President Adama Barrow has told the nation’s young soccer players he ‘follows’ football as he congratulated them on their WAFU heroics.

The National U-20 team won the WAFU regional championship played in Dakar recently – and the team was at State House on Thursday Jan 28.

“I will seize this opportunity to congratulate the team., to congratulate the technicians, the president of the Gambia Football Association, the ministry and the entire Gambian people. I think you have made us proud, you have raised the Gambian flag high, it is always sweet to win but the sweeter against Senegal,” the president told the young footballers.

According to the president, he is a ‘big’ fan of football and “I follow football despite with my busy schedule but I create time to watch football”.

“I even watched the match that you played, the final. But I was not very comfortable knowing the history between Gambia and Senegal. But you did very well, you were committed, you were patient, you were disciplined and the most important thing was self-belief,” the president said.

Chinese medical experts met with President Adama Barrow where they updated him on their role in consolidating The Gambia’s gains in the fight against Covid-19 and to ensure public safety in the pandemic as well present medicine and medical equipment for Epidemic Control.

The experts met President Barrow alongside Chinese Ambassador Ma Jianchun on Thursday, according to a statement by State House. The health minister was with them.

“For the past three months, the Chinese team trained frontline health workers in Coivid19 prevention, diagnosis, and prevention of infections in medical institutions. They also provided guidance and treatment for the patients in critical conditions,” State House said in a statement.

In his statement, President Barrow commended China for supporting his government since he assumed leadership four years ago, adding his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, has fulfilled all the pledges he made to his government, State House said.

By Ousman Jatta

Gambia Ports Authority has commenced dredging the sea and a staggering 100,000m cu will be dredged.

GPA is partnering with SINOMAJILAC for the month-long activity which started on Tuesday with reporters invited to cover the initial exercise.

Kulay Manneh is the Harbour Master at the Gambia ports authority and he told reporters: ‘’The harbour is located in an estuary, and the estuary is influenced by the in and out flow of water currents, and water coming in and out of the ocean.

“The movement of water goes with sand sediments, mud and other materials. Regular dredging has to be conducted to maintain good depth.”

Banka Manneh the public relation and communications officer for SinoMajilac vowed that his company with carry out the job professionally.

“We will carry our job professionally and ethically, Manneh said.

GPA occasionally dredge the sea to enable vessels to navigate and this year’s activity will see at least 100,000cu m dredged.

A 22-year-old Gambian man who allegedly shot his mother to death in New York wrote his mother a beautiful tribute five years ago.

Musa Camara in a Mother’s Day tribute in 2015 described Binta Danson as one of the ‘hardest’ working women ‘there can be’. He then said boldly the woman deserve the world and ‘she gonna get it’, in his tribute he posted to his personal Facebook page.

Gambians in New York and beyond were this week left horrified following news Musa shot his mother in the head during an argument over his laziness. There are reports he has mental issues and a psychiatric evaluation on him was underway according to reports by local media.

Meanwhile, Facebook users took to Musa’s account commenting on a photo of himself he posted in July last year.

Aicha Milanoo wrote: “I hope you rot in prison allah did not put you in this world just to take ur moms life away.”

Zeynab Sissoko Kanteh commented: “I hope Allah punishes you.”

Carmelo Delva said: “Who shot their mom really, your own mother carrying you for 9 months. Loved you cared for you feee you and just because she wanted you to be productive you killed her.”

By Ousman Jatta

The management of Seaview Group has slammed accusations by the ministry of health of having problems with them prompting the ministry to move its coronavirus patients from Bambo Hotel to elsewhere as totally false.

Since the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Seaview Group were the first hotel operators to partner with the ministry of health, by receiving patients who tested positive for covid-19 and needed to undergo fourteen days’ quarantine. However, the recent comments by the ministry of health, has disenchanted the management of the group.

“We have been there when everybody shut their doors up, because most of the hotels where saying that they will not take anyone, since day one we have been with the ministry of health, we have been supporting them, we been sacrificing for them, Every single day,” Manager Matta Ceesay told the Fatu Network in an exclusive interview.

“We are a Gambian own hotel, we are helping Gambians because 75% of the patients are Gambians, so if we shut up our doors, who will help them, no one! At the end of the day, no one want to go to sanatorium, no wants to go to Demban, because they are already traumatizing.

“If anything happens I think the patients are the ones who are supposed to complain, because they are the wants dwelling in the hotel and can therefore say that they did not like the hotel services,” she added.

The Fatu Network spoke with the patients and none shared any report of having issues with the hotel. They instead complained the health ministry officials asked them to move to another hotel because the president is visiting the area.

The management of musician ST said in a statement on Thursday they received a letter from Independence Stadium General Manager Ebou Faye that he would no longer be allowed to use the stadium for his upcoming album launch.

