Seedy Njie has called for the resignation of the president of the Gambia Bar Association.

The Gambia Bar Association president Rachael Mendy on Sunday sparked off controversy over her statement that President Barrow Youths for National Development was set up on one person’s agenda.

Former information minister Seedy Njie on Tuesday joined at least one senior Gambia government official Hamat Bah who have frowned at the Bar Association.

Njie said in a statement made available to The Fatu Network: “The statement of the Gambia Bar Association President on the occasion of the legal year with regard to President Barrow Youth for National Development, a registered organisation operating and exercising their fundamental rights guaranteed under a democratic and constitutional dispensation is ill-advised, politically motivated and a direct affront to the presidency of the Republic. Mrs Racheal Mendy’s statement is political and premeditated to settle a political score with the organisation on behalf of a political party and a total disregard to the fundamental law of the land enshrined in Section 25 subsection 1 a, b, c, d and e of the 1997 constitution which guaranteed citizens of their rights to association including political party and of religion as well as her disrespect and lack of regard for human rights, freedom of association and expression needed in a democratic society.

“The Gambia Bar Association was expected to reassure Gambian that it will always protect their liberties and democratic rights in accordance with the constitution but not to clamp down on rights of citizenry, dictatorial and anti human rights. Her argument that it can divide the youths is absurd and bogus as there are thousands of youth organisation including charitable, non political like the one she mentioned , political etc. in the country since creation and do not right her position.

“Racheal Mendy who can best be described as holding brief for a political party and of recent we heard a political party singing same statement which she echoed indeed brought embarrassment to the reputable Bar and raised lot of questions about her person which put the Gambia Bar Association in disrepute and a cause for concern especially her attempt to denied Gambians of their fundamental rights to belong and or association.

“Gambians awaits the resignation of Mrs Mendy from the Bar Association as she clearly put the body in disrepute . All Gambians acknowledged the gains on democracy and good governance accorded to citizenry by the current government and President Barrow’s personal resolved and commitment to rule of law, respect for fundamental rights and the independent of the judiciary.

“The very cloud of freedom of expression platform she stood, in the present of the Chief Protector of citizens right which is the president and to attack him directly without any fear of any actions even whereas her actions contradicted the values and principles of her organisation clearly demonstrate the gains on rule of law by the current government. That statement I’m sure do not represent the views of most members if not all of the bar. It is worth noting that people should make good use of the freedom and liberties guaranteed by the constitution without dishonesty and biassness.

“The TRRC, the commission of inquiry as established by law and constituted by the president is ongoing and as president of the Bar Association, she is expected to advocate for the observance of due process not to recommend for action against people who may have been mentioned disregarding the principle of innocent until proven guilty doctrine and conclusion of findings and recommendation to the president as per the provisions of section 203 and 204 of the 1997 constitution .”

By Mammy Saidykhan

Tourism Minister Hamat Bah has lashed out at the Gambia Bar Association over recent remarks the legal practitioners’ group made against President Barrow Youths for National Development.

Gambia Bar Association president Rachael Mendy at the weekend said the movement was set up to drive one person’s agenda, President Barrow.

Mr Bah, speaking at a press conference held by his National Reconciliation Party on Tuesday, wondered why an association that is formed to defend the constitution was engaging in self-contradiction.

Bah said: “Disappointingly enough we heard from the President of the Bar Association on Sunday raising about the creation of youth movements in the country, knowing fully well [what] the constitution spelled out in chapter 4, Section 25.

“We bring the following questions to the Bar association, are they neglecting their responsibilities as provided in the constitution that as a body they are expected to defend and protect the provisions of the supreme law of the land as judiciary officers…?

“Are they neglecting that responsibility and now being partisan for the simple reason that a political party or a member of a political party has raised concerns about the Barrow Youth Movement?

“We want answers from the Bar association. We are concerned as citizens of this country, to tell the Gambian people if they are partisan, if they now decided to be a part of the political divide. We need to know.”

