Pa Ousman Darboe was a senior reporter at the Daily Observer. He claimed to have been an eyewitness to the arrest and subsequent disappearance of journalist colleague Ebrima ‘Chief’ Manneh on 7th July 2006. In this edition of Bantaba, Mr Darboe who has since relocated to the US with his family and was on a recent holiday in Banjul, talks with Standard editor Talibeh Hydara about the fate of ‘Chief’ Manneh and related matters.

Talibeh Hydara: How close were you to Chief Manneh?

 
We were very very close. We started working at Daily Observer in 1998 as freelance reporters. From there, we were promoted as staff reporters and Chief Manneh was one of our investigative reporters. He was always at the police headquarters getting information. We spent weekends together. Later, I was promoted as news editor while Chief became sub-editor. We had a very cordial relationship.

The circumstances surrounding his arrest and eventual disappearance were not known to the public. What really led to his arrest?

It was a publication that we got from the BBC website. The story was about the democratisation process that was supposed to be discussed during a meeting by Foreign ministers and West African leaders in Banjul. So at the time of this conference, the Gambia Government under President Jammeh was known as a government that doesn’t respect the basic fundamental rights of the people and the media has been a target. So Chief downloaded this article and it made mention of Jammeh, who was the host of this meeting and came to power through a coup. This story was printed in the Observer but it was never made public because we knew the article would not go down well with the then managing director, Dr Saja Taal. We took this printed copy and kept it in the store so nobody would access it. One day, I was here [the former Observer now Standard offices] when Dr Taal confronted me, saying he was fired three times by Jammeh and he wouldn’t allow it to happen again. He showed me the printed copy of that story we kept in the store and he said [reporter] Pa Malick Faye told him it was Chief Manneh who downloaded it. Saja said Jammeh is the owner of Observer and that the paper should only promote the Jammeh government. Saja called Lamin Saine, who was one of the directors at NIA and [later Nominated National Assembly Member], we were sitting here on July 7, when two plainclothes officers came. One was Corporal Sey who used to work at the Major Crimes Unit at the police headquarters. I asked him what they wanted and he told me they came for Chief Manneh. I asked for what, they said for questioning at Bakau Police Station. We advised Chief to go with somebody but he said he would be fine because he also knows Sey. We told him to keep his phone on because we would be calling to check on him but the moment he reached Bakau Police Station, his phone went off. We tried calling him the whole day but we couldn’t reach him. His bag was even here.

Did you go to Bakau Police Station to try to see him?

 
Yes, we went straight to the Bakau Police Station but they told us Chief was taken to the NIA in Banjul. We tried to talk to the NIA but they refused to give us any clear information about his whereabouts. They denied he was with them because that was the routine then. When they arrest journalists, they would always say they didn’t. We then returned and wrote an article about his arrest but Saja Taal refused to publish it.

You wrote an article about the disappearance of your colleague and your MD refused to publish it?
Yes, he refused to publish it so we sent it to Foroyaa and The Point who broke the news.

What happened afterwards?

 
Three months later, a senior officer, who is still in service [name withheld], informed me that Chief was at Sibanor Police Station. The OC at the station admitted that Chief was there for three days but was transferred to Gunjur. We went to Gunjur and fortunately I found there a police officer who was a friend of mine before he joined the service. He told me he was there but they took him away. I asked him to where but he said he had no idea. So I called the prosecution officer at the time and he said probably they might have taken him to the Mile 2 or the NIA.

What did you know about his family’s efforts in the wake of his disappearance?

 
Chief’s dad and his brother came to the Observer to find out about him. I took them to Dr Taal and he was very upset. He started screaming, hitting the table and asked them to leave. They refused to leave and demanded to know the whereabouts of Chief because he was working under him. It was a big argument but Dr Taal called the security to send them away.

What other efforts did they make to locate him?

 
They returned a few days later for the same issue but no clear information was given to them. So the father decided to try and see the vice president about it but again, nothing happened about it. He even went to the police headquarters.

How long did it take for you to hear about him again?