The statement read;

“It is with utter dismay and disappointment that the Management of ST Brikama Boyo confirms to you that the officials of the Independence Stadium refuse to grant our request to use the Independence Stadium grounds to stage the Dinding Mansa album launching concert on February 6th, 2021.

“ST’s album launching is a regular fixture in the Calendar year, and for the past three years, the stadium has been the traditional venue. With that understanding, a 40% down-payment was done about seven (7) months ago in anticipation of the event. Since then, considerable investment and resources went into the planning and organizing of the mega event with the Stadium grounds in mind.

“To our shock and consternation, on the 15th January 2021, we received a letter from the Management of the Stadium under the stewardship of Mr. Ebou Faye, that we will no longer be allowed to use the venue for the show. Given that the decision is coming barely a few weeks before the event and considering the huge amount of financial and logistical planning that has been made, we are now faced with an insurmountable challenge within a limited timeframe.

“The main reason given was that the show may damage the pitch of the stadium. Whereas the reason may be plausible, ST and his management feel targeted and discriminated against because other artists and groups are being allowed to use the venue for similar purposes.

“A few weeks ago, the Nigerian artist Kiss Daniel had a concert at the stadium, and this week other major concert-like events with thousands of people expected to be in attendance have been lined up to take place at the same venue. In our case, we have even offered to work together with the Stadium management to put in place safeguards that would ensure the safety and protection of the facilities.

“While we continue to engage the Independence Stadium and other government authorities like our line ministries – youths and tourism and culture, to and an amicable solution, the ST management is exploring all options, including legal action, to seek redress.

“The ST brand is a national pride that epitomizes home-grown success. Through music and his foundation, he impacts the lives of several communities and individuals. Therefore, we solicit the support of all and sundry, especially the government which had granted him Cultural Ambassador status recently, to ensure the show goes ahead as planned.”

Sixty NPP supporters in the diaspora have started arriving in the country to grace the launching of the party.

NPP will be officially launched on Saturday a little over a year since its formation. President Adama Barrow is leader of the party.

According to national coordinator Fabou Sanneh, supporters in the diaspora numbering 60 have all bought their tickets ready to fly to The Gambia.

“Some arrived today and some will arrive tomorrow,” Sanneh told The Fatu Network on Thursday.

An East Harlem woman frantically pressed a domestic violence “panic button” — given to her by law enforcement to protect her from her violent deadbeat son — moments before he fired a fatal gunshot into her head, police sources told the Daily News on Wednesday.

Fatoumata Danson made the desperate call for help shortly before 10 a.m. Tuesday when her 22-year-old son showed up at her home at the Lehman Village Houses, breaking the order of protection she had against him.

The son, Musa Camara, was due to appear in Manhattan Criminal Court just hours later Tuesday to face charges he body-slammed his 40-year-old mother last summer, then told her, “I will kill you.”

Prosecutors accused him of shoving his mom, using the weight of his whole body, in her apartment before making the threat on Aug. 19. He also allegedly grabbed and shattered her landline phone. He was arrested that day.

The terrified mom of eight — her youngest a toddler — was issued an order of protection against Camara and provided a panic button through the Manhattan District Attorney’s office.

After last appearing in court on the misdemeanor assault charge in November, he was due back Tuesday.

But instead he allegedly shot his mother inside her 15th-floor apartment on E. 108th St. near Park Ave. Relatives said the son refused to work for a living and resented his mom’s pressure to get a job, leading to the conflict between them.

Danson pressed her panic button when her son violated the restraining order and turned up with a gun, police sources said. Neighbors found her lying in a pool of blood before help could arrive.

Camara fled the scene and then fired wildly at a 29-year-old random passerby on the street as he ran, police say. The bystander was not struck.

Moments later Camara was tased and arrested by cops.

After he stripped off all his clothes and acted erratically at an NYPD stationhouse, cops sent Camara for psychiatric evaluation at Metropolitan Hospital. Police sources said the suspect has a history of mental illness.

His arraignment on murder charges was pending in Manhattan Criminal Court on Wednesday.

Yankuba Sangarie, the victim’s brother, told reporters that Danson was a native of Gambia who moved to New York City in the 1990s. She worked as a home health aide and regularly cooked for her loving big brothers and extended family.

“She don’t have a problem with anybody,” said Sangarie. “She’s a hardworking lady, taking care of her eight children. Everybody loves her. She’s a good sister, a good family member.”

Police responded to the mom’s apartment multiple times to stop fights between her and Camara, source said.

After the slaying, Sangarie said he wanted the criminal legal system to show “no mercy” to his nephew.

