by Alieu Ceesay

The president of Real De Banjul Football Club has in the strongest terms refuted claims made by some ‘football stakeholders’ that The Gambia Football Federation has spent D1M on the Banjul based and Gambia’s most successful club CAF Champions League Campaign in 2015 whilst refusing to support another Gambia League Champions.

Willy Abraham reacted: “The facts are Real de Banjul as League Champions represented The Gambia in the CAF Champions League preliminary rounds against BYC FC of Liberia in 2015.

The first leg (CL39) was held in Banjul hosted by Real de Banjul. During this period CAF has suspended football matches in Liberia due to the outbreak of Ebola in the country thus BYC was to find an alternative venue for the return leg (CL40).

BYC and CAF communicated to Real de Banjul and the GFF that the match shall take place in Bamako first and later changed the venue to Abidjan which was also cancelled as both venues could not be secured.

In both instances Real de Banjul made arrangements to travel by booking for air tickets, paying deposits for hotels, camping and other match related cost. CAF through the GFF appealed to Real de Banjul to host BYC FC again in Banjul promising to refund our club the extra expenditure incurred due to the two cancellations.”

Clarifying further, the Real De Banjul boss said Real De Banjul duly complied with the CAF request and the return leg (CL40) was played in Banjul and a claim formally sent to CAF accordingly. He said Real De Banjul defeated BYC FC to proceed to the second round of the CAF Champions League and played Entente Sportive de Setif of Algeria.

“Due to delay in receiving the agreed refund from CAF, Real de Banjul asked the GFF to partly finance the cost of the air tickets for our delegation to Algeria. For the records, we would like to categorically state that CAF have paid Real de Banjul and the GFF duly refunded.”

Some stakeholders on Sunday convened a press conference to expressed their dissatisfaction with the way football is being administered by Lamin Kaba Bajo led executive.

The stakeholders as they called themselves alleged the executive of financial mismanagement and poor performance of the Scorpions. The GFF is yet respond.

Describing them as ”so-called stakeholders who do not represent GFF member clubs, Regional Football Associations or Allied Associations”, the unhappy Willy Abraham, said such groups cannot tarnish the good image of Real de Banjul a Club which has been at the forefront of Football Development in the Gambia for over fifty decades.

The former Governor of the Central Bank of The Gambia, Mr Amadou Colley has said that the former President Yahya Jammeh who ruled the country with an iron fist for the past 22 years does  not reason like normal human being.

Governor Colley made these revelations at the commission of inquiry probing into the financial activities of the former President Yahya Jammeh and his close associates at the Djembe Beach Hotel, Kololi.

“We were dealing with a person who does not reason like normal human beings,” Former Governor Amadou Colley said.

Governor Colley who was summoned in respect of the opening of accounts by the Office of the former President at the Central Bank has admitted that the process should have been done by the Ministry of Finance and not the other way round. He confirmed the opening of the Sand Mining Account, the International Gateway Account and Special Project Vision 2016 Account all of which the former president was the sole signatory.

He further confirmed withdrawals made from these accounts by the former Secretary General Sabally, former Military General Saul Badjie, one Lt. General Nuha William Jammeh and Sana Jarju, former Chief of Protocol at the Office of the former President without any documentation.

“How could you allowed soldiers to withdraw $30 Million US Dollars without any signature of the signatory to the account,” Counsel Amie Bensouda asked.

Colley responded that he was not working in a normal situation under the former President Yahya Jammeh.

“I have not meet the president for 3 years,” Colley told the commission. “How would you know he was the one who authorized the withdrawals without his signatures,” Bensouda asked.

The former Central Bank Governor then explained the difficulties he encountered to an extent he wanted to resign but could not as a result of fear. He discussed it with the former Ministers of Finance Mambury Njie, Kebba Touray and Abdou Colley respectively. He added that they too lamented on their frustrations to him.

When the Chairman of the Commission, Surahata Janneh asked what were his fear to resign which he spoke of possible detention or disappearance and safety of his family.

Colley was further quizzed by Lawyer Bensouda about the withdrawals and payments made to soldiers at the Office of the former President.