By Lamin Njie

The Gambia Bar Association has said that President Barrow Youth for National Development was set up based on personal agenda.

PBYND was set up in 2018 in controversial circumstances to promote the agenda of President Barrow. The group continues to be frowned at particularly from within political quarters.

The president of the Gambia Bar Association Rachael Mendy speaking at the official opening of the 2019 legal year said the association has “to remain strong and must continue to serve the judiciary in particular and the public in general faithfully.”

“As an instrument within the judicial system, the association will step up its contribution towards the country’s growth and development that will engender peace and national unity,” she said

“It is for this reason that we are opposed to the action taken recently to resuscitate the establishment of a youth movement based on a personal agenda.  Such action can only result in the perpetuation of disunity among the youth who should now be encouraged to work in harmony in credible social activities.”

According to the GBA president, the opening of the legal year does not only afford Gambians an opportunity to review the situation of their judiciary and judicial system during the past years, but “also to chart the way forward for this year; for the legal profession and the administration of justice in the country.”

“The paramount quest of the Bar Association has been, and will always be, for the Constitution and its provisions in regard to the rights and freedom of the citizen to be upheld and be regarded by all authority as sacrosanct; for the rule of law to be observed by all, and the independence of the Judiciary respected. In our opinion, the independence of the Judiciary is an issue, which is so important and critical to our progress as a nation that it requires to be given constant attention,” she said.

By Lamin Njie

Hamat Bah during a press conference on Tuesday accused a Kerr Fatou journalist of asking a ‘bogus’ question about President Adama Barrow’s financial dealings.

Coalition stakeholder National Reconciliation Party on Tuesday held a press conference at its bureau in Westfield, the first time since its congress last year.

And the theatrical NRP leader who is also President Barrow’s tourism minister was in combative mood after Mustapha Darboe asked if it was appropriate for an elected public official to be taking money from people “he is not disclosing who may in fact be terrorists”.

“My friend, my friend Mustapha I think to be honest you have an agenda. And I know you very well more than anybody here. You have an agenda. You want to insinuate that the monies that are given to the President are from terrorists? You have an agenda because what you are saying is bogus, it’s not based on anything. You are just saying your own wish,” Bah, interrupting the reporter, said.

By Lamin Njie

The leader of Gambia Action Party has said that homosexuality contradicts both religion and humanity.

Musa Yali Batchilly stated this at the weekend during a press conference held by the party.

“Gays and lesbianism are now rampant in the world and even in the Gambia. A GAP government cannot tolerate gays, [in] the territorial jurisdiction of the nation, in this part of the world, Gambia. It is considered inhuman and unreligious,”

The Gambia is part of countries in Africa where same-sex relationships are not allowed.

The country passed a new law in August 2014 imposing harsher sentences which include life sentences for some homosexual acts. It marked a departure from a previous law which made homosexual acts already punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

Former President Yahya Jammeh had called homosexuals vermins and had called for their complete extermination.

By Omar Bah, Standard Newspaper

The United Democratic Party’s deputy administrative secretary, Alhagie S. Darboe has said that the National Development Plan NDP is not the only agenda of President Barrow adding that Barrow has his own political agenda. Speaking at a rally in Gunjur Saturday, Darboe who is also the national assembly member for Brikama North said:

“There is too much noise in this country about the UDP and the person who caused all these unnecessary noise is our own son President Adama Barrow and it is only him who can end this distraction by doing what he is supposed to do. I told him that he is a transitional president and that he should remove himself from politics and focus on the issues that brought him to office”.

The NAM for Brikama North called on all UDP supporters to attend meetings that are meant only for national development and not meetings that are political. ”We have been seeing meetings here and there which are political. We know what is a developmental and a political agenda. We want to tell the president to carry on with his development plan and drop his political ambition,” he warned.

Alhagie Darboe also warned that his party will consider President Barrow an ‘enemy’ if he continues to back his Youth Movement because that group sees the UDP as an enemy and as such anyone who supports it including Barrow will be considered as an enemy of the UDP.