 
It was after 7 months, when Yaya Dampha, a Foroyaa reporter, was on a tour with the Amnesty International staff when they spotted Chief in Fatoto around 2:30pm to 3:00pm. They asked about him but the police denied he was there. They told the police that indeed they saw him and insisted on accessing him but they were arrested and detained for three days.

What other efforts were you aware of?

 
The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) headed by Professor Kwame Karikari sued The Gambia government at the Ecowas court in Nigeria.

That was seven months after he was picked up?

 
Yes after seven months but the case was going on and off. The Gambia government was served but because it is an international court, sittings were not like regular courts; it takes some years. It was not until 2007, when I received a call from a colleague of mine in Dakar [Sheriff Bojang Jnr] about Media Foundation’s interest in having me testify because I was the only witness who was ready to talk. Prior to that, I spoke about Chief’s arrest at a symposium which was reported on the BBC and the following day Dr Taal confronted me about it. I told him I spoke there in my personal capacity not a representative of Observer. I feel that a colleague was taken and tomorrow it could be me. So we need to stand to defend him to make sure that the government is accountable.

Was there any effort by Observer management itself to locate Chief Manneh?

 
No, nothing absolutely. I was the only one trying to make sure that Chief was located. But whenever I get any information, I would go to Dr Taal because he later told me he couldn’t sleep at night when he thinks about Chief’s fate.

Okay what did you do when Media Foundation contacted you?

 
They were ready to make arrangements for me to go. I was reluctant at first but on second thought, I said if I didn’t stand for Chief Manneh who would. I knew it would be hard for me to leave this country because I was working under the President’s Office. [MFWA] used a strategy to sneak me out and we discussed the case. I told them I was concerned about my wife and my twins and I could not leave them behind. Then they were taken to Dakar while I headed for Nigeria. I testified but there was no cross-examination because the [Gambia] government refused to send a representative.

When you stood in that witness stand, what did you tell the court and how relevant was your testimony?
I gave them the name of one person who arrested Chief Manneh and I also went with the printed copy of the said article which was tendered.

But the government was still in denial. In fact, some top officials claimed that Chief was America. What is your take on that?

 
The then justice minister Edu Gomez said Chief Manneh was not dead. The IGP also said he was believed to be somewhere in the US. This is a lie. It was Lamin Manneh, his brother, who was in the United States. They misunderstood everything. Yaya Dampha too, the Foroyaa reporter, also testified.

So when you testified, did you return to The Gambia?

 
No. I did not return because they already declared me wanted after my testimony. I went to Ghana and I worked for Media Foundation for West Africa. Then my family was in Dakar. After four months, they joined me in Ghana. I went through the International Foundation for Migration and my family and I were relocated to US.

So what was the Ecowas judgement?

 
The Ecowas Court fined The Gambia government one hundred thousand US dollars as compensation to Chief Manneh’s family. Jammeh refused to pay the money and didn’t even appeal the case.

Do you believe Chief Manneh he is dead?

 
Well some years ago, Bai Lowe, who was one of the ‘Junglers’ came out publicly to say that they killed Ebrima ‘Chief’ Manneh.

What exactly did he say?

 
Well, if I got it right, he said he was killed and his remains thrown into a well. You know he was arrested at the same time with Rambo Jatta and Kanyiba Kanyi. The three of them were being moved from one place to another.

While in US, did you continue to search for him?

 
Yes, I did not rest the case. I discussed the matter with the head of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Chief Manneh’s issue was even mentioned at the US senate for his immediate and unconditional release but the Gambia government was all the time refuting.

Do you believe the Gambian media, especially the Gambia Press Union, have pushed Chief Manneh’s case enough?

 
Yes they did. The GPU did very well. Every year, they organise a symposium in the memory of Chief Manneh. They would invite the US Ambassador, NGOs, opposition parties and government officials to talk and see how best to improve the relationship between the media and the government because at the time, there were a lot of arrests and torture of journalists. Others were even forced to leave the country.

Has Chief’s family accepted his reported death?

 
Yes. Chief Ebrima Manneh’s family have now accepted that he is dead. At one time, the Gambia Press Union members in the US would normally send monthly allowance to his family but eventually we could not do it because there were a lot of other cases. So we felt that if we are doing it for Chief, we should do it for everyone else and there were not enough resources.