“He don’t want to go to work or get a place for himself. That’s the reason that he shot the mom,” Camara’s uncle said. “I want him to go to life in prison.” (New York Daily News)

By Fatou Camara II

Musician ST is unhappy with the management of the Independence Stadium. Sources close to the popular musician have told The Fatu Network that ‘all options are on the table, including legal action’ against Stadium authorities who have refused him access to the Stadium pitch for his mega album launching.

The flagship event is the country’s biggest musical concert in the calendar year and music lovers look forward to it with great anticipation.

‘’ST made an advanced payment of 40% about six months and was issued receipts’’, said one person who is familiar with the situation.

The person added: “From what I gathered, they are engaging the services of a top lawyer and will claim millions of dalasis in damages. These people have invested a lot of money and resources towards hosting the show at the stadium. So what will happen to the more than 15, 000 flyers and other branded materials should the venue change?”

The management of the Independence Stadium said allowing ST’s album launching will damage the pitch.

ST and his team are engaging the services of a top lawyer and will claim millions of dalasis in damages because according to reports a lot of money and resources have been invested by the musician towards hosting the show at the stadium.

Our source added that the musician’s team is upset and feels targeted by the Stadium authorities given that other artists and groups are being allowed to use the place. Nigerian musician Kiss Daniel had a concert at the same place last month. The political party of the President, the National People’s Party, will be launched there on Saturday.

The Fatu Network visited the General Manager of the Independence Stadium Ebou Faye in his office on Thursday about the issue but he said his management is not saying anything about it.

Former Secretary General Momodou Sabally is among ‘key’ individuals businessman Abubakary Jawara is expected to come after.

Jawara announced on Wednesday he has instructed his lawyers to commence legal action against certain key individuals who have been peddling unfounded statements about him.

The Fatu Network understands the ‘certain key’ individuals include Momodou Sabally, Bamba Mass and Wally Jnr.

Momodou Sabally told The Fatu Network the businessman might as well prepare for the trial of his life.

He later took to Facebook and wrote, with his signature slogan #Can’tCageMe: “For the record, Abubacarr Jawara has been involved in some of the most shady deals that the Barrow administration ran in this so called New Gambia.

“Let Jawara go to court over this and he will face the biggest humiliation ever in his shady life.

“This man should actually start thinking of how to refund Gambians all the shady money he made from those dirty deals like black sand mining before he thinks of crying foul.”

Wally Jnr on his part told The Fatu Network he has never mentioned Abubakary Jawara’s name but his uncle whom he has apologised to.

“He has every right to go to court but I also have a right to defend myself,” he said.

Bamba Mass on his part said he is yet to receive any sermons from any lawyer representing any Abubakary Jawara . He said therefore save his energy until when he receives the court sermons.

A group of Gambians that Germany wanted to deport on Wednesday spent hours at the airport in Germany before being whisked back to a detention facility, Gambia Refugee Association spokesman Yahya Sonko has said.

The official had told news outlets including The Fatu Network a plane carrying Gambians living in Germany would arrive in the country Wednesday afternoon. The foreign ministry would not comment on the issue.

According to Mr Sonko, he on Wednesday spoke to two of the Gambians who confirmed Germany officials were “taking them back to Pforzheim Deportation prison, they were taking to Frankfurt Airport since in the morning delayed happened but they were not told why and shortly before 23pm they were told you deportation for today is cancelled till further notice”.

Some Gambians online have claimed the deportation report is false.

Eye Africa TV has been granted Digital Terrestrial TV license approved by the Ministry of Information and Communications Infrastructure (MOICI) through Public Utility and Regulatory Authority (PURA). The online outlet was granted license on Tuesday January 25.

The approval of the Television Broadcasting (Content Provider Free Air) license will pave the way for Eye Africa TV to begin broadcasting for wider audience, a statement by the outlet on Wednesday said.

The Chief Executive Officer of Eye Africa, Lamin Kanteh said, according to the statement. “I want to underline our resolve to be a major player in the transformation process of Gambia’s media industry. As a household name for changing the television broadcasting landscape, we remain steadfast and shall continue leading this trajectory for a better and standardised media sector.”

Eye Africa was established in 2012 as a global online media broadcast and has subsidiary online bureaus in the United States, Europe and Asia.

Former director general of Gambia Immigration Department Tamsir Jassey has been appointed national president of Gambia Action Party.

Jassey spent six years at Mile 2 following his implication in the 2006 Ndure Cham coup. He was later released following the visit to the country of US civil rights activist Jesse Jackson.

Jassey was appointed GAP national president on January 25 “after consultative efforts and a decision that is not regretted”, according a statement by the party.

A ruling by the Supreme Court on Wednesday has paved the way for tens of thousands of Gambians who live abroad to be able to vote in elections in The Gambia.

Chief Justice Hassan B Jallow alongside four other top justices jointly declared parts of the nation’s election law which bars citizens who live abroad from voting as unlawful.