He went on to reveal that although the president has always said that his relationship with the vice president and leader of the UDP Ousainu Darboe is good, it is clear that his relations with the UDP is not good because there is a group associated with him who sees the UDP as their worst enemy and he is fully supporting it. Today even the APRC is not seen as much of our enemy as that group and if Barrow continues to be behind that group then we will begin to see him too as our enemy,” he warned.

Alhagie Darbo advised Barrow to recognise the fact that he comes from the UDP and should not allow anything to come between him and the party. ”He should be mindful of those who are telling him the UDP is this and that,” he added. Mr Darboe said those who are between the UDP and Barrow trying to separate them should keep their mouths shut because they cannot teach the UDP how to help Barrow. “We know the power we hold in the government and nobody can tell us what to do”, he said.

He said the UDP can never hate Barrow adding that nobody can take ownership of the Coalition government and those who hold positions in the UDP should know that they are operating under the party’s principles.

However the party leader, Ousainu Darboe took a rather more conciliatory tone. “I will want to promise President Barrow that the UDP is behind him to ensure that the national development plan is achieved. We are behind him inch and inch and anybody who wants to be an obstacle to the progress of the NDP will be dealt with because the UDP will not sit and watch his intentions for this country go in vain”, he said.

The UDP leader further stressed that nothing can stop the party from forming the next government or at least influenc it. ”There may be new parties coming and it is possible that there will be a coalition but I want to call on the young people of the party to ensure that the UDP have more than 52% of the votes in 2021. That should be our target and we should start working towards that now so that the issue of a coalition don’t arise”, he said.

Without giving names the UDP leader said there are parties whose congresses lasted barely one hour adding that a party whose membership is not even more than the Gambia Red Cross Society is not a serious political party. “Let us tell one another the truth. The UDP does not underrate any political party but no political party should underrate us,” he concluded. (Standard newspaper)

The US Embassy in Ghana will from today, Monday, suspend the issuance of all new visas for domestic employees of Ghanaian Diplomats hosted in the US.

The Embassy would also limit the normal five-year validity period and a number of entries on Tourist and Business visas for all Ghanaian Executive and Legislative branch employees, their spouses and children under age 21, to single entry visas valid for only one month.

This has become necessary following what the United States says is the government of Ghana’s failure to accept about 7,000 Ghanaians earmarked for deportation from the US.

The US government’s statement that announced the restrictions warned that Ghana will faced more sanctions if the government’s posture does not change.

“Without an appropriate response from Ghana, the scope of these sanctions may be expanded to a wider population. The sanctions will remain in place until the Secretary of Homeland Security notifies Secretary Pompeo that cooperation on removals has improved to an acceptable level.”

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has refuted claims by the United States of America government that it is not cooperating on the deportation of Ghanaians from the US, which has led to visa sanctions being placed on some Ghanaian citizens.

In the government’s first official response on the matter, it expressed concern and disappointment with the development and said such allegations were “unfounded.”

The ministry also said, “the sanctions imposed on Ghana are without any justification whatsoever.”

It held that it had “always cooperated with the US authorities in the processing and removal of Ghanaian citizens who have been cited for deportation.”

Background

Indications from as far back as 2017 indicated that 7,000 Ghanaians were facing deportation.

The then-US Ambassador to Ghana, Robert P. Jackson, said the 7,000 were guilty of various immigration offences and had abused the terms of their visas.

At the time, he said the Ghanaians were at different stages of the deportation process.

But the government said it did not want to rush the process and wanted to thoroughly vet the said deportees.

The government was at the time also concerned with reports of the ill-treatment of Ghanaians deported by the US government.

Robert Jackson was invited by the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament to give clarity on reported ill-treatment of deportees.

There were reports that a batch of deportees in 2017 were handcuffed and forced aboard the plane to Ghana, though the US Embassy denied that any inhumane treatment took place.