You are very prominent in this case because you are one of the people who claimed to have seen him last. On this visit from the US, Did you collaborate with the GPU on his case?

 
I spoke to the GPU president, Emil Touray and I even spoke to my family. I told them I am here for two reasons. One of these reasons is to reopen Chief Manneh’s case. I went to the police headquarters five times and I am still trying to meet with authorities to discuss this issue. I have an appointment with [Interior Minister] Mai Fatty. I am making all efforts to make sure that at least even if they are not going to reopen the case, the new government should pay the fine or at least compensate the family. I am trying my best to make sure that justice is served in Chief Manneh’s case.

Thank you for speaking to The Standard.
You are welcome.

Lawyer C.E. Mene, the defence counsel for the former NIA boss, Yankuba Badjie, have intimated to the court that he would not hesitate to file contempt of court proceedings against Sarjo Barrow of Star FM Radio station if he continues to misrepresent the evidence before the public, particularly evidence relating to his client (Yankuba Badjie).

Lawyer Mene made this disclosure yesterday during the court session in the criminal matter involving the state against the former NIA boss and eight others charged with multiple offences including conspiracy to murder, murder, conspiracy to commit misdemeanor, assault causing actual bodily harm among others.

At the resumption of the matter before the presiding judge, Justice Kumba Sillah-Camara of the High Court in Banjul, lawyer C.E. Mene expressed concern about the manner some outfit, particularly Sarjo Barrow of Star FM radio station, have been engaging on misrepresenting the evidence to the public.

Lawyer Mene said the evidence of the witnesses that testified before the court were misrepresented by Sarjo Barrow, noting that before his arrival at the court he got complaint from two of his colleagues that he Sarjo Barrow had distorted and deliberately misrepresented the evidence led before the court.

Lawyer Mene explained that Sarjo Barrow’s misrepresentation of the evidence led before the court is deliberate attempt to expose his client to hostility.

He argued that though the media has the duty to inform the public but the media should not be used to misinform and misrepresent evidence led before to the public.

He urged media practitioners to report correctly what transpired in the court and admonished those who misrepresent evidence, saying he would not hesitate to file contempt of court proceedings against Sarjo Barrow if he continued to do so.

For her part, the presiding judge, Justice Kumba Sillah-Camara disclosed that it was sub-judicial for Sarjo Barrow to have been engaged in such an act.

She admonished reporters to be careful of what they present to the public and urged them not to misrepresent what transpired in the court before they would land themselves into trouble.

Justice K.S. Camara cautioned that journalists have a duty to clarify any ambiguity in their reports before publication.

Justice K.S. Camara pointed out that the accused persons are still presumed innocent until proven guilty.

She disclosed that it was good that the defence counsel brought the matter to the attention of the court.

Source: Point Newspaper

Following the removal of Amadou Colley as the governor of the Central Bank of The Gambia and his two deputy governors early this week, the leadership of the bank has been entrusted to a new breed of experts from within the bank.

Colley’s successor is Bakary Jammeh who was the deputy director and officer-in-charge of the Economic Research Department of the central bank.

The new governor, in an exclusive interview with The Point yesterday, thanked the new government for the trust and confidence bestowed on him by appointing him to head the bank.

He said he would make sure he restore trust and credibility in the bank and bring about price and financial sector stability.

“It is a challenge but collectively we will succeed,” said Governor Jammeh, who is married with three children.

Jammeh has Bachelor’s of Science in econometrics from Istanbul University, Turkey, and Master’s of Science in finance and econometrics at Queen Mary, University of London, UK.

He had attended twenty different professional courses in various areas such as macroeconomics, monetary policy, and financial sector policies at various institutions including the IMF Institute, Bundes Bank of Germany, Study Center of Swiss National Bank, and Bank of Ghana.

“I also worked for IMF from August 2014 to August 2015 as a special appointee at the African Department at Washington DC,” the new CBG governor said. “While at IMF, I was focused on the economy of Seychelles.”

Dr Seeku Jaabi is now the first deputy governor of the central bank, succeeding Basiru Njai. He was the deputy director of the CBG Microfinance Department.

