By Lamin Njie

Ebou Jallow, Edward Singhatey and Yankuba Touray have been ordered to pay back to the state $32,220,000 (1.6 billion dalasis) out of a $35,000,000 loan money given to The Gambia by Taiwan in 1995.

Jallow, Singhatey and Touray are former military officers who formed the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council of 1995 headed by former president Yahya Jammeh.

The Gambia government on Friday released the Janneh Commission’s report, a 1600-page document that details how former President Yahya Jammeh pilfered billions of dalasis in state funds during his 22 years rule.

A government white paper was also released on Friday setting down measures the Barrow administration has or wishes to take against 31 people who have been found to have assisted Jammeh in committing the crime.

As a part of its measures, the Barrow administration has ordered three former military officers Ebou Jallow, Edward Singhatey and Yankuba Touray to pay back over 30 million dollars of missing funds.

“The commission has found that the AFPRC forged diplomatic relations with Taiwan in the expectation of obtaining financial aid for their transition programme,” the government said in its white paper.

It added: “Taiwan gave The Gambia a loan of $35million. The commission found that Mr Jallow negotiated for $5million cash payment of the said loan on the instructions of former president Jammeh which was brought to The Gambia by special flight and presented to the AFPRC.

“Mr Jallow and Mr Edward Singhatey deposited the amount of $2.3million at the Central Bank of The Gambia. $2.7million has not been accounted for amidst claims that it was handed over to former President Jammeh. Mr Yankuba Touray was responsible for supervising the transition programme projects.

“The commission found that the AFPRC failed to account for the $32,220,000 of the loan from Taiwan and that they are jointly and severally liable or answerable for the amounts not accounted for.

“Mr Ebou Jallow, Mr Edward Singhatey and Mr Yankuba Touray are hereby ordered to pay back to the state the sum of $32,220,000 within 30 days from the publication of this white paper failing which their properties shall be forfeited to the state and sold. The proceeds of sale shall be applied to the payment of the monies for which they are found to be liable in the report, in addition to criminal proceedings to be initiated against them.”

By Lamin Njie

The Gambia government has set out measures it has and wishes to take against 31
people who assisted former president Yahya Jammeh in his financial crimes.

The Gambia government on Friday released the Janneh Commission’s report, a 1600-page document that shows how former President Yahya Jammeh pilfered billions of dalasis in state funds during his 22 years rule.

A government white paper which was also released on Friday set down measures the Barrow administration has or wishes to take against 31 people who have been found to have assisted Jammeh in committing the crime.

The 31 people are; General Sulayman Badjie, former vice president Isatou Njie-Saidy, businessman Amadou Samba, Tarek K Musa, Mohamed Bazzi, Fadi Mazegi, Nicolai Buzlainu & Dracos Buzlainu, Illija Reymond & Martin Keller, Ali Youseff Sharara, Ansumana Jammeh, Worreh Njie Ceesay, Tony Ghattas, Sirra Wally Ndow-Njie, Amadou Colley, Basiru Njie, Oumie Savage Samba, Njogu Bah, Momodou Sabally, Feryale Diab Ghanem, Momodou Lamin Gibba, Momodou OS Badjie, Edward Graham, Abdoulie Cham, Manlafy Jarjue, Ismaila Kaba Sambou, Momodou Aki Bayo, Ebou Jallow, Edward Singhatey and Yankuba Touray.

General Sulayman Badjie’s name came up first after Jammeh’s in the white paper with
the Gambia government describing him as ‘perhaps the most active and trusted associate of former president Yahya Jammeh.’

“He played a central role in cash withdrawals from the Central Bank of The Gambia, and accompanied former President Jammeh into exile,” the government said of General Badjie who the Janneh Commission found to have misappropriated or diverted 1.3 billion dalasis.

“Consequently, the government has decided that General Sulayman Badjie is not fit to hold public office and should be banned, and General Sulayman Badjie is hereby banned from holding public office for the remainder of his life. Criminal proceedings for theft, corruption and economic crimes will also be institutted against him.”

A number of people who made the list have been banned from holding public office for life.

Former secretaries general Njogu Bah and Momodou Sabally, Sirra Wally Ndow-Njie, Amadou Colley, Basiru Njie, Oumie Samba Savage have all been handed lifetime bans over their roles in the millions of dalasis that have gone missing.

Former vice president Isatou Njie Saidy received a ban of five years.

The Gambia government has also warned at least 11 people over their petty roles in the financial wrongdoings.

