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Gambian Activist Urges Youth to ‘Occupy Westfield’ in Protest Over Detained Comrades

Hadram Hydara
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Gambian Activist Urges Youth to ‘Occupy Westfield’ in Protest Over Detained Comrades

By Mama A. Touray

Prominent Gambian youth activist Kemo Fatty has called on young people to gather at Westfield in solidarity with members of the group Gambians Against Looted Assets (GALA), who were transferred from Banjul Police Headquarters to the Police Intervention Unit (PIU) in Kanifing.

Fatty’s appeal follows the arrest of several activists during a planned protest on Tuesday. Authorities claim the group lacked permits, but Fatty insists the detentions were unjust. In an impassioned address, Fatty urged supporters to “occupy” the Westfield.

“We call on all young people who believe in democracy and the rule of law to come to Westfield—the place they fear. Today, we will fill this space until these youths are released. We are not taking ‘no’ for an answer.”

He continued: “They have to understand that it is either they arrest all of us or let the arrested youths go. This is the bottom line. We are calling on Gambians wherever you are as a young person, close from work and come down to Westfield and let’s fill this place up.”

He linked the arrests to broader anti-corruption efforts, citing unresolved allegations against former Fisheries Minister Dr. Bamba Banja: “Dr. Banja sold the entire Gambia for D50,000 [£600]. They burned down the entire evidence at the Ministry of Fisheries, [yet] he is home enjoying. So, [when] young people stand against corruption, this is how [they’re] treated. If [there’s] nothing wrong, let the [government disclose] what they have demanded.”

The Gambia has seen rising youth-led protests over corruption and governance since the 2017 ousting of authoritarian leader Yahya Jammeh. While President Adama Barrow’s government pledges reform, activists accuse officials of shielding allies from accountability.

Beyond Jammeh’s Shadow: Elite Capture, Land Dispossession, and State Assets Underselling in The Supposed New Gambia

Hadram Hydara
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Beyond Jammeh’s Shadow: Elite Capture, Land Dispossession, and State Assets Underselling in The Supposed New Gambia

By Dave Manneh – Research Lead
Securing Futures: Land Rights Action Collaborative

“In the aftermath of The Republic newspaper’s explosive investigative article, Gambians confront uncomfortable truths about the continuity of injustice across political transitions. This piece connects our specific land rights concerns to these broader patterns of asset mismanagement that continue to impoverish our country.”

Background to This Analysis

This opinion piece is a response to a segment on “Coffee Time with Peter Gomez,” broadcast on Wednesday, 29 April 2025, featuring Mustapha Taf Njie. During this interview, Njie addressed questions regarding controversial land acquisitions in Brufut and Yundum during Yahya Jammeh’s regime.

Securing Futures submitted several pre-broadcast questions to Mr Gomez, including: “Your company developed Brufut Gardens and AU Villas on land the Manneh and Sanneh clans formerly held. What compensation did you provide to the community, and what percentage of the developments’ current market value does this represent?”

In his response, Njie defended the acquisition process, essentially justifying what we characterise as state-sanctioned dispossession. He claimed he provided compensation through “government-stipulated methods” while suggesting the development positively affected the national housing sector.

Securing Futures subsequently recorded an audio rejoinder challenging these claims, documenting that the clan rejected compensation payments and Njie initially attempted to impose GMD250,000 (less than $6,000) for over 30 hectares of prime land – a figure the clan explicitly rejected.

This case exemplifies a broader pattern of asset mismanagement and undervalued transfers that characterised the Jammeh era and continues after his forced exile.

The groundbreaking investigative piece by The Republic titled “The Assets of Gambia’s Former Dictator Go for a Song” has sent shockwaves through Gambian society both at home and abroad. This documented exposé revealed state officials sold assets worth approximately $362 million for only $23.7 million – a recovery rate of less than 7%.

The investigation’s detailed documentation of specific transactions, complete with names, dates, and figures, has transformed what Gambians once whispered as suspicion into incontrovertible public record. This systematic undervaluation constitutes a significant depletion of national resources that demands not just forensic scrutiny but immediate accountability.