He said a big challenge and a big trust has been bestowed on them but with all hands on the deck, the task would be easier.

Dr Jaabi joined the central bank in February 1997 and has since then served in various departments of the bank, starting with the Banking Supervision Department.

He obtained his first degree at Fourah Bay College in Sierra Leone, and masters in development finance in Manchester, UK, from 2003 to 2005.

In 2011, Jaabi had his PhD at the University of Malaya, Malaysia and returned home in 2014.

He published two books, and had written 18 international journals.

Essa A.K. Drammeh is the successor of Oumie Savage-Samba as the second deputy governor.

He joined the bank in 1987 and has since then served in various capacities.

From 2010 until his recent promotion, he was the director of Banking Supervision Department of the bank.

Mr Drammeh obtained his AAT certificate at MDI. He later obtained BA honours in accounting at a US university, and MBA in global banking and finance in UK. He is a fellow of FCCA in UK.

He had attended several short term courses in banking supervision, financial stability, money laundering and counter financing of terrorism.

Source: Standard Newspaper

Pa Malick Ceesay, the propaganda secretary of the National Reconciliation Party (NRP), has rebutted allegations by Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC) leader that there was widespread fraud in the recent National Assembly election resulting in his party’s loss of at least 12 seats.

Speaking to The Standard yesterday at the party bureau, Mr Ceesay himself a former elected parliamentarian, challenged the GDC leader “to come up with proof in order to substantiate such allegation”.
According to the NRP propagandist, his party’s has not received any such allegation from their candidate or the regional electoral officials.

“I just want to shed light on the publication made on The Standard newspaper by the party leader of the Gambia Democratic Congress, Mamma Kandeh. He said that 73 votes of the NRP were added to the eleven votes of the United Democratic Party (UDP) in the recently parliamentary election in Sandu constituency in Upper River Region. Our party is not aware of such allegation but notwithstanding we have contacted our candidate, Ansumana Keita who contested on behalf of the party in Sandu and he also said he has never received any information of such information [and the party secretariat] has not received any such information from any of the candidates in the constituency. We even went further to contact the regional officer of IEC,

Faraba Janneh who did also confirm to me that they have not received such complaint. So being the case, as a party we are very much concerned with the allegation because we are a reconciliatory party and we respect the rule of law, the policy and the programme of all the political parties in this country. We will do all our findings and investigations on this allegation and once we are done, we will call a press conference and invite all the media houses and make our position very clear.”

Mr Ceesay said his party respects all the political parties, particularly the UDP which is the biggest party in the country, and noted that the NRP and the UDP share strong cordial relations not necessarily based on a coalition mode.

Source: Standard Newspaper

Lamin Fatty, the deputy production manager at Daily Observer at the time of journalist Ebrima Chief Manneh’s disappearance, had explained what he knew regarding the incident leading to his arrest.
Speaking exclusively to The Standard Mr Fatty, who is a programme officer at a child rights NGO explained: Dr Taal had an acrimonious spat with Chief shortly before the NIAs came for him.

“One day in July 2006, I was at home when I received a call to come and provide an extra [positive] plate because there was a story on the paper which was taken out. Few days after, I found Dr Saja Taal and Chief Manneh arguing in his office. Saja was even threatening to report Chief. I immediately intervened and told Saja to stop talking to his own employee like that. After all, the said story was never even published.

“Some day later, I was standing under the big tree near then Observer office building when I saw Chief being escorted by agents from the NIA. He had a file which he gave to the security guy who was supposed to hand it to one of the editors Ebrima Jaw Manneh. Fifteen minutes later, I saw him in a Nissan car with tinted glasses but the windows were lowered a little and I could see his head. The vehicle was heading towards Banjul. He even waved to us. I told the guy I was standing with that Chief would never return,” he said.

Asked if he had seen Chief after he was reportedly released that very night he was taken, Fatty answered in the negative, saying “he might have been released like I read it in the newspapers the other day but I didn’t see him.”