They are Noah Touray, Mambury Njie, Ousman Jobarteh, Ousman Jammeh, Isatou Auber, Ismaila Sanyang, Yam B Keita, Lamin Nyabally, Dr Kalilou Bayo, Abdoulie M Sallah, Sulayman Samba and Momodou L Bah.

The United States government has said it will will continue the work well under way to pursue available legal means to support the Gambian government’s efforts to recover the identified ill-gotten gains.

The Gambia government on Friday released the Janneh Commission’s report alongside a white paper. The investigation’s report has unveiled former President Yahya Jammeh has stolen billion of dalasis during his rule.

The US government through its embassy in Banjul reacted to the release of the report in a statement Friday afternoon.

The statement said: “The United States government applauds the release by the Government of The Gambia of the full report of the Commission of Inquiry into the Financial Activities of Public Bodies, Enterprises and Offices, known as the “Janneh Commission,” as well as the Cabinet white paper. It is crucial that the asset recovery process be undertaken in a similarly transparent fashion to assure the Gambian people that recovered assets are being properly accounted for and accrue to the public benefit.

“The government of the United States will continue the work well under way to pursue available legal means to support the Gambian government’s efforts to recover the identified ill-gotten gains. The investigation of financial crimes is extremely complex, requiring specialized knowledge and training. We urge the Gambian public and civil society to invest the time to understand fully the complexities of the investigation and report, referencing the original Act that established the Commission of Inquiry, and the legal thresholds required to establish facts meeting evidentiary standards under Gambian law.

“We take this moment to renew our recommendation that government authorities work closely and expeditiously with civil society organizations and the National Assembly to develop strong legislation, strong regulations, and strong rule of law-based investigative and prosecutorial mechanisms to better ensure that persons who abuse their positions of public trust to greedily benefit themselves are held accountable. Trust by the Gambian people in their government will be bolstered by vigorous, transparent action to do so.”

Turkey’s Karpowership company, the designer and builder of the world’s first floating power plants and the global brand of Karadeniz Holding, will meet 15% of Senegal’s electricity needs from liquefied natural gas (LNG) with the 235-megawatt (MW) powership Ayşegül Sultan, which started its voyage from Turkey to Senegal on Sunday.

Karpowership, operating 22 floating power plants in more than 10 countries around the world, has invested over $5 billion in this area.

In a statement to members of the press at Karmarine Shipyard, Karpowership Trade Group Chair Zeynep Harezi said they aimed to provide affordable electricity to countries in need of electricity quickly and reliably, adding that they could commission energy ships capable of generating the base electric charge of the countries in a period of about a month.

Harezi recalled that Karpowership commissioned the first floating energy ship in 2007 in Iraq, followed by Lebanon, Ghana, Indonesia, Mozambique, Zambia, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Cuba, Guinea Bissau and Senegal. “We meet the electricity needs of 34 million people in many countries,” she stressed. Harezi stated that the energy ships, all designed and produced by Turkish engineers, use liquid fuel, but all ships can covert to the second fuel.

Considering the impact of electricity production on the environment, Harezi noted that they plan to convert the entire fleet from liquid fuel to natural gas. “With a capacity of 480 megawatts each, the world’s largest floating energy vessels operate in Indonesia and Ghana. The conversion to gas has been completed in our project in Indonesia. We have also initiated the conversion of the Ghana vessel into gas,” she said.

Joint company with Japan

Harezi explained that they would continue to convert their fleets to natural gas in the coming period. “Our 235-MW floating electric vessel, the Ayşegül Sultan, sets sail today to meet 15% of Senegal’s electricity needs on its own. After an approximately 20-day cruise, the vessel will reach Dakar, the capital of Senegal, and will begin commercial operation in early October,” Harezi continued. “We plan to use liquid fuel as bridging fuel in the first six months. At the end of the first six months, we will start to produce electricity from LNG on our ship. Thus, Ayşegül Sultan will be the first project to generate electricity from LNG in Africa. Our floating power plant to be sent to Mozambique is designed to generate electricity from LNG. It is also scheduled to start operations in the next year.”

Harezi said in March this year they signed a partnership agreement with the Japanese MOL, Asia’s largest floating LNG storage and regasification terminal (FSRU) operator, adding they established the KARMOL company with a 50% partnership.

“We will produce the FSRU part of the project that we will send to Mozambique with the Japanese. The Japanese have the right and enthusiasm to be part of the ship’s part of this project. There is no partnership for other projects yet, but there may be in the future,” she noted.

