By: The Fatu Network Editorial

First Lady Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow is leading The Gambia’s delegation at the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) at the UN Headquarters in New York, which started on March 10 and will run until March 21.

The session marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, where she is participating in discussions on advancing women’s rights and gender equality.

By: The Fatu Network Editorial

The Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoHERST) is revolutionizing the country’s education system with the launch of a pilot project named Virtual Reality under the theme: “Use of Emerging Educational Technologies for Effective Teaching & Quality Education.”

This initiative, launched in collaboration with the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE) and Aventis Education, is being implemented by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (ICESCO).

The program is designed to equip educators with the knowledge and skills necessary to leverage cutting-edge educational technologies, thereby enhancing teaching and learning experiences.

The official launch took place at the University of Education, where several speakers emphasized its importance in reshaping the country’s educational landscape.

By: The Fatu Network Editorial

The Chief Justice of The Gambia has ordered an inquest into the death of General Bora Colley, who died while in custody, according to a press release issued by the Judiciary on March 11, 2025.

Following an application from the Attorney General dated March 10, Principal Magistrate Dawda Phatty of the Bundung Magistrates’ Court has been appointed to conduct the investigation. “His Worship Dawda Phatty has been appointed to conduct an inquest into the death of General Bora Colley to establish the possible causes of death of the late General and submit his report to the Hon. Chief Justice upon completion of the inquest in a reasonable period of time,” the statement read. The inquest was ordered under Section 11(1)(a) of the Coroners Act.

By: The Fatu Network Editorial

Baba Hydara, son of the late Deyda Hydara, co-founder of The Point newspaper and founding member of Victims Centre, has responded to the recent death of Brigadier General Bora Colley and to the arrest warrant issued for Sanna Manjang.

Hydara expressed mixed feelings about Colley’s death, stating: “As we are in the month of Ramadan, I pray that Almighty Allah grants him forgiveness for his shortcomings. Nonetheless, it is essential to acknowledge that he has committed heinous crimes during Jammeh’s regime.”

Regarding Manjang, who allegedly participated in his father’s murder, Hydara welcomed the arrest warrant and urged the government to “take all necessary actions” to secure Manjang’s extradition from Guinea Bissau.

By Mama A. Touray

While Muslims believe that Ramadan teaches sacrifice and empathy for the less fortunate, vendors at Coastal Road Market lament the sudden surge in the prices of basic food commodities during Ramadan.

During a visit to the Coastal Road Market by The Fatu Network team, Sohna Penda Jallow, a vendor, explained the sudden increase in commodity prices: “In recent years, during Ramadan, prices have consistently increased. For the past two to three months, the prices of onions and potatoes were low, but just weeks and days before Ramadan, the prices went up. Onions, potatoes, and anything used in stew—even cucumbers, which are grown locally—have become more expensive.”

Jallow added: “The prices at which I used to buy onions and potatoes have doubled and tripled, respectively. When onions were cheap and affordable, prices ranged from D400 to D500. Now, the price is between D1300 and D1400, and we are still buying them. When I sell them, I earn no more than D75 to D100 in profit, and it’s impossible to sell a whole bag in a single day.”

She added that during the Christmas period, Christians discount their goods “because it is the month they cherish. Similarly, for us Muslims, I believe Ramadan should be the month we show sympathy for one another. However, instead of showing sympathy, we often end up doing the opposite.”

Sohna suggested that a month when Muslims should show empathy for one another is when women go to the market and start crying over high prices.

“Ramadan is not a sympathy month for us because you are coming to the market and crying. Imagine someone who has less than D500 as fish money comes to the market and finds out that the price of chicken is D150 or more and fish D200, potato D100, what can that person take home? Even if she manages to buy those goods, she will not be happy,” she said.

Lamarana Jallow, a shopkeeper at the Coastal Road Market, explained that potatoes and onions do not have fixed prices. He added that during the cold season, prices increase, while in the hot season, they decrease “because, during the hot season, if they are stored for too long, they spoil, and we end up throwing them away.”