Fatty added that Manneh’s situation got bad because it was a colleague of his, Pa Malick Faye, who “dramatized” the BBC article that never made it to the press.
He continued: “Pa Malick made things worse because he told Saja that if he hadn’t intervened to stop the article from being published, Saja would have been in jail. He claimed he stopped the article from going to the press and Saja concluded that it was sabotage.”

Ebrima ‘Chief’ Manneh was picked up from the Daily Observer office on July 7 2006 and has since not been found. Many eyewitnesses say he was reported to the paper’s management by his jealous colleagues for allegedly trying to publish an international feature story from the BBC website critical of the Jammeh regime. He was then reportedly handed to the authorities who detained him at various locations before his disappearance.

Source: Standard Newspaper

The Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs Mr Amadou Sanneh yesterday signed a 5 Million dollars project with the African Development Bank (ADB) which is meant for institutional reforms of Government Institutions.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, the minister said the new Cabinet members and their technicians are working hard to finalize and align their vision as contained in Coalition 2016 Election Manifesto with the new National Development Plan which seeks to transform the economy of the Gambia into a middle income economy.

Mr Amadou Sanneh mentioned that the signing ceremony of this 5million Dollar Project is for Institutional Reform of Government Institutions and Portfolio Country performance review 2017 to access ADB funded projects in The Gambia. The signing ceremony was held on Wednesday 10th May, 2017 at Kairaba Beach Hotel, attended by senior project coordinators.

The 2017 Country Portfolio Performance Review is an important exercise, as it creates a forum where both the Government of The Gambia and the African Development Bank (ADB) review the implementation progress of projects and programmes.

“The ADB portfolio consists of eight projects found in sectors like Agriculture, Water Resources, Institutional support and Transport. African Development Bank performance in the Agricultural sector is particularly commendable and would go a long way to address the issues of food insecurity. It would undoubtedly also help to solve the problems of water and sanitation issues,” the finance minister noted.

The Finance Minister added that, The ADB portfolio for The Gambia was rated 2.57 out of 3 in 2014 compared to 2.56 in 2013.These performances were highly recognized by Government and would continue to give the requisite support for a higher rating in subsequent years.

Madam Marie Laure Akin Olugbade the deputy Director General African Developmental Bank for her part said the funded projects by the ADB, is to regulate the institutional reforms of all ministries.

The Deputy Director General of ADB added that as the government of the Gambia is a new government it needs much financial assistance in order to overcome some of its challenges that it is facing as at now.

“The object of this project is to look at all the sectors ranging from agriculture to other sectors. It is meant to look at the least farmer’s problems and how to resolve them,” she noted.

She added that the ADB is ready to partner with the new government of The Gambia and come to their aid whenever the need arises, as this is not the first time they are granting such assistance to the Gambia government.

Source: Foroya Newspaper

The Standard newspaper yesterday reported that the lawyer for on-trial former intelligence chief Yankuba Badjie had sharply rebuked newscaster Sarjo Barrow for misinterpreting news translated from the quotidian papers into Mandinka in his popular programme on Star FM.

Badjie and eight others are arraigned in connection with the murder of opposition activist Solo Sandeng in April last year.
Yesterday afternoon, the veteran broadcaster strode into Standard offices, Bakau, to refute the comments by Barrister Christopher Mene, describing them as “false information given to the defence lawyer”.

Barrow said: “Let me make it very clear that I have never mentioned that Yankuba was present when the NIA officers were torturing Solo Sandeng. Never! It is not in any of the newspapers that I read since the trial began up to date. I have never seen nor do I read that story. And all my broadcasts are in records and shared on the Internet, WhatsApp and other media. So this is a lie. It is a false information given to the lawyer. I have never mentioned that Yankuba was present when the NIA were torturing Solo Sandeng in any news I carry on Star FM. I don’t know where they get that information from but it’s not true. It is false. It is a misrepresentation of my news,” stated.

Barrow who has been broadcasting for at least three decades, said “there are so many newscasters in Mandinka most of whom are not trained to present news and don’t know what they talk about”. He said Yankuba Badjie’s family may have been misrepresented him “for someone they don’t know but my name is the one singled out. That’s why I have to clear my name, that, it is not true and is unfounded”.