From Loss to Legacy: Why Misappropriated Land Still Matters

The Brufut case, viewed alongside The Republic’s exposé, exposes more than historical injustice. It underscores the state’s continued failure to pursue genuine accountability. These incidents show how elites exploit bureaucratic procedures and legal ambiguities to shield themselves from scrutiny. At the centre lies a pressing question: who bears responsibility when state-backed dispossession and asset undervaluation occur under the guise of legality?

The likes of Njie who profited from repression remain largely untouched in the Gambia’s post-authoritarian era. They engage in reputation laundering and deflect blame, when challenged.

Accountability vs. Evasion: Analysing Post-Authoritarian Responsibility

The radio program is a clear attempt to cleanse and enhance his public image. And his response reveals not only a lack of transparency regarding compensation but also shows what transitional justice scholars term “responsibility deflection.” He attempts to evade accountability for actions taken during a period of dictatorship by attributing them solely to the regime’s directives. Rather than addressing the clan’s dispossession directly, Njie resorts to vague references to “government-stipulated methods” while avoiding acknowledgment of the disparity between compensation offered and the land’s market value.

These evasions reflect a broader pattern of opacity that hampers Gambia’s recovery from authoritarian rule. As political scientist Kathryn Sikkink argues in her work on “cascades of justice,” sustainable democratisation requires addressing not only direct perpetrators of abuses but also the network of beneficiaries who profited from rights violations. For Sikkink, sustainable democracy requires dismantling the “political economy of repression” – holding both perpetrators and their enablers accountable through prosecutions, reparations, and systemic reforms.

The case of Jammeh’s seized assets, as documented in The Republic demonstrates how officials systematically undermine transparency mechanisms: they replace open auctions with closed bids, withhold valuation reports, and deny access to purchasing records despite formal requests from journalists, activists, and lawmakers.

The investigation revealed how Justice Amina Saho-Ceesay ruled against premature disposal of these assets, calling it a “travesty” of justice, yet then Minister of Justice Abubakarr Tambadou circumvented her decision through procedural manipulation – actions Justice Ebrima Jaiteh later acknowledged constituted an “abuse of process.”

While Tambadou has publicly denied wrongdoing in subsequent statements, the documentary evidence compiled by The Republic presents a damning chronology of procedural irregularities that he has yet to adequately address.

In the radio interview, Njie further attempts to deflect criticism through classical whataboutism argumentation, referencing “undeveloped land” opposite his Brufut development and citing an alleged post-Jammeh inquiry that purportedly not only vindicated him but resulted in compensation payments to him. Such rhetorical manoeuvres divert attention from the central issue: the Jammeh regime violated the constitutional rights of the clans through state-sanctioned land appropriation.

Thus, the documented facts remain: the state dispossessed the clans of their ancestral land, attempted to impose compensation the Manneh clan formally rejected as inadequate, and yet the first post-Jammeh administration purportedly compensated Njie. The nature of this compensation, the name, and the remit of this inquiry body; or the findings of the inquiry, he did not disclose. This highlights the persistence of non-transparency in post-authoritarian governance – if there is in fact any credibility to what Njie said.

Constitutional Violations: Accumulation by Dispossession

The dispossession of communal lands across Kombo represents a clear violation of constitutional rights. Section 22 of the Gambian Constitution explicitly protects property rights and mandates fair compensation for compulsory acquisition. Jammeh “gifted” ancestral lands to private developers without adequate compensation, exemplifying what political economist David Harvey terms “accumulation by dispossession” – the transfer of public or communal assets to private hands. As elsewhere, Accumulation By Dispossession (ABD) by Njie and others reveals capitalism’s reliance on coercion – from colonial exploitation to modern financial predation. It highlights how neoliberalism weaponised state power to enrich elites while eroding communal rights.