Colley gave instances where protocol officers and soldiers from the Office of the former President would come to the Central Bank with information that they were directed by the former president to make withdrawals. He said that was the practice before he became the Governor. He said he could not provide evidence from the records.

“This is a fact finding commission and will not accept anything but facts,” Bensouda asserted.

The former Central Bank Governor made scores of revelations about the SMS text messages which he received from General Saul Badjie to withdraw monies under the directives of the former president. He also spoke about the telephone calls he received from Momodou Sabally, former Secretary General to make payments of millions without proper documentation. He said he made the payments with the believed that the proper documentation would be provided later.

Counsel Bensouda asked him about the policy guidelines of the Central Bank to open government accounts.

“There was no policy. I have never seen any policy document,” Former Governor Colley asserted.

He spoke about the Constitution, Central Bank Statutory and Old Banking Manual were used as guides.

Colley admitted that the Accountant General was the authority to request the opening of the government accounts but the proper procedure was not followed in this particular case. He further admitted that the opening of accounts by the Office of the former President was not compliance with the Central Bank Act. He agreed it was not normal.

“We were dealing with a situation at the Central Bank that was not normal,” he disclosed.

Colley earlier said he became Central Bank Governor from 2010 to 2017. He explained the functions of his office as the highest decision making body by chairing board of directors meetings and monetary affairs of country among others. His main function was to ensure financial stability.

Meanwhile, two former Central Bank Deputy Governors in the names of Basiru Njie and Oumie Savage Samba testified before the commission.

Njie who was deputy governor 1 said he spent 25 years at the Central Bank, saying his primary responsibility as deputy governor was to deputised for the governor as well as make sure there is financial stability.

Mrs Samba said she does not know any law that allowed the president to be a signatory to accounts. She spoke about the trying times she encountered at the Central Bank, adding that she was helpless.

“Sometimes I used to blame myself, with all my university education I was still sitting there helpless,” Former Deputy Governor Samba s aid.

She lamented about her helpless situation under the past regime saying she has been in the banking industry since 1984. She spoke about the soldiers and other individuals from office of the former president who used to withdraw cash. She said it was pathetic.

New York, 18 September 2017   
 
President Adama Barrow said The Gambia’s support to Morocco is to promote African solidarity and to improve relations with The Gambia. He made these remarks during a courtesy call by the Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, an envoy of His Majesty, King
Muhammad IV, while attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York.   
 
President Barrow recognized the Moroccan support during the political impasse in The Gambia, which he said was an African problem, addressed using an African solution.  He told the diplomat that The Gambia has turned a new page in its history to bring in new laws that would promote 
equality and justice. Their discussion also emphasized the importance of security in achieving other development goals.  
 
The Gambian leader congratulated the Moroccan Foreign Minister for his appointment and extended his gratitude to the King of Morocco for building a new office complex for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in The Gambia, contributing to the infrastructural development of the country.  He called on Morocco to invest in other areas and concluded that through integration they could understand their mutual concerns and work together to further strengthen their cooperation. Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita thanked President Barrow for the support The Gambia accorded to Morocco in ECOWAS and at other regional and international forums. He also spoke of the deeply rooted relations between the two countries, saying they wish to take it to a higher level at a time when The Gambia is entering a new phase in its political life. 
 
He promised to expand technical and economic cooperation between Morocco and The Gambia. Minister Bourita informed President Barrow that Morocco would continue to provide support and will increase scholarships from its current figure of 40 to 70 in 2018.   
 
The Gambian Foreign Affairs Minister, Honourable Ousainou Darboe said in an interview that the bilateral and multilateral cooperation span various fields.  Minister Darbo elaborated on how Morocco could support the development process currently ongoing in The Gambia particularly 
security reforms, scholarships for training of diplomats and investment opportunities for Moroccan businesses. He emphasised that through robust investments The Gambia could reduce its dependence on aid. Mr. Darboe also revealed that President Barrow will visit the Kingdom of Morocco to further cement ties between the two countries. 
 
End 

Mrs Sira Wally Ndow Njie, former Minister of Petroleum has said that she was helpless towards directives given to her by former President Yahya Jammeh.