He added: “My news is clear and let me be very clear that nobody can stop me from presenting what is being reported in the newspapers as long as I am still there to do the duty. I am going to present the news as it appears on the papers. Nothing more, nothing less, whether it is harsh, lenient or what, I am going to carry it out in the best language I can present for the public to understand because most of the people rely on the news we are giving so that information has to be clear and precise.”

Source: Standard Newspaper

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, The Gambia decides to issue this Press Release following publications in the Standard, Foroyaa and The Point newspapers quoting the Police Public Relations Officer (PRO) Inspector Foday Conta.

The first point of concern is that PRO Conta is quoted to have said that the problem was between TALLINDING MUSLIMS AND THE AHMADIS. This is a calculated move categorically insinuating that Ahmadi Muslims are not Muslims or he is totally ignorant of what Ahmadi Muslims are. This was simply a situation where Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at had a bereavement and wanted to bury their loved one in a community graveyard in a place where the deceased lived, worked and paid taxes for over three decades. However, a group of Tallinding Markazi youths did not want the deceased to be buried in the graveyard and they were backed by the Tallinding Police.

Brother Kebba Sanneh of Tallinding Sicap, a very sincere Ahmadi Muslim, passed away in the early hours of Saturday 4th May 2017 and was scheduled to be buried at 2pm the same day. At around 10am on the same day a group of young men were dispatched by the Jama’at to go to the graveyard to dig the grave. The young men went to the Kabila Alkalo to get the key and they did and after digging returned the key to the same person.

Around mid-day of the same day, the Jama’at received a telephone call from a watchman at the residence of the deceased to say that there is a problem for he was told by the Imam of the area that burial cannot be done in that graveyard because the deceased Kebba was an Ahmadi.

The Amir dispatched a team of six Jama’at elders to go to the area to investigate what was going on. The team started at the Kabila Imam’s residence where they met the Imam, Alhaji Bakary Ceesay and asked what the issue was surrounding the burial of Brother Kebba Sanneh. The Imam said he got word that Brother Kebba should not be buried in the graveyard but does not know much so he directed the team to the village Alkalo, Ebou Badjie.

The team then went to the village Alkalo and made the same enquiry but he was found to be sick. He referred the team to the ‘Kabila’ Alkalo, Ebrima Badjie.

Upon arrival at the Kabila Alkalo’s place, he was very receptive. When the team narrated what they have been through the Kabila Alkalo responded that a group of young men came to him and said that they needed a paper from him to say that this corpse should not be buried in the cemetery. He told them that he did not have authority to do so, let them go to his boss, the village Alkalo. If he, the Alkalo, writes, appends his signature and affixes the stamp, then he will carry out the orders. According to the Kabila Alkalo they left and never returned. He told the team that the cemetery key was with him and whenever they are ready for the burial let them come for the key and he will give them. The team then left but also made it clear to the Kabila Alkalo that burial will take place as scheduled.

When the team left the Kabila Alkalo’s place they decided to go to the police to seek protection from any eventuality. When the team reached the station, there were about three “Markazi young Muslims’ who were at the station for the same purpose giving their own version of the story. The team narrated what they were there for and the female sergeant who was there immediately responded that the burial will have to wait let them consult their superiors for instructions. The team asked what instructions? There is a corpse to be buried the time is near. In the meantime the female sergeant called one of her bosses who in turn called one of the members of the team to tell us to wait for instructions from above. The officer who called the team member was O.C Superintendent Samba Jawo who instructed that burial should not take place until he gives orders. In the meantime there was commotion in the station each one wanted to talk at the same time and be heard. The team decided to leave and give report to the Amir and then proceed with the burial rites. At that point the police officers there expressed the wish to go to the cemetery to keep peace but lamented that they had no transport. One of the team members used his vehicle to transport them to the cemetery. By the way the regimental members of the police officers who were present and active in this discourse were: 4606, 6868, 6299 (Alieu Sarr), Buba Saho (without number) and a couple of other plain clothes officers.