GFA leader Bakary Bunja Darbo and four others last year sued the attorney general and the Independent Electoral Commission at the nation’s top court asking the court to declare Sections 17 and 105 as unconstitutional. They also asked the court to order the IEC to register Gambians who live abroad to enable them to vote in ‘all public elections and referenda’.

And on Wednesday the justices held that every Gambian including those residing outside are entitled to register for and vote in elections to the “offices of president, members of the national assembly, for local government offices and traditional rulers as well as in referenda”.

Heavyweight businessman Abubakary Jawara has announced he has instructed his attorneys to commence legal action against ‘key’ individuals most responsible for defaming him.

Jawara remained mute in the last years as scores of Gambians went about accusing him of all kinds of things including importing guns into the country illegally. Just recently, false claims were made against him that he is a friend of Banta Keita who is wanted by police over nearly three tons of cocaine seized at the port. And at the start of this week, people circulated a photo of Jawara with President Barrow with claims a third man in the photo is Banta Keita. It later emerged the man was the businessman’s uncle.

In a statement he personally signed and shared with The Fatu Network, Jawara said he does not know Banta Keita, has never met him and ‘at no point have I been associated with him’.

“For a number of years now, I have been the subject of social media fabrications aimed at damaging my reputation. I have for so long remained silent and taken the high road but this has to end at some point,” the businessman said in his statement.

He said elsewhere: “All individuals bent on spreading falsehoods against my person are hereby warned to cease and desist from these ill-intentioned acts. Henceforth I shall not hesitate to utilise all resources at my disposal to ensure that my rights are protected under the law and that the said individuals who create, post and share unfounded information about me are made to answer before our law courts.

“Thankfully our laws protect against defamation and individuals found wanting by the courts are liable to pay very considerable financial compensation and punitive damages to the victims of their false statements. I have today, Wednesday the 27th January 2021 instructed my solicitors to commence legal action against certain key individuals most responsible for the propagation of these unfounded statements.”

Sex workers are selling sex on credit in Senegal as coronavirus-related restrictions such as night-time curfew hit their business hard.

According to Senegalese outlet Leral.net on Wednesday, the pandemic is killing prostitution with some sex workers now selling sex on credit.

One sex worker speaking to the outlet said coronavirus has triggered scarcity of customers, closure of soliciting places, fears linked to the transmission of the virus, economic crisis and Dakar going into total blackout at night due to the curfew.

Leral.net said the sex workers are now going about their trade during day time with some selling sex on credit.

Music lovers should expect a glass shattering video when ST launches two of his most anticipated songs: the Dinding Mansa (same name for the album), and My People, which features legendary African musician Baba Maal.

Photos of the set exclusive to The Fatu Network show the Gambiana singer acting out in front of a fleet of cars against an exquisite private jet at the Banjul International Airport. Airport sources confirm the musician did use the airport to shoot his new music video.

In the photos obtained by The Fatu Network, The singer could be seen flanked by beautifully dressed models who would give Victoria Secret’s Angel models a big run for their money. It was not immediately clear if the models are hired from Senegal or Ghana.

“I don’t know which video they were making but what I saw with my own eyes will blow your mind away,” said one person who said he saw the shooting being carried out.

The development comes ahead of the much-anticipated launching of ST’s Dinding Mansa album on February 6. ST’s management could not be immediately reached for comment.

By Sarjo Brito

A plane carrying a group of Gambians who have been deported from Germany will land at the Banjul International Airport Wednesday afternoon, the spokesman of the Gambia Refugee Association in Europe has said.

Concerns have been mounting over the past weeks as German authorities set to carry out more deportation of Gambian illegal immigrants.

And confirming the news to The Fatu Network, the spokesperson of the Gambia Refugee Association Yahya Sonko said his association has been contacted by Gambians held at the deportation prison in Germany to confirm that they are set to depart Germany January 27, 2021 and estimated time of arrival at the Banjul International the same day at 4pm GMT.

‘’As an Association, we can confirm receiving calls from Gambian detainees at the deportation prison. They confirmed that they will be deported today 11am German time and will arrive in Gambia at 4pm. Two families have also contacted me from the Gambia, confirming to have received calls from their loved ones who told them they will be deported today,” Sonko said.

Following news of this deportation, Sonko said he had tried reaching out to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comments regarding the matter but got no response so far. The activist said he had also tried reaching the Gambia Immigration Department to confirm if a landing permit has been issued “but all efforts to get the authorities to talk continue to prove futile”.

The subject regarding mass deportation has recently sparked anger among Gambians as government is accused of ignoring the plight its citizens abroad. Allegations of the Barrow Administration signing a deal with the German government to deport Gambians has been touted by some activists for some time, with many asking government to come out and set the record straight.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Saikou Ceesay was contacted for comment who said he would find out. He later did not pick repeated calls.