Ten new mothers were each given a pan containing a laundry basket, chair, a stool and a bucket. They were also each given a bag stuffed with essential items such as shampoo, body lotion, and baby pads.

Speaking at the event, Sock said she every year partners with Good Deeds Day by going to communities and doing good things there.

“This year we selected the maternity ward in Bundung. If you notice all these time, we have women dying of childbirth and also the stress of having a baby nowadays.

“So we just feel that this is a moment to give back to these mothers that made it through with their babies. Just a little help,” Sock said.

Hospital officials thanked Socked for assisting the new mothers. Sock was accompanied by members of her team.

Omar Ceesay, Bundung Maternal and Child Health Hospital PRO said: “She has demonstrated that she cares for the people in her community, she cares for the women.

“The plight of women is so important to her, that is why she partnered with others to come here to support so that they have a very beautiful start.”

By Matty Senghore

Bankole Yao Jojo Ahadzie has asked Gambians to judge him by his ideas and not the rasta deadlocks he carries on his head.

Ahadzie on Friday interacted with the country’s newsmen and newswomen where he announced his plan to run for president. If he wins, he will become the country’s fourth president.

On the issue of his rasta dreadlocks, Ahadzie said: “When I was starting, everybody was saying, ‘no, cut your hair, if you want to be president, you have to cut your hair’. I told them, ‘no, I will not cut my hair’.

“People are saying ‘tell him to cut off his rasta’. They have not even first listened to what I’m going to tell them. why? Because we are a conservative society. It’s all hypocritical. Listen to what I have to say and judge me on what I’m saying and whether it’s possible or not instead of ‘tell him to cut his rasta’.”

Ahadzie also spoke on why he adopted the rasta lifestyle, a lifestyle that resonates well with a lot of Gambian youth.

“What I want and why I’m rasta is that I identify with people that have potential but they’re being squeezed,” he said.

Kexx Sanneh has told The Fatu Network masked men seized him near his house and held him captive for two days.

Sanneh’s family did not hear from him for days sparking disquiet among family and friends of the popular man.

He explained on Saturday: “It was 1am on Wednesday night. There was an unexpected action at my house when people came and began smashing glasses. We all got up and went to calm everyone and then the situation calmed.

“I was hungry at the time and decided to go to the shop to buy food. The shop by my house was closed and I then decided to walk to Bakau garage. On my way back, I found a car parked near to our compound. A man called me as I wanted to pass the car. He told me, ‘sorry bro’. He was trying to ask me where he could find Pipeline…

“I wanted to speak to him and then another man all of sudden appeared from behind me and pushed me in the car. The door of the car was locked and the drove off. They took me and in the two days I was with them, they were telling me ‘you think you own this country, if you don’t stop that will be in the end of you’.

“I asked them what I have done but they didn’t tell me anything. They then dumped me at the Bakoteh cemetery on Friday night with all parts of my body tied. I was unconscious and it was when I regained consciousness that I realized where I was and then I started screaming.

“I struggled to free myself and that led to me injuring myself because it’s plastic they used to tie me. In the morning, people came to the cemetery and there was a woman who saw me and called people who came and untied me and then I went to the police station.”

Sanneh who lives at Latrikunda German told The Fatu Network he lost consciousness shortly after the men seized him and placed a handkerchief dipped in a substance to his face. He said he was put in what appeared to be Mercedez Benz but could not say what location he was held at.

Police have released some students rounded up as they went about trying to break up as student gathering at Traffic Light.

Police anti-crime arrested some students and took them to Kairaba Police Station but a police source at the station said they have been released. The students were spinning cars, the source said, adding they were also making it difficult for customers to access Right Choice supermarket.

A student who was fleeing police told The Fatu Network SOS students have a ‘signing out’ and they were at the Traffic Light where celebrations are to take place.

A GMC organizing secretary in West Coast Region Kitabu Camara has ditched the party for UDP.

UDP foot soldier Momodou Sabally was in Busumbala alongside ML Fatty who himself newly converted to UDP from GMC to meet Camara.

Speaking during his conversion, Kitabu said “I’m happy that my boy ML Fatty and Momodou Sabally coming. It’s time for us to get up and save our country. And you will realize it’s UDP that can move this country.”

Momodou Sabally speaking at the meeting said: “He said it’s because of the nation he left GMC and joined our party. He has come to join Alhaji Ousainou Darboe’s lot so that we can work together and take the country forward.

“I’m delighted because someone like Kitabu are influential. He represented GMC at important meetings and this is a big achievement.”

Dr Ismaila Ceesay has categorically said he will contest the December presidential election as a presidential candidate.