At 2pm the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at left the Ahmadiyaa Muslim Hospital at Tallinding in a envoy with the corpse to go and bury. Upon arrival at the gate of the cemetery, there were the policemen and a woman at the gate together with few of the ‘Markazi young men. The police had already collected the key from the Kabila Alkalo and refused to open the gate. After the Janaza the Jama’at headed to the gate to go in but were stopped by the police who locked gate telling us to be patient and wait for instructions. That wait took well over an hour with both the corpse and sympathizers under the hot burning sun. As the wait got longer tempers grew hotter and patience almost ran out. At every point the Amir was just admonishing the Jama’at to be calm and exercise patience. This same Tallinding Police Station was behind the first burial issue between the Jama’at and the younger brother of Alkalo of Tallinding in August 2015. They have repeated it again. Is the Tallinding Police doing the same thing to other religious sects’ dead bodies? The Team Member that O.C Jawo spoke with called the Police Commissioner of Administration and explained the situation to him. Commissioner Admin then dispatched Officer King Colley of the Police Intervention Unit (PIU) to come to the scene and correct the situation. Upon King Colley’s arrival and seeing the situation, he asked for the key, open the door and allowed the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at carry on with burial rites in peace. Had the Tallinding Police not collaborated with those Markazi youths but opened the gate just when the corpse arrived then the situation would not have reached the level it did. The Tallinding Police created the commotion and we are holding them responsible for it.

At this point in time we are not dwelling into who is a Muslim or who is not. We have dealt with that in October/November 2014, January 2015 and September of 2015. We are not seeking any stamp of approval from any individual or group to confirm that we are Muslims. It is our fundamental human rights as Muslims to bury our dead bodies in Muslim cemeteries. It is the duty of the police to protect our fundamental rights instead of endangering them, and should be neutral and impartial when intervening in situations like this.

The authorities must watch and avert extremism in this country covertly or overtly for the peace security and stability of the country because extremism has destroyed the fabrics of some countries. This is why the Holy founder of Islam, the Holy Prophet Muhammed (S.A.W.S) asked his followers to take moderate path in their actions.

We pray to Allah Almighty to enable the entire country to cherish and enjoy existing peace and to safeguard the fundamental rights of every citizen so that we live in harmony.” Ameen!

Wasalaam

Signed: Alhaji Ebrima Mbowe

Deputy Amir III

Omar Bojang a staff of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) testified as the second prosecution witness in the trial of nine former NIA personnel.

He attested that he had been serving the Agency for about 25 years, that is, since the first Republic and he recognised the accused persons because most of them were his seniors. He said he was serving as the Director of Technical Service but currently as Director of State Intelligence Service for West Coast Region. He said as Director of Technical Service, he is directly answerable to the Director General of NIA Yankuba Badjie. He averred that it is a normal procedure especially as the Director of Technical Service to wait for his head to leave before he does because he (Yankuba Badjie) may need something in his absence whilst he is at the office.

He testified that one day in April, 2016, he went to the Director General Yankuba Badjie (1st Accused Person) who was sitting under a tree opposite his office and upon arrival within minutes he heard a human crying in a room which is not far from where he and his boss where. He questioned the Director General as to who those people are and thereafter he responded that they are the UDP people who were demonstrating. He said he then asked the Director General whether it is not a risk to allow them to beat up people especially politicians.

He indicated that from the reaction of the Director General he could tell that he was not happy. He affirmed that the Director General requested for one of the UDP militants to be brought to him for interrogation.

“The militant was one Solo Sandeng” he affirmed. He explained that when Solo Sandeng was brought to the Director General, he was in critical life situation that he could not speak to him.

“The Director General ordered for Solo Sandeng to be taken to a fan, probably he fainted” he said. After Solo Sandeng was taken away he said the Director General left and later he followed too.

In Cross examination, PW2 averred that it is a practice in the Agency that he cannot go home unless the Director General left for home which in this case was between the hours of 1 to 2 am. He also attested that Mr. Sandeng fell down before Yankuba Badjie could speak to him.

In addition, PW2 indicated that in the service especially their Agency, when one speaks to his/her senior authority which he does not like, one can understand his/her thinking from his/her reaction.

The accused persons are: Yankuba Badjie, Louis Gomez, former Deputy Director, Saikou Omar Jeng, former director of Operations, Haruna Susso, Yusupha Jammeh, Tamba Masireh, Lamin Darboe and Baboucarr Sallah and Lamin Lang Sanyang. The trial was at the Banjul High Court presided over by Justice Kumba Sillah-Camara.