The former Petroleum Minister made these revelations at the commission of inquiry probing into the financial activities of the former President Yahya Jammeh and his close associates at the Djembe Beach Hotel, Kololi.

She was summoned in respect to the withdrawals of payments from the Gambia National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) Accounts at the Guaranty Trust Bank.

“I was very helpless,” Former Minister Sira Wally Ndow Njie said.

She added:”I wish I could have said no to him. I have gone through painful situation. Imagine what would happen if I had said no?”

Mrs Ndow Njie who was a co signatory to the GNPC Account at the Guaranty Trust Bank with the former president said she became Minister of Petroleum in 2015. She claimed the former president has instructed her to become a signatory to the account.

She admitted that ministers were not suppose to be signatories to accounts but asked him to channeled it through the Central Bank.

“I was not comfortable so I took a photo of the form before signing it,” she disclosed.

She alleged the former President directed her to signed because he was the minister of petroleum while she was a deputy minister at that time.

There were several withdrawals part of which was $500, 000 US Dollars, 358, 000 US Dollars and 297, 000 US Dollars among others. Some of the money she said was received by Sana Jarju, former Chief of Protocol.

The transaction accounts were admitted and marked as exhibits.

The former Petroleum Minister said she was only aware of the US dollar Account and not the Dalasi account. She mentioned another account at the FIB Bank. But stressed that she never came across the Dalasi Accounts.

When asked by Amie Bensouda, Counsel for the Commission the reason for opening these accounts she said the former president told her that it was for government projects.

She also claimed that some of the withdrawals were made in her absence.

“I made several attempts to not be a signatory but it all failed,” she added.

Mrs Ndow Njie said while she was away many of the transactions were done by Sana Jarju, former Chief of Protocol at the Office of the President.

Meanwhile, the former Petroleum Minister was asked to leave but was told she would be recalled whenever she is needed.

By Omar Wally

Jaliba Kuyateh, one of Gambia’s greatest musicians couldn’t perform hajj this year .The king of Kora left The Gambia for Germany in August for his European tour after which he was to proceed to Saudi Arabia to perform the hajj.

In an interview with The Fatu Network, Jaliba said his flight from Germany to Saudi Arabia was schedule for August 27, but a day before his departure, Germany closed their airport for Hajj flights.

” I wanted to go through Egypt but I know is not ordained by God because when I was leaving, I have everything in tact.”

Jaliba: I have intended to perform Hajj more than five times but its not been possible for now. “ By the grace of God I will perform the Hajj and will do for my late parents too.

They delayed and derailed and fooled Jawara only to destroy him! They exalted him like a god and claimed a Gambia without Jawara was inconceivable. In the end a humble and decent man was trapped in deception such that he could not salvage his people! Then they abandoned him.

It is these same people in the name of party and ‘patriotism’ who transformed a young lieutenant with probably good intentions on July 22 into a monster 22 yeas later. In the end he has to exile himself from his country of birth, abandoned! Where are those gathering at his solidarity marches and festivals? Many of them are around you now! Today some of them are exposing him at the commission.

This time is your turn! Do not seek for praise singers and those who would call you “No Faulter” as they called Jawara. Listen to diverse and divergent and even unpleasant and dissenting voices for your own good and legacy and for the good of the country.

Do not let these sycophants make you believe what you are not. Do not let them make you do what is not right. Do not let them paint you in the colour they wish. Do not let them separate you from the true interests and concerns and aspirations of your people, The Gambians!

Insist on inclusion and accountability and performance. Free yourself from partisan and any other sectarian considerations to which these sycophants would want to confine you. Let them not put you in a box but equally seek independent voices and perspectives to get a good grasp of issues for the good of The Gambia!

Remember! Just like Jawara and Jammeh the day of reckoning shall come.

I love you and wish you success for that is my success too!

God Bless The Gambia.

Madi Jobarteh

By Yunus S Saliu

In spite of arguments that the political impasse hampered the last 2016/2017 winter tourism season in destination Gambia, some stakeholders in the industry still insist that inadequate marketing of the destination culminated to the decline of the arrival of tourists to the country.

Speaking to The Fatu Network, some of the stakeholders said they will continue to blame the authorities for the decrease because they are doing just little or nothing, especially this year, to improve on their past record when it comes to the number of tourists arriving in the country.