Ghana’s Ambassador to the US, Dr. Barfuor Adjei-Bawuah, had also suggested that he was under pressure from US authorities to sanction the deportation of Ghanaians.

Those revelations came amid accusations that the US was trying to bully Ghana by threatening visa restrictions.

Robert Jackson retorted that the US was only seeking to enforce its immigration rules and not to threaten Ghana with visa restrictions.

He said the US just wanted the government to speed up the process for issuing travel documents to the Ghanaians scheduled for deportation. (GhanaWeb)

Staff at Labranda Coral Beach Resort and Spa on Monday staged an unprecedented protest against the management of the hotel over alleged unlawful sacking of workers.

An aggrieved staff confirming the strike to The Fatu Network on Monday said it is in response to the ‘unlawful termination of workers’ contracts and poor welfare.’

“This protest is to show our frustration against the management. The management of this hotel doesn’t care about workers’ welfare. The salary is poor and there is no job security,” he said.

Labranda Coral Beach Resort and Spa, formerly Sheraton Hotel, is located at Brufut Heights.

By Mammy Saidykhan

The leader of Gambia Action Party has said that his party has come to save The Gambia.

The newest political party in The Gambia, GAP, on Sunday held a press conference at QCity where it brought journalists to speed with regard to its plans.

Party leader Musa Yali Batchilly told journalists that The Gambia since independence has been drifting dangerously and that Gambians have been victims of “propaganda, lip service and empty promises”.

“Our hopes have been shattered and our meagre national resources have been wasted,” he said.

“Time has actually come for us to put hearts and minds together, use all legitimate means at the disposal and do whatever it takes to save our beloved country from sinking any further. Better changes must be made now and not later.”

Plans

The Gambia as a state has not been economically viable as it ought to be, our country has not only been plunged into foreign debts but also large-scale youth unemployment, poverty, socioeconomic [problems] and insecurity, Batchilly speaking on the economy of the country said.

“GAP shall enhance economic growth that will better the lived of Gambians as the party is cognizant of the fact that, economic growth is among the most effective element for reducing and eradicating poverty and improving the livelihood of all people,” he said.

On the healthcare sector, the GAP leader said the party “shall comprehensively transform our country’s health and medical doctors to ensure efficient service delivery.”

GAP will make sure that drugs and medication storage facilities are decentralized and medical stores will be established in all health centers, he added.

On rights, he said “this is a party of equality that believes in granting human Rights and freedoms.”

“We shall build a society of equal and also include the people in decision making,” he said.

By Lamin Njie

President Adama Barrow has been harshly criticized for comparing former president Yahya Jammeh 22 years rule to South Africa’s apartheid.

President Barrow had reportedly said in a GRTS exclusive that rainbow nation South Africa’s apartheid is ‘more painful’ than Jammeh’s two decades dictatorship. His comments have angered a section of Gambians among them some victims of Jammeh.

Germany-based Gambian Musa Bala Darboe in an open letter on Facebook on Monday said he was ‘disgusted’ that the President was playing their pains down.

“This is the highest of insensitivity. How much is painful to those who lost their family, friends and loved ones in the most brutal manners?,” Darboe said.

Darboe who is married to the daughter of the murdered UDP youth leader Solo Sandeng said he forgives the President’s ‘ignorance’ “but I must educate you on the cases you have compared our 22 years of brutality with.”

He said: “Firstly, the apartheid in South Africa was racial problem. The colonial white occupation against the indigenous black Africans. However, both sides committed gross human rights violations.

“Secondly, the Sierra Leone war has experienced the involvement of all fractions in gross human rights violations. Just like South Africa, more than 50% of the population were taking part in the senselessness. In The Gambia, less than 1% of the population committed the brutality for damn 22years.

“Mr., no lost of life is more painful than the other. For you to say South Africa and Sierra Leone brutalities were more painful than ours shows how necessary your impeachment has became.”

Plain-spoken US-based Gambian political commentator Coach-Pasamba Jow chipping in said “President Barrow has become a big disappointment.”