Zeynep Harezi also announced the company’s future investment plans, saying their energy vessels with capacities of up to 2,000 MW are under construction, while 3,000-MW ships are in the planning stage. “In the next five years, we plan to add 20 more energy ships with a total capacity of 5,000 MW to our fleet. While we currently provide 2,600 jobs, we anticipate that the number of employees will double with the capacity increase,” she further stressed. Harezi also pointed out that they are in the process of negotiating and bidding with 15 other countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. “We do not go to a country where we do not lower the electricity price. Because we can offer both fast and cheap solutions at the same time, we have no competitors in the world. We are the world leader in this field,” she concluded. (Daily Sabah)

By Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The Gambia participated in this year’s Tokyo International Conference on African Development TICAD in Yokohama from 28th to 30th August.

The delegation was led by the Vice President Dr. Isatou Touray and comprised Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, Dr. Mamadou Tangara, Secretary General and Head of the Civil Service, Mr. Muhammed B.S. Jallow, Permanent Secretary office of the Vice – President, Mr. Muhammed Lamin Jaiteh, Protocol officer to the Vice – President, Mr. Musa Sinyang, Communications officer Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr.Saikou Ceesay.

In a statement to leaders during the opening ceremony, the Vice – President thanked the Government and the people of Japan for graciously hosting the 7th TICAD and for the warm reception and hospitality accorded to her and The Gambia delegation since arrival in the beautiful city of Yokohama.

She reminded participants that it is crucial to note that TICAD remains a unique process that is immensely contributing to Africa’s development and its regional integration agenda adding that this goes to complement Africa’s efforts to further strengthen partnership by exploring new areas of cooperation with Japan in a bid to boost its socio-economic development through capacity building in the areas of technology, agriculture and health.

Dr. Touray observed that the summit is an excellent platform and opportunity to link African and Japanese businesses in a win-win situation. She said it is only through such partnerships that both parties can ensure their respective contributions to national development as well as the maintenance of global peace, security, progress, prosperity and sustainable development.

She said The Gambia being the “Smiling Coast of Africa,” is open for business and has unique endowments that serve as a basis for mutually beneficial cooperation.

In his opening statement, Prime Minister Abe said Japanese private sector invested 20 billion dollar in Africa over the past three years. He said the Japanese government will do everything possible to support Japanese enterprises in investing in the future of Africa. Abe said in order to support business activities in Africa, his government will strengthen its assistance for human resource development. He said the Japanese government will help the development of 3000 personnel in the next six years in Africa.

He said his government will launch a new approach for peace and stability in Africa. Under this approach, Japan will support African countries’ efforts to prevent, mediate and arbitrate conflicts in cooperation with the African Union and regional economic communities.

Meanwhile, on August 31st, 2019, the Vice President was accompanied by the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Mamadou Tangara to pay a courtesy call on the Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe at his office in Tokyo.

At the meeting, the vice President returned gratitude to the Government of Japan through the Prime Minister for all the assistance rendered to The Gambia in the areas of agriculture, health, education, and food aid.

She expressed the need to further deepen cooperation in education, agriculture, fisheries, health and sports. She assured the Prime Minister of Gambia’s willingness to further deepen cooperation with Japan at the international fora, including UN Security Council Reform and the North Korea situation.

In response, Prime Minister Abe welcomed the inauguration of the new Government and Gambia’s efforts to democracy. Prime Minister Abe thanked Gambia for supporting Japan at the international fora. He expressed Japan’s readiness to deepen bilateral cooperation with The Gambia in the areas of capacity building, water supply to rural people, health and agriculture. He urged The Gambia to identify new areas of cooperation for both countries to further work together adding that Japan is going strongly to promote Japanese private sector investment in Africa.

On Wednesday, August 28th, Dr. Touray and the delegation held meeting with Japan – African Union Parliamentary Friendship Association members. The meeting centered on bringing bilateral relations closer with the continued support of Japan in the area of capacity building, Gambia’s active participation at 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Osaka Expo.

The Vice – President informed the Japanese side that The Gambia came to TICAD as a delegation in order to further deepen ties between the two countries. She said 60% of Gambia’s population are young and since Japan is a leader in technology, this makes it relevant to broaden partnership in a bid to build the capacities of youth. Vice – President expressed Gambia’s interest to send participants to the Tokyo Olympic and Osaka Expo.