For now, “there is no adequate preparation for the season nobody heard anything from the Ministry itself or from the Gambia Tourism Board about the season. All we hear is their endless travels around the world.

According to them, when the season is around the corner just like now, in the middle of September, there is always a sign of good season as indirect information about the number of flight to the destination will be circulating around, with that “it gives hope for a good season.”

Visiting the tourist’s taxi driver park at the Senegambia, the heart of the tourism development area, it was a mix-opinion. The drivers lamented on the poor marketing of the destination which they said is one of the reasons that caused reduction in the number of tourists.

The decline in the number of tourist arrival is a challenge to the tourist’s drivers who referred to themselves as tourism ambassador since they are the people who take tourists around when they arrive the country and as well bid them goodbye when they leave the country.

Waiting for the season to kick off soonest, one of the tourist drivers’ said expectations are still high.

Among their appeals to the government especially the Gambia Tourism Board, is to further intensify marketing the destination for pluralism of tourists to the destination.

By Omar Wally

BLEEDING BLADE a new Gambian feature film on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) written, produced and distributed by Prince Bubacarr Aminata Sankanu, will premiere in The Gambia on September 30, 2017.

The film was shot at Gambia College Brikama Campus, Joboro Attaya Cafe and Tintinto directed by Bakary Sonko.

The film is about a young Gambian girl Sir (played by Ma Awa Barry) who sacrifice against FGM in her community.

The event will be held at the headquarters of GAMCOTRAP the Gambia’s leading civil society organization advocating for an end to FGM. It will then go on a screening tour across all communities in and out of the country where FGM is of concern.

In an interview with The Fatu Network, Prince Sankanu, the producer said he is redirecting the narrative because professional filmmakers have been missing in the FGM debates.

“We have seen countless documentaries and reports about FGM activities but we are yet to see professional cinematic sensitization work on the fight against FGM from the perspectives of the affected young women generation.”

Sankanu said FGM will add value to the on-going sensitization campaign on the relevance of anti-FGM as the practice is now underground. “My film is about generic women empowerment.”

Sankanu, who is inspired by Sembene Ousmane, the father of African cinema MOODALE (2004) film on FGM, revealed that he set himself a target of seeing at least 10 Gambian films made during the course of 2017 as part of his new wave of Gambia filmmaking.

Sankanu: During the reception I organized the Role of Filmmakers in New Gambia at the Rock Garden Apartments in Kerr Serring on February 24, 2017. “I set myself a target of having 10 new Gambia films ready for the 3rd edition of our premier annual Cinekambiya International Film Festival (CIFF) between December 25 & 30,  2017.”

I am humbled that apart from the five that I directly produced, other comrades of the New Gambia cinema have pushed the number above the benchmark of 10 features Sankanu noted.

He said the annual PAN AFRICAN SCREENS AWARD component of the film festival will take place on the December 30 to recognize excellence in filmmaking

By Yunus S Saliu

One of the places in Greater Banjul Area where people cannot access the road freely to their houses when it rain is Tallinding Kunjang and it is also a place where people live in midst of a lot of garbage.

To be explicit, Tallinding Kunjang has only two constructed sub-roads which are Churchill Town to Tallinding Police Station, School Road and Churchill Town to Buffer Zone Road.

In spite of the other roads, Tallinding Kunjang has one road which came direct from the highway of the Tallinding Market and from that Highway junction the road goes straight to the river known as bolong.

The deplorable condition of this road from the highway down to the Farokono riverside in Tallinding Kunjang presently makes pedestrians wobbling in the road when going in and out of the streets. This long road full of mud left and right, potholes and even pits in the middle has no alternative road that the residents of Tallinding Kunjang particularly those at the Farokono can use.

Commercial vehicles – taxis or vans plying the route can hardly travel about 10 electricity poles before their wheels start sinking in the mud.

This road replete with mud and potholes is not only dangerous for the taxis or private vehicles at its present situation but to the residents especially children of 10-years-old and under.

Parents cannot send these children to the nearest kiosk or shop to buy their immediate needs because there is tendency of them sinking in the mud one way or another.