“His actions have demonstratively shown a man who has become overly insensitive to plight of the victims of Jammeh’s rule. If Barrow has his way, not a single perpetrator of these gross violations of rights will be held to account. Gambians must open their eyes to this travesty,” Jow commented on Darboe’s Facebook post.

Another Gambian, Citizen Jarju, said: “I listened to him and I can read the level of joy and satisfaction in him face, it shows you the guy has no damn care about victims. Left with him, all these commissions will stop. He doesn’t care about them anymore. Truth and justice leads to reconciliation. This guy has no sympathy. He heard South Africa and apartheid but he has not read any literature about that conflict. He was just insulting the victims.”

By Lamin Njie

Ousainou Darboe has said that nothing will stop the United Democratic Party from forming the next government.

The UDP leader stated this on Saturday while declaring open the party’s national youth congress. The United Democratic Party youth wing on Saturday held a congress in Gunjur, Kombo South to pick a new national executive.

Mr Darboe said: “Nothing will stop the UDP from forming the next government or at least from influencing the next government. Well, wrestlers are getting many and it’s possible coalitions will be formed. But to you UDP youths, I want to task you…

“There will be women’s congress too because the party belongs to the youths and women. UDP’s target is not 51 percent, more than 51 percent. That should be UDP’s target for the next election and you have to start working for that now.”

Justice Minister Abubacarr Tambadou has called on Gambians on social media to play a more responsible role in the country’s rebuilding process.

Tambadou gave the call in Banjul on Sunday during the opening of the 2019 legal year.

He said: “It is an honour and privilege to serve one’s country and democracy gives you no right to insult or abuse those who do or their parents. It is unacceptable even by the standards of our own cultural norms and values.

“We welcome criticism because it makes us provide better service to you and it is unavoidable in public office, but criticism can and should be constructive and healthy.

“If we do not stop the unjustified personal and disparaging attacks on those holding public office, we risk depriving our country of its fullest potential. I say this because I have had instances when I have approached some competent, decent and honest individuals for work, and after consulting with their families, they turned down the offers simply because they felt that working in public office in The Gambia these days exposes them and their family members to disrespect and unnecessary ridicule on social media. So this has to stop!”

There are palpable fears in Japan of an imminent earthquake following the recent sightings of a rare serpent-like sea creature which in Japanese tradition is thought to be a harbinger of natural disasters.

“This is no doubt evidence of a precursor to an earthquake,” wrote one Twitter user following two separate discoveries of “oarfish” off the north-coast prefecture of Toyama earlier this week.

“And if it is in the Nankai Trough, it might be a huge quake,” they said, according to the South China Morning Post.

Photos posted on Instagram showed one of the two deep-sea dwellers — which reportedly measured 10.5 and 13 feet, respectively.

One was found on the shore of Toyama Bay and the other got caught in a fishing net near the port of Imizu. According to Japanese legend, the fish will purposely rise to the surface and beach themselves whenever they believe trouble’s on the way.

Residents have reported their presence before the arrivals of tsunamis and earthquakes in the past — including the 2011 Fukushima quake.

However, experts have said not to worry.

“The link to reports of seismic activity goes back many, many years, but there is no scientific evidence of a connection so I don’t think people need to worry,” explained Hiroyuki Motomura, a professor of ichthyology at Kagoshima University who spoke to the Morning Post.

“I believe these fish tend to rise to the surface when their physical condition is poor, rising on water currents, which is why they are so often dead when they are found,” he said.

Still, the sightings weren’t sitting so well with social media users this week.

“What is going on under Toyama Bay?” tweeted one concerned Japanese resident.

“Is something happening deep in the sea?” another asked.

Many on Japan’s 5-Channel chat site were reportedly referring to the oarfish — which translates to “Messenger from the Sea God’s Palace” — as a “warning” sign.

“There is no scientific evidence at all for the theory that oarfish appear around big quakes. But we cannot 100 percent deny the possibility.