In this context, the recent remark by presidential aspirant Essa Faal – who described communal lands as “dead capital” in an interview on “Coffee Time with Peter Gomez,” – warrants scrutiny. This framing reflects a mercantilist and reductionist approach to land, one that prioritises market activation (i.e., demand creation, financialisation), and treats lands as idle unless commodified. But such language reinforces precisely the kind of extractive thinking that enabled Jammeh’s land grabs in the first place. It legitimises the transfer of land from communities to elites by painting customary ownership as inefficient. It specifically reflects deeper ideological assumptions about property, productivity, and legitimacy that are at the core of land commodification and accumulation by dispossession.

Through this theoretical lens, Njie’s case exemplifies a pattern of elite capture wherein select individuals accumulated extraordinary wealth through preferential access to resources – particularly land. Scholars of authoritarian political economy have documented how such “crony capitalism” creates distorted markets where connections rather than competition determine resource allocation.

Just as Gambia initiated processes to address Jammeh’s ill-gotten assets through the Janneh Commission, similar accountability mechanisms must extend to those who benefited from his unconstitutional actions. The dispossession of lands belonging to hundreds to enrich individual elites represents precisely the type of injustice the New Gambia’s democratisation processes should aim to remedy.

This pattern of grossly undervalued compensation defined standard practice under Jammeh. We find it both unfortunate and unacceptable to witness its continuation under the Barrow administration. In a case with notable parallels to the Brufut dispute, The Republic exposed how a connected individual resold a property worth approximately D8.5 million in Fajara to its original owner for merely D3.15 million. This is just D150,000 more than Jammeh paid 15 years earlier, despite the exponential increase in land values in that area.

Coercion, Rejection, and Legal Challenge: Documenting Resistance

This systemic pattern of dispossession not only underscores the ongoing erosion of constitutional protections but also highlights the critical need for continued reforms to prevent the perpetuation of unjust practices in the post-Jammeh era.

We must state that Njie’s much-touted compensation process bypassed normal administrative channels. With the apparent complicity of state security functionaries, he, and elements of the Jammeh regime entrusted the compensation payment to the late Darba Marenah (then Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency) and the late Baba Jobe (then Secretary to Jammeh). The use of security apparatus rather than standard civil procedures for property transactions represented a clear attempt at intimidation. It was a tactic the clan elders recognised and refused to succumb to, rejecting the compensation entirely.

In a tragic development that illustrates the regime’s brutality, the Jammeh government subsequently murdered both men.

Undeterred by these intimidation tactics, the Manneh clan initiated civil suit 44/03 (Brufut Manneh clan versus Taf Holdings Ltd), directly contradicting any implication that they accepted compensation. The legal record clearly establishes their unwillingness to part with their ancestral land. This legal challenge highlights that the transaction lacked mutual consent – a fundamental requirement for legitimate property transfers under both statutory and customary law.

Beyond False Binaries: Development Without Dispossession

The Brufut case exposes what development scholars term the “false binary” between development and rights.

Too often in The Gambia, we face artificial choices: development or tradition, investment or rights, progress, or justice. Applied development theorist Amartya Sen argues that genuine development enhances freedoms rather than restricting them, creating what game theorists call positive-sum rather than zero-sum outcomes. Sen argues that genuine development is fundamentally about expanding human freedoms. These include freedoms such as health, education, political participation, and economic opportunities – rather than the mere increase in GDP or material wealth.

When compensation amounts to less than $6,000 for land with an estimated market value of over $12 million, the transaction becomes exploitative and extractive rather than developmental. This represents less than 0.05% of the land’s value, demonstrating the egregious nature of the undervaluation. Economists term this “rent-seeking” rather than value creation.

True national progress requires development models that enhance community agency and capabilities. Political philosopher John Rawls’ “difference principle” suggests that inequalities justify themselves only when they benefit the least advantaged. By this standard, developments that generate enormous wealth for elites while providing minimal returns to communities fail the test of justice.

Drawing on Elinor Ostrom’s work on common-pool resources, we recognise that communal lands often operate under sophisticated Indigenous governance systems that predate colonial disruption. Rather than viewing these as obstacles to development, a more productive approach would integrate these governance mechanisms into contemporary development planning.