A visit by Fatunetwork to this road and environment has revealed the famous Tallinding Kunjang especially the Farokono side as an eyesore that residents there are living the lives of people in the slum. The residents lamented on the poor condition of this road which was last leveled with red sand and gravel in 2014.

Expressing concern on the condition of the road and the environment is a young woman named Awa Dem as she almost lost her five years old son in the mud. She was there on a visit and hence there was no taxi to go down the road she decided to walk with her little son, her foot slipped and the young lad got inside the mud but quickly saved by bystanders.

Demba, a resident of this area said when it rains the road is dangerous for vehicle driving because no driver can drive smoothly talk less of safely.

He added that the erosion from the main highway which supposed to go direct to ‘bolong’ cannot because there is no drainage or gutter in both side of the road and the houses are also very close to the road.

Modou Cham, in his ordeal, explained that each time a resident comes back from work in the evening they cannot go out till the following morning to avoid falling in the mud.

He disclosed that taxi driver who may want to drive passengers on a town-trip from the highway, normally charge D100 compared to the normal fare of D7.

People in this area are calling for support both financial and in kind to help them remedy the condition of both the road and the environment.

By Omar Wally

Chief Inspector Fakebba Colley, attached to Kotu Police Station Mobile Traffic Unite, on Sunday 10 September committed suicide in Kanbenda village in Casamance, Southern Senegal.

Inspector Foday Conta, spokesman for The Gambia Police Force confirmed the incident saying the late Inspector Colley, was in the Gambia Police Force for over 20 years. “The motive behind him committing suicide is not known, but what I know is that he has some mental issues.”

Inspector Conta, explained that the late Fakebba, took permission from the police that he was going for treatment at his village of Kampasa in Foni Jarrol. ”

He later proceeded to Casamance, where he was receiving local treatment that was when he took his own life.” Police PRO noted that he was buried the same day at his home village in Foni.

By Omar Wally

Due to the increase in the number of young people embarking on the perilous ‘backway’ journey to European countries, Paradise FM in partnership with Deutsche Welle, will hold a town hall discussion to examine the reasons behind the wave of illegal migration.

The event will be held on September 28, 2017, at the University of The Gambia, Faculty of Law Auditorium.

The organizers are of the belief that the event will assist in curbing the growing rate of young people embarking on this journey.

The discussions will take the form of a town-hall and will focus on the causes of illegal migration and its effects on the Gambia as well as a feasible solutions to the increasing problem.

Haruna Drammeh, CEO Paradise FM, said the recent deal sealed between Paradise FM and Deutsche Welle, is about migration dilemma. ” You realize that Gambia is one of the smallest countries in continental Africa, but also has significant number of its young people going through the desert and the high seas to try to go to Europe.”

Haruna noted that it is a concern to Gambians adding that they are very happy to signed the deal with Deutsche Welle, who are also concerned about the lives of the young people, most of whom don’t even make it to Europe.

He explains that the main objective of the Town Hall Discussion is to create exposure to bring the discussion to life.” To get it to the common places that everybody will be able to talk about it but also to exposed the dangers of what could happen to you, if you make the decision to go.”

Sometimes the grass is not even greener on the other side as people expected it to be said Haruna. “So there will be sharing of experiences and expertise by those who have gone and are back now.”

He added that those people will share their experiences during their journey and what happens there. “University of The Gambia was chosen to do the event because we found out that mostly it is young people at University going age who would be going on the journey.”

Haruna noted that the discussion will not end at the auditorium of the University of The Gambia. “We will make sure that it continues as a discussion and other platforms that we have, such as, Paradise FM, it will a continual discussion on it.”

He added that they will continue to sensitize the people who embarked on the journey, interview those who are already in Europe and those who haven’t made it. ” We know some people go as far as, Libya only to return back.”

Haruna: So once you bring all these people together and share their ambitions, dreams and failures as well, then it will be an on going discussion that young people can learn from.

Paradise FM CEO, call on Gambians to come to the Town Hall Discussion and share experiences and learn from others especially young people between the ages of 14-40.