“It could be that global warming might have an impact on the appearance of oarfish or a reason we’re just not aware of,” Uozu Aquarium keeper Kazusa Saiba, said while speaking to CNN. (Vanguard)

By Lamin Njie

Former Interior Minister MA Bah has said that President Adama Barrow has a right to seek another term in office.

Mr Bah speaking to Star FM in an exclusive interview said it is up to President Barrow to seek re-election in 2021.

“He has the right. He’s a Gambian. He has every right if he wants to go for a second term. [It] is up to him,” Bah, a former army general, said.

Bah who is also a former deputy leader of opposition APRC also told Star FM “Barrow is my president, [he] is our president.”

“I must say this here clearly that I support Barrow 100 percent. He’s my president. I have nothing to do other than to support the president and his agenda for national development,” he said.

Clive Swift has died aged 82.

The actor died on Friday morning after a short illness, a representative confirmed.

Best known for playing the long suffering Richard Bucket in BBC series Keeping Up Appearances, Clive graced our screens from 1971 to 2017.

The classically trained actor’s first appearance on the small screen came in the BBC adaptation of The Barchester Chronicles. In December 2007 he starred in a Doctor Who Christmas special as Mr Copper alongside Kylie Minogue.

His final screen outing came in 2017, starring as Felix Hope in Midsomer Murders. Swift also played the adoptive father of King Arthur in John Boorman’s 1981 film Excalibur.

He was married to novelist Margaret Drabble between 1960 and 1975 and father to daughter Rebecca, who died in April 2017, Adam, an academic and Joe Swift, a TV gardener.

Known for versatility in his decade-spanning career, Swift’s most famous role was starring alongside opposite Patricia Routledge in much-loved sitcom Keeping Up Appearances.

Speaking about how he approached the role of hen-pecked husband Richard, Swift said: “The first thing I decided was if Richard was a really meek and submissive person, in a way there was no conflict.

“Because he’d be just a bit of fluff for Hyacinth. So the first thing I had to do, as far as the writer allowed me, was to fight back – to protest. I know I used to lose 98 per cent of the time and there was no conflict really but I had to put up a show or otherwise it’s simply not interesting.”

The talented actor was an original member of the Royal Shakespeare Company before finding fame on TV where he became a familiar face to millions.

Richard said: “I could walk the street unrecognised, but all that changed with Keeping Up Appearances… That show is the only proper money I’ve earned, because it was a global success and it’s given me a good pension that I might never have had.”

The classic sitcom became one of the BBC’s biggest exports of the last four decades – purchased 992 times by stations around the world – cropping up in countries from Australia to Nigeria.

Asked to explained the show’s enormous success, creator Roy Clarke said: “Perhaps our very Britishness is something they can have a good laugh at. Let’s be fair, we’re not beyond a chuckle at what we see as their national oddities.”

The BBC paid tribute to Swift after it was revealed that he had passed away on Friday.

Shane Allen, controller of BBC Comedy, said in a statement: “Clive was a very highly regarded character actor with a long and distinguished career. His role as Richard Bucket brought huge audiences and great affection in one of the all-time classic sitcoms. Thoughts are with close friends and loved ones at this sad time.” (Mirror)

By State House Media

Her Excellency, First lady Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow on Friday called for concerted efforts from all and sundry in the fight against the deadly disease, Meningitis.

The First Lady made the remarks as she presided over the launching of the Catch-up Meningitis A vaccine and immunization campaign, which was held at the Governor’s Residence in Brikama, West Coast Region.

The Meningitis A campaign seeks to increase the levels of national immunity among people under twenty-nine years of age, who are the most vulnerable groups of society. The nationwide campaign will last for a period of 7days.

First Lady Barrow in her statement lamented the devastating consequences of Meningitis on communities, families, and individuals while hailing the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare for including Meningitis A vaccination in the list of thirteen vaccines that children benefit from.