“It’s true that when people know others are in need of certain food items or goods, they increase the prices. That is why I said those who can afford it should come to the aid of those who cannot,” he added.

He explained that the price increase is due to the fact that most goods imported into the country are not grown in The Gambia.

“If you look into it, it’s because most of the goods we buy from outside the country are not locally grown. Yes, there are countries that reduce the prices of goods during Ramadan, but for us to do the same, those importing goods must support us. We are not the same, and if you compare The Gambia to other countries, I can tell you that The Gambia is actually better than some of them,” he said.

By: Dawda Baldeh

Ismaila Jagne, the Alkalo and Imam of Ghana Town, has described the descendants of undocumented immigrants in Ghana Town as stateless individuals caught in a citizenship crisis that has left many vulnerable.

In an interview with The Fatu Network, Alkalo Jagne acknowledged that the previous government, under former President Yahya Jammeh, had granted citizenship to the descendants of Ghanaian immigrants residing in Ghana Town, a coastal village in the West Coast Region. However, he noted that issues arose following the change in government, making it difficult for citizenship holders to renew their documents once they expired.

“Currently, they are stateless,” he stated, emphasizing that the situation has particularly impacted young people in their educational pursuits. “Those who had citizenship before cannot renew it now, which means they are stateless. They lack both Gambian and Ghanaian documents,” he elaborated.

Alkalo Jagne also mentioned that some government officials had visited the settlement for assessments, but little progress had been made. “The youth are severely affected, especially students who wish to continue their studies. They possess no documentation, rendering them vulnerable.” He pointed out that some students had missed out on scholarship opportunities due to the lack of documentation, as they were denied access to Gambian papers based on their birthplace. “I am urging the government to assist in resolving this issue,” he implored.

George Kaleku, Chairman of the Ghana Town Community Association, also voiced concerns over the difficulties his community is facing. “All we are requesting from the Gambian government is assistance in obtaining birth certificates for our children. The birth certificates should indicate that the child was born in The Gambia to Ghanaian parents or that one of their parents is Gambian,” he stated.

Mr. Kaleku stressed that this would help them secure documents in Ghana if they are not provided with documentation in The Gambia. “At present, this poses a significant problem for us, particularly for the youth. They currently lack both Ghanaian and Gambian documents, which complicates matters,” he added. He further explained that some families had taken their children to Ghana to obtain documents, but it remained a major challenge without birth certificates proving they were born in The Gambia.

“The Ghanaian government is willing to assist, but without obtaining birth certificates here, it will be difficult,” he revealed.

By: Alieu Jallow

A murder investigation is underway following the tragic death of Reuben Andrews, a retired banker and former executive at Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) and United Bank for Africa (UBA), who was found dead at his residence in Brufut Heights on Monday evening.

According to police sources, Andrews, 63, was discovered motionless by his wife, Victoria Andrews, upon her return home at approximately 5:00 p.m. Authorities have established a perimeter around the residence while the investigation proceeds.

Andrews was a figure in The Gambia’s financial sector, with a career spanning multiple countries. Fluent in both English and French, he began his banking journey in Senegal with BNP Paribas before being deployed to The Gambia as Acting General Manager. He later held positions at SCB Gambia, including Head of Credit Analysis and Head of Sales in Corporate and Institutional Banking. He subsequently worked at SCB Sierra Leone before returning to The Gambia. He later joined UBA in the financial industry.

The incident has occurred in Brufut Heights, an area known for its residential properties.

Recent statistics indicate that overall crime rates in The Gambia have been on a downward trend, although fluctuations remain in specific categories, such as murder. For instance, police data indicate that major crime cases dropped from 63 in the second quarter of 2023 to 46 in the same period of 2024. However, murder cases rose from two in the first quarter of 2023 to four in the first quarter of 2024. Additionally, broader crime statistics show that the total number of reported cases fell from 731 in the first two quarters of 2021 to 620 in 2022. These figures reflect a general decline in overall criminal activity while highlighting that certain violent crimes, like murder, can still fluctuate from one period to the next.

As investigations continue, the passing of Reuben Andrews is noted by those familiar with his contributions to The Gambia’s banking sector.