“Yes, Dr Ismaila Ceesay is going to contest as a presidential candidate,” the former university lecturer told The Fatu Network in an exclusive interview.

The comments come amid chatter most of the country’s 17 or more political leaders may not end up contesting the election.

Ceesay will battle it out for the country’s top job with the likes of President Adama Barrow, PDOIS battle axe Halifa Sallah and UDP leader Ousainou Darboe.

Comedian Muhammed Darboe has asked President Adama Barrow to give Gambian senior squad players ‘good money’ for their hard work after they took the country to the Africa Cup of Nations.

Gambia beat Angola on Thursday 1-nil and earning a place in next year’s Africa Cup of Nations. It’s the first time the country is participating in the tournament.

Comedian Muhammed Darboe congratulated the boys on Friday in a Facebook Live where he went ahead to advise government on what it should do.

Darboe said: “We expect the government of The Gambia to give them something because they deserve it. I want to tell you President Barrow… And people say you’re stingy. To ask a whole group to share D250,000. These are big boys with families.

“We beg you for you to this time add more money. If this was Babili Mansa (Yahya Jammeh) these boys would be happy. So take out good money and give to them.”

Comedian Muhammed Darboe on Friday blasted the nation’s girls saying they’re all hypocrites amid the circulation of a girl’s nude photos.

According to Darboe the girl is 20 years old and her nude photos are being shared online.

“She’s a good girl but got carried away by young age,” Darboe said of the girl and her decision to allow pictures of her naked getting taken in a Facebook Live Friday.

He then went after all of the country’s girls: “Gambian girls are not good towards each other. You Gambian girls are not good. It’s me who said it. All of you are hypocrites and liars.

“I’m not talking about the women as those are my mothers. I’m not scared of anyone and anyone who wants can meet me at Westfield.”

By Matty Senghore

Bankole Yao Jojo Ahadzie has spoken to the nation for the first time since billboard showed the Banjul native planning to run for president.

Ahadzie confirmed his plan to run for president to reporters at the Badala Park on Friday where he laid out his manifesto.

The Mbolo Kunda (collective) vocalist said he intends to serve a one five year term, bring free education, good jobs and develop sport by investing one billion into it.

On the issue of cannabis, Bankey who works at MRC said: “I believe in legalizing cannabis. Now, legalizing in Gambia is a national thing, it has to go through parliament. Now, why do I believe in legalizing it? Because the UN has decriminalize cannabis. Because the WHO is calling for studies on the medical benefits of cannabis.

“In Gambia, it is not illegal for me to buy a bottle of beer. No police will arrest me for buying alcohol but they will arrest you for smoking cannabis. If we’re going to allow alcohol, we’re going to allow cigarettes, we’re going to allow prostitution, then let people smoke [cannabis].

“Economically, places like Uganda, places like Morocco are making billions from selling cannabis. In Gambia, we are sowing groundnut and selling it at pittance. So for these and other reasons, I support the legalization of cannabis.”

Gambia Democratic Congress has issued its own statement over Gambia qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Below is GDC’s statement;

The Gambia Democratic Congress under the leadership of Hon. Mamma Kandeh wishes to congratulate the Gambia’s National football team (scorpions) for their magnanimous performance and historic achievement in qualifying The Gambia to its first ever senior continental football competition. The Gambia Democratic Congress is so proud of the commitment, collaboration and the determination manifested by the sons of our motherland in registering such a historic achievement in the area of sport.

This victory worth celebrating by every Gambian, as it is a victory for the nation. This day will go down in our history books and will earn The Gambia a reputable name in African football. The efforts of the team deserve to be acknowledge and celebrated as the achievement will speak in volume down in the annals of our history particularly in the area of sport..

While we are celebrating such an important victory, the leadership of the Gambia Democratic Congress wishes to encourage the youth to foster and maintain the same commitment, determination and dedication to win the continental competition in Cameroon 2022.

Finally, the GDC would like to recognize the commitment and dedication of the Scorpion head coach Tom Sainteif, technicians and The Gambia Football Federation for their unwavering support all the way. While we qualified for the AFCON 2022, we call on the team to continue showing more commitment, as the GDC  stands to providing the much needed supports for the youth at all angles.

Gambia needed a win over Angola on Thursday to secure a spot at the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

Gambia went into the game level on points with Gabon at seven points – and a win over the Palancas Negras of Angola would see the country qualify for the continent’s top football competition for the first time in history.

The Scorpions started slow against Angola with the first half ending 0-0 with no clear-cut chance for either side.