They are charged with criminal charges ranging from murder, assaults causing actual bodily harm, conspiracy to commit misdemeanour, forgery and making documents without authority contrary to the laws of The Gambia in which they denied all charges at the onset of the trial.

The State was represented by the Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions (DDPP) M.B Abubacarr and 4 others whilst the Defendants were represented by Lawyers U. Achigbue, P. Gomez, E.A. Gomez, Moses Richards, S Kennedy, D. Dago and C.E. Mene.

Source: Foroya Newspaper

The wife of Bunja Nyassi is roaming about to find out why her husband is still detained. She does not have a clue as to why he has been detained for more than 72 hours.

In any democratic society government officials must read the newspapers daily to find out what is said about theirdepartments or their individual persons. This enables them to know what to do to remedy shortcomings.

Foroyaa has been reporting that Bunja Nyassi is detained at the military police in Yundum Barracks. One would have thought that by now a government official would take action to address the problem. Nothing of that sort has happened.

It is therefore important for Foroyaa to start a campaign against the detention of persons without trial for more than 72 hours.

Warrant Officer Class 1 (WOC1) who goes by the name Pa Sanneh, a native of Kartong, was arrested and detained at Yundum Barracks weeks ago, a military source confirms to Foroyaa.

The source added that Sanneh’s arrest, is in connection with the murder of one of their members, Lance Corporal Tumani Jallow.

The military source further revealed that during the Jammeh era, General Saul Badjie hired civilians to do such activities for them. ‘‘These civilians, some of whom were not even Gambians, were fully armed with pistols anywhere they go in the country. They were also answerable directly to former General Badjie. We do not consider them as soldiers because they do not dress in military uniform but in civilian clothes,’’ the source said.

At the time of going to press, the GAF spokesperson Lt. Col. Omar B. Bojang confirmed the arrest and detention of former WOC1 Sanneh. He said that investigations are on and that all persons under their custody are given access to their families.

Source: Foroya Newspaper

The minister of Agriculture has said The Gambia needs to be more innovative and open up to private investors. He made his comments yesterday during the International Agriculture Forum. He said that creating an atmosphere conducive for business means looking at specific tax laws for agriculture and special investment certificates offered by GIEPA, under the Ministry of Trade.

He added that financial institutions and investors need to be comfortable investing in the sector, which he said means understanding the fundamentals of agricultural production and how that can impact the kinds of decisions made.

He continued saying, that they also need these financial institutions to develop targeted products for particular sectors and that farmers, and actors in the agricultural value-chain, also need to understand and appreciate the way financial institutions operate and where their responsibilities lie.

“There are a lot of misconceptions surrounding agriculture; that it is risky and that farmers aren’t credit-worthy,” he said.

Minister Jallow emphasised that financial institutions, as well as farmer/producer organizations and other agricultural organizations are in the best position to identify the financial needs of farmers and other agricultural stakeholders in a climate-smart, agriculture, value-chain system targeted at improving the sector.

He underscored the importance of agriculture to the socio-economic health of The Gambia and said that it should follow that the government needs to invest heavily in the sector.

He encouraged the private sector, especially the financial sector, to recognize the importance of agricultural financing. Hon. Jallow applauded the government for its long term investment strategy in the sector, without the expectation of return on the investment in the short term.

He went on to note that agricultural growth and performance has been fluctuating over the decades partly due to the predominance of subsistence, rain-fed agriculture for food crop production like millet, maize and rice, semi-intensive cash crop production like groundnuts, cotton and horticulture and traditional livestock rearing with little diversification and value addition.

He added that the GNAIP considers the need to transform the agriculture and national resource sectors from subsistence to a more commercial orientation focusing on the smallholders as the main pathway to sustainable development, as a national priority.

“This should have been achieved by capitalizing and accelerating growth in potentially fast growing subsectors such as horticulture and coarse grains and by increasing rice productivity for enhanced food security, income generation and import substitution,” he emphasised.

Source: Point Nespaper#