She informed of the desire of the Government to invite Japanese parliamentarians to visit the Gambia’s National Assembly in the form of an exchange visit. The decision, she added will be finalised once consultations are done with the National Assembly.

Commenting on the needs of the country, she highlighted collaboration in the area of energy, science and technology and road infrastructure. She thanked Japan for the education feeding programme adding that it has increased the nutritious status of food children eat at schools and also increased the number of school going children.

On his part, the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Mamadou Tangara, first and foremost thanked the Japanese side and informed them that the instruction given by President Barrow is to support Japan on all its resolutions at the international fora. He said the President would have loved to be in Japan for TICAD but owing to his schedule he could not.

He said Government is experiencing budget constrain but, notwithstanding, determined to open an Embassy in Japan in order to take relations to another level. He noted that human resource development is one of the cornerstones of development adding that there is a lot that Gambian youth can learn from Japan’s resilience.

The Chairman of the Association, Mr. Kazunori Tanaka, welcomed the Vice President to Japan. He expressed delight that relations between the two countries are coming closer while noting that there would be cooperation to boost the tourism industry and increase and maintain participants in ABE Scholarship. He informed that the Government of Japan is pleased to extend invitation for Gambia’s participation at the new Emperor’s crowning ceremony.

He indicated that in 2020, on the sidelines of the Emperor’s ceremony, they will twin a town in Japan with a town in The Gambia. This, he adds will also bring strong social connection between Gambians and Japanese. He informed that in April, 2020, Japan will host Crime Prevention Congress and will request the participation of the Gambian judiciary.
On August 31st, 2019, on the sidelines of TICAD, the Vice – President and delegation paid courtesy call on H.E Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal at his residence. The two leaders exchanged views on ways and means of strengthening and maintaining peace and free movement of people across the borders.

Across the world, one person takes their own life every 40 seconds, and more people die by suicide every year than in war, the World Health Organization said on Monday.

Hanging, poisoning and shooting are the most common suicide methods, the WHO said as it urged governments to adopt suicide prevention plans to help people cope with stress and to reduce access to suicide means.

A total of 800,000 people die by suicide each year on average, according to the new report.

In the US, health officials are urging tighter gun control measures to limit access to lethal means, while the WHO report cites bans on pesticides people use to poison themselves as key to reductions of suicides by as much as 70 percent.

‘Suicide is a global public health issue. All ages, sexes and regions of the world are affected (and) each loss is one too many,’ the WHO’s report said.

Suicide was the second leading cause of death among young people aged between 15 and 29, after road injury, and among teenage girls aged 15 to 19 it was the second biggest killer after maternal conditions.

In teenage boys, suicide ranked third behind road injury and interpersonal violence.

Overall, close to 800,000 people die by suicide every year – more than are killed by malaria or breast cancer, or by war or homicide, the WHO said.

Global rates have fallen in recent years – with a 9.8 percent decrease between 2010 and 2016 – but declines were patchy. In the WHO’s Americas region, for example, rates rose by 6 percent in between 2010 and 2016.

The report also found that nearly three times as many men as women die by suicide in wealthy countries, in contrast to low- and middle-income countries, where the rates are more equal.

‘Suicides are preventable,’ said the WHO’s director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

‘We call on all countries to incorporate proven suicide prevention strategies into national health and education programs.’

The WHO said restricting access to pesticides was one of the most effective ways of reducing suicide numbers swiftly.

Pesticides are commonly used and usually result in death because they are so toxic, have no antidotes, and are often used in remote areas where there is no nearby medical help.

The WHO pointed to studies in Sri Lanka, where bans on pesticides have led to a 70 percent drop in suicides and an estimated 93,000 lives saved between 1995 and 2015.

In the US, recent research from Ohio State University found that suicide rates have increased by as much as 40 percent since 1999.

People living rural, poor counties or in urban areas with a high density of gun stores have the highest rates and have seen the sharpest increases.

US health experts have have called for better gun control measure to limit the access people with suicidal thoughts have to lethal means, echoing the WHO reports recognition of pesticide bans as an effective way to cut suicide rates. (Reuters)

By Lamin Njie

President Adama Barrow as the singular approving authority of diplomatic passports has instructed a full investigation into the raging diplomatic passport hooha, government spokesperson Ebrima Sankareh said Monday.

President Barrow’s government is trying to dig itself out of a firestorm following the arrest of dozens of people mostly government officials over allegations they go about fraudulently helping individuals hold Gambia diplomatic passport.