Haruna: The Migration Dilemma has happen in other African countries but this is the first time DW is coming to Gambia adding that we will like their participation to be noticed and seen. ”

We can also challenge the international media about the role that they are playing when it comes to saving the lives of young people who choose to go on the dangerous journey.”

By Fatou Sowe

Momodou O.S Badjie, the former Managing Director of Gambia National Petroleum Corporation GNPC has appeared for the second time before the commission of inquiry probing into the financial activities of former President Jammeh.

He informed the commission that $5, 000, 000 was withdrawn from GNPC account and paid towards the construction of the AU Villas and this happened prior to his appointment as MD.

He said after the summit 30 out of the 52 villas were sold at the tune of $110, 000 each and 18 villas were handed over to Government while 4 were given to GNPC.

According to him, GNPC generated $3,800,000 from the sale of the 30 villas while the outstanding balance of $1, 200, 000 was never recovered, but it was written off base on the approval by the board of Directors.

While commenting on the transactions with regard to monies paid to Jammeh Foundation for Peace JFP and Kanilai Family Farms KFF he said these transactions were made prior to his appointment.

With regard to electrification of the AU Villa, Badjie informed Commissioners that Dabanani had a contract for the electrification of the AU Villa Street lights and the money was paid from GNPC funds. According to him, the sum of $1,595,952 is the outstanding sums PEGEP owed to GNPC.

Mr. Badjie testified that when he was appointed as MD in 2008 he found that former director wrote for the recovery of the money but there was no respond on the situation at that time. He added that since they were not able to recover the debt, he had no choice but to write it off.

Badjie further testified that initially when he was appointed as MD there was no interference with the affairs of GNPC from the office of the president but later in 2013 the interference started and it was after he wrote to the office of the former president soliciting for some of their revenues to be treated as grants.

Government has not given them subvention and all the revenue of the Company (now Corporation) were funds of GNPC. He however acknowledged the fact that the sum of $5,000,000 was given to them by Central Bank for Data Acquisition and not for fuel importation.

Mr. Badjie acknowledge that CBG is still entitled to pursue the loan given to GNPC but he has not seen any document concerning that.

Mr. Ebrima Sallah, Managing Director of Trust Bank Gambia Limited also reappeared before the Janneh Commission and testified about the transactions that were done at the GNPC dollar account with his bank.

Nuha Touray, former Secretary to Cabinet also reappeared before the Commission for the third time in connection to a $2 million cash withdrawal he made at the GNPC account at Skye Bank.

He revealed that the bank couldn’t assemble the sum of $2,000,000 which was requested by the signatories to the account, Momodou Sabally and ex-President Jammeh but Jammeh threatened to close the account if they fail to produce the sum requested.

However, he said he did not know the purpose of the money. Commission sittings will resume on Monday.

By Omar Wally

President Adama Barrow, today laid the foundation stone of a modern International Conference Center (ICC) in Bijilo. The 50 million dollar project is bankrolled by The People Republic of China.

The Center, when fully operational, will provide seating capacity of about 1000 conference participants. It will house 4 thematic conference halls with 200 seating capacity, 1 VIP holding room, 4 Press rooms, 14 meeting rooms, offices, banquet halls and other supporting rooms.

Speaking at the event, President Barrow said the project marks another significant milestone in their collective drive to transform and modernize The Gambia in line with the philosophy and dictates of the “new Gambia”.

The Gambian leader explains that the center will be able to attract and host sub-regional, regional, and international conferences. The hosting of such conferences, Barrow added will not only create avenues for important decision makers to visit the country, but will also create vast opportunities for youth employment and create markets for our tourism industry among others.

“It is symbolic of a new era of potential opportunities, prosperity, greater freedom and dignity for our people.”

Barrow said the construction of the conference center is expected to last two years, and shall be jointly undertaken by a contractor and consultant firms from the People’s Republic of China.

“They will be assisted by our local engineers and technicians throughout the duration of the project.”

Barrow: The friendship and cooperation between two countries is not only growing stronger within the framework of South South cooperation but more importantly it is a strategic partnership based on mutual respect and common interest.

He noted that The Gambia is committed to provide a conducive environment for our Chinese guests, to operate with adequate safety and security. “We will waive taxes and duties and accord priority to ensure that the construction works are unhindered.”