“With such a positive step, I am confident that the government will continue to provide necessary political will and support, in ensuring that we stand firmly by our partners for further progress and development in the area of health.” She added.

The First Lady urged parents and caregivers to take advantage of the campaign to ensure that all children aged from one to seven years are vaccinated against the disease.

The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Isatou Touray called on parents and caregivers to grab the opportunity the government has provided and get the children vaccinated.

Other speakers including the UNICEF country representative stressed the importance of the campaign while calling on the participation of all and sundry.

The First Lady administered the first vaccination and declared the campaign launched.

By Lamin Njie

President Adama Barrow has said that it is every Gambian’s responsibility to shun divisive politics and tactics.

The President stated this on Saturday while presiding over the 11th convocation ceremony of the University of The Gambia. Over 600 students on Saturday converged at QCity to take part in the graduation ceremony which officially marked the end of their academic odyssey at the country’s biggest learning institute.

President Barrow speaking at the event said he believed the overall goal of acquiring a degree is to help transform society using the knowledge and skills acquired from university education.

“Therefore, the burning question in the hearts and minds of all graduands today should be, ‘What constructive change will I bring to this Nation and the world at large now that I have earned this new qualification?’,” the president said.

“You are no doubt the potential experts, future leaders and next generation of solution providers in various aspects of national life.  I therefore challenge you individually and collectively to do everything possible to contribute your quota in building a strong nation that can stand high and be proud among the community of Nations.”

Saturday’s convocation ceremony was themed, ‘Citizen Participation in Nation Building in The New Gambia.’ The president said it “simply means a constructive process of engaging all citizens in building social cohesion, economic prosperity, and political stability in an inclusive and democratic way.”

“Government and its structures and all citizens have a stake in and a duty to actively and effectively participate and improve the process of nation building. In other words, all hands must be on deck to bring about the desired changes,” Mr Barrow said.

Speaking further, President Barrow the moment was also a good time that Gambians remind themselves of their collective responsibilities.

“We must defend our hard earned democracy.  As citizen we must have that strong spirit of nationalism and citizenship, love and defend our country and sacrifice personal interests for the common good at all times,” the president said.

“In short, it is the responsibility of every Gambian in the New Gambia to: respect, support and defend the Constitution and its ideals; promote, participate in and defend democratic processes; respect the rights, beliefs and opinions of others and to live in unity and harmony; render selfless national service when and where required; participate fully in local community activities and issues with a view to improving    people’s well-being; work conscientiously in whatever position we find ourselves and give necessary support to government institutions and agencies in the maintenance of law and order, peace and stability; sustain our hard earned democracy by holding government accountable to protect and preserve common wealth and public properties; and shun divisive politics and tactics and respect the country’s economic policies, avoid all acts of sabotage and dishonesty; and pay our taxes and support government execute its programmes.”

The United States has imposed visa restrictions on Ghana following the government’s refusal to accept Ghanaian nationals deported from the US back into the country.

“Ghana has failed to live up to its obligations under international law to accept the return of its nationals ordered removed from the United States,” Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said in the statement on Thursday.

“The United States routinely cooperates with foreign governments in documenting and accepting US citizens when asked, as appropriate, as do the majority of countries in the world, but Ghana has failed to do so in this case.”

Nielsen said the Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had instructed consular officers in Ghana to stop issuing some categories of visas to applicants.

The DHS statement did not specify the categories of applicants affected by the sanctions.

Without an appropriate response from the Ghanaian government, the visa restrictions could extend to a broader population.

“We hope the Ghanaian government will work with us to reconcile these deficiencies quickly,” Nielsen said.

CNN was not immediately able to reach the Ghanaian government for comment.

Three hundred and seven people from Ghana were slated for deportation from the United States in 2017; another 243 Ghanaian nationals were due to be repatriated last year, according to a report released by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Countries with visa sanctions had higher deportation rates when compared to previous years, the report said.

The United States imposed similar sanctions on Eritrea, Guinea, and Sierra Leone in 2017. (CNN)