Alasana Manneh endured a difficult afternoon and was hooked at half time and replaced by Bubacarr Steve Trawally whose pace in the right flank caused Angola all sorts of problems. And in the 62nd minute, the tricky forward squared the ball to Ablie Jallow whose shot could only be parried by Angola keeper Henrique towards lethal forward Assan Torres Ceesay who converted from six yards.

The win took Tom Saintfet’s charges to 10 points on the road with a game left to play – and has seen Gambia earn a spot in the Africa Cup of Nations next year January in Cameroon.

UDP has issued a statement congratulating The Gambia national team after they qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Below is UDP’s statement;

Today, the Sons of The Gambia have placed our beloved Gambia on the global platform for very positive reasons.  Our Scorpions have shown us what it looks like, how it feels and what it means to be a truly patriotic son and daughter of our Motherland.

Gambians from all walks of life both at home and in the diaspora have come together to celebrate our collective victory and to commend our youths for such a magnificent performance.    

We are so proud of them.  They deserve more than just celebrating their hard work.  They deserve more than congratulatory messages.   We must acknowledge their hard work, dedication and commitment with a befitting reward to boost their morale and spirits as they prepare for the African Cup of Nations.  They did this for all of us and indeed for the first time in our history, we shall be going to the African Cup of Nations.

Despite being the smallest country on mainland Africa our sons have now qualified for the African Cup of Nations.  They have demonstrated that if we put our differences aside and come together, we can achieve great things collectively for our Nation. 

The UDP joins the rest of Gambians to heartily congratulate them for such an amazing and victorious performance.  Alhaji Momodou Njie Biri and our Ancestors will definitely be pleased with them for blazing such a trail for The Gambia our Homeland.

Brikama Area Council chairman has laid down the law to UDP that Ousainou Darboe must resign as leader of the party if he is to return to the party, according to The Point Newspaper.

The Point reported on Thursday Sonko who is basking in his supreme court victory against UDP was speaking exclusively to West Coast Region.

Sonko said, according to The Point: “I can only join UDP again if they agree to do a public apology to me. If that happens, I think I will accept them and I will be coaching and guiding them. In fact, another condition will be for Darboe and the entire UDP executives to resign because he has misled the party.”

UDP in March last year fired Sonko alongside two councilors in West Coast Region after they were found to be ‘non-compliant’ with the rules of the party.

UDP had argued Sonko automatically lost his Brikama Area Council chairman role, relying on a local government law which says an elected local government official automatically loses his elected role when his party sacks him.

Sonko refused to vacate the role and the party then took the IEC to the high court for the electoral body to conduct by-elections. The case was later forwarded to the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court earlier this month then ruled in favour of Sonko saying the law UDP relied on was unconstitutional.

Gambian players have taken a walk on the beach as they prepare to lock horns with Angola Thursday afternoon.

Gambia are seeking to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations next year. If they qualify, it will mark the first time Gambia is competing at the tournament.

The Scorpions currently have seven points in the bag and they would be looking to sting when they come against Palancas Negras of Angola at 4pm Wednesday.

“I’m happy that we’re healthy and we’re all ready to make the country proud and sure that we can make history,” national team hitman Assan Torres Ceesay told Gambia Football Federation communication officials as he walked on the beach alongside fellow teammates.

Dou Sanno’s ‘rubbish talk’ comments were not specifically directed at Bamba Mass but UDP supporters who have made claims against him, The Fatu Network understands.

The Fatu Network reported on Wednesday Sanno asked UDP supporters to stop talking rubbish that he was caught with a woman. The outlet reported further he dismissed claims he slept with a woman at President Adama Barrow’s Brufut home. That claim was made by Bamba Mass.

Bamba Mass and The Fatu Network editor-in-chief Lamin Njie discussed the issue and Mass clarified that Sanno wasn’t responding to his claims. The association of Mass’ claims with Sanno comments is regretted.

PPP diaspora adherent Kebba Nanko has said he endorses the decision from the Kebba Jallow-led PPP in sacking Touma Njai.

“I endorsed my party decision for expelling Hon. Njie with emmediate effect. Our party constitution is meant for a purpose therefore the leadership shall enforce it with out fear or favour. Beside only the party members can influence how we run the affairs of our party,” Nanko who manages the PPP’s communication in the diaspora wrote on Wednesday as news of Touma Njai’s expulsion emerged.

Nanko also shared juicy details of what transpired in the lead to the supposed firing of Touma Njai. For example, he shared a screenshot of a letter written on March 15 where the Kebba Jallow-led PPP is seen telling the MP she was violating the party’s constitution by characterizing herself as the leader of PPP. It then warned the MP to desist from such ‘rhetoric and actions’.

Nanko also shared a screenshot of a reply purportedly by Touma Njai where she is seen saying she is the interim leader of PPP.