The arrested individuals include protocol officers at both the office of the president and the ministry of foreign affairs.

Abubacarr Tambadou became the first top government official to get caught up in the diplomatic passport scandal after letter emerged online on Saturday showing the office of the president approving a request for diplomatic passport to be issued to the justice minister’s wife, mother, step-mother and sisters.

But on Monday, government spokesperson Ebrima Sankareh said in the statement ‘President Adama Barrow as the singular Approving Authority of Diplomatic Passports has instructed a full, swift and comprehensive investigation to break the neck of the criminal cabal bent on tarnishing the good image of The Gambia.’

Mr Sankareh added: “Mr Barrow has made it categorically clear that ‘there will be no sacred cows; no one will be spared in these investigations regardless of one’s position and all those found wanting, will face the full extent of the law.’

“Therefore, conscious of the gravity of the situation and its potential ramifications vis-a-vis The Gambia’s international obligations under UN Security Council Resolutions, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), will soon convene a meeting with members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps to immediately address this and similar pressing issues.”

By Lamin Njie

Ousainou Darboe Saturday slammed President Adama Barrow saying the Gambian leader has mastered his predecessor Yahya Jammeh’s book.

Former President Jammeh is not being remembered by history favourably as his rule was marked human rights violation and corruption on a massive scale.

Barrow replaced Jammeh as president in 2017 after a rowdy election that pushed the country to the brink of war.

Mr Barrow has vowed to be a different leader but a man who served under him as vice president Ousainou Darboe believes the president’s behaviour resembles that of the former president.

“I am not sure we have a new Gambia. Every day, Barrow is taking a leaf from Yahya Jammeh’s book and he has now mastered it,” Mr Darboe speaking to a crowd of supporters in Germany on Saturday in his capacity as leader of UDP said.

He added: “What I am sure of is we have new wine in old bottle. We as Gambians, we as United Democratic Party want new wine in new bottle.

“What we are seeing is that there are signs of tyranny. What we are seeing today is that all those bad habits that prevailed in the past are rearing their heads such as chiefs campaigning and giving assurances to people that the current president will serve for 15 years. That is an abomination. This is what we have fought against.”

By Lamin Njie

#BringMelvilleToJustice has said it has received information Melville Roberts has applied for asylum in the United Kingdom.

Melville Roberts, a top official at the ministry of foreign affairs, is wanted by police over a series of sexual misconduct allegations that have been made against him.

The group that is advocating for him to be punished said in a statement on Friday they have received reliable information that Melville has applied for asylum in the UK “but we are committed to make sure he is sent back to The Gambia to face charges in a court of law.”

The group said: “A couple of weeks ago, we stood up for a cause and started a journey to demand justice for innocent young women who allegedly have been abused and raped by Melville Roberts who used to work for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“Following the revelations against him and the alleged crimes committed as well as alleged history of sexual abuse, the Gambia Government suspended his diplomatic status and ordered him to report back to The Gambia within seven days.

“Melville Roberts has refused to return back to The Gambia to answer to his victims and alleged crimes of rape and sexual assault.

“Since then, we have restlessly, with the help of lawyers, worked with the police and Ministry of Justice to build up a case against him. We also took the further step of contacting all relevant institutions to take up the matter.

“As we write this, the Government of The Gambia, through the Ministry of Justice has revoked his diplomatic immunity and the Ministry has passed on the case to the police for further investigations.

“We have received reliable information that Melville has applied for asylum in the UK but we are committed to make sure he is sent back to The Gambia to face charges in a court of law.

“We have not and will not give up on this fight until we get justice for the young women and other victims of rape and sexual assault in our societies.

“The need to hold Melville accountable is significant for, not only his victims but for the entire society, today and tomorrow.

“Sexual violence remains a present and clear danger to young women in this country. There is a huge cloak of silence on the issue because of deep-seated sociocultural beliefs that continue to disadvantage women in the face of massive violations of their rights and dignity as human beings.

“Hence if we succeed to get Melville Roberts tried in a court of law, it will serve as a warning to all those perpetrators of sexual violence to either stop or face justice someday soon. This will only serve to enhance the protection of girls and women from abuse, it will also promote the bigger issue of equality and empowerment of women and girls in our society.

“This is the basis of our determination to pursue this matter for which we ask all Gambians to also join the crusade to end sexual violence in our society.”

Mr Roberts declined a request by The Fatu Network for him to comment on the issue claiming the outlet has been reporting bogus stories about him.