Post-Authoritarian Accountability: Addressing Beneficiary Networks

In line with this broader approach, it is crucial to not only recover assets directly linked to Jammeh’s regime but also to create structures that empower communities to reclaim their rights and restore the integrity of land ownership in the post-authoritarian Gambia.

Transitional justice scholars increasingly recognise that post-authoritarian accountability must address not only direct perpetrators but also beneficiary networks. Pablo de Greiff, former UN Special Rapporteur on transitional justice, argues that sustainable peace requires addressing the full spectrum of those who profited from rights violations.

The case of Njie and others who accumulated wealth through land dispossessions challenges us to expand our transitional justice framework beyond focusing on Jammeh alone. Drawing on “transitional justice from below,” framework, we might consider how communities dispossessed under Jammeh’s authoritarian rule can reclaim agency in the Barrow era.

Just as we pursue recovery of Jammeh’s direct assets, we must establish mechanisms to review and potentially reverse land acquisitions that occurred through constitutional violations. This approach aligns with “restorative justice” and focuses not on punishing wrongdoers but on restoring rights and relationships.

Healing Forward: A Framework for Equitable Land Governance

How might Gambia move forward from such disputes toward more equitable land governance?

Drawing on comparative experiences and theoretical frameworks:

First, we must establish transparent, participatory processes for development planning that recognise both statutory and customary rights—whilst prioritising customary rights. The Feedback and Recommendations Securing Futures provided to the Ministry of Lands on the draft National Land Policy (2026-2035) parallels internationally recognised standards that can inform land reforms.

Second, communities must have meaningful input before, not after, development decisions affect their lands. This embodies what planning theorist Sherry Arnstein terms “citizen power” rather than tokenistic consultation. When government officials communicate major decisions through notorious security agencies rather than proper administrative channels, as happened in Brufut, they erode public trust.

Third, the state should implement fair compensation standards based on market values when land acquisition genuinely serves the public good. This requires independent valuation by certified professionals with results made public. This embodies what transparency advocates call “radical transparency.”

Fourth, we need accessible dispute resolution mechanisms that balance power differentials between developers and communities, ensuring that financial resources do not determine judicial outcomes. “Legal empowerment approaches,” provide models for supporting communities in asserting their rights.

Fifth, our transitional justice mechanisms must extend beyond Jammeh himself to address the network of beneficiaries who profited from constitutional violations and excesses. This includes establishing an independent commission to review land acquisitions that occurred during the dictatorship. This should be like land commissions established in post-conflict settings like Rwanda and South Africa.

Finally, our country must establish robust safeguards against conflicts of interest in public asset management. As former Finance Minister Amadou Sanneh criticised regarding asset sales, when the same individuals act as “judge and jury” in transactions, they imperil public interest.

National Reckoning: A Moment for National Reflection

The Njie-Brufut case offers Gambians a moment for critical national reflection. Do we want development that empowers communities or elites? Do we want governance systems where intimidating security forces deliver “compensation,” or where communities participate as equals in development planning? Do we intend to hold accountable only Jammeh, or also those who built fortunes through his tyrannical rule?

The Manneh clan’s refusal to accept coerced compensation demonstrated moral courage that commands respect and merits emulation. Their stance challenges us to create a nation where such courage becomes unnecessary; where development enhances rather than dismisses community rights.

The path to social harmony lies not in suppressing difficult conversations but in conducting them openly, with mutual respect and commitment to equitable outcomes. Only then can we build developments on foundations solid enough to truly last.

Conclusion: Constitutional Values and National Integrity

The Brufut issue offers a mirror for a new democratic Gambia. It challenges us to choose between building a society where constitutional principles prevail, or one that allows legacies of dispossession and impunity to persist.

The revelations by The Republic that hundreds of millions in seized assets yielded only $23.7 million in recovery have catalysed unprecedented public discourse across Gambian society. The investigation’s digital dissemination – including through social media platforms like Facebook where activists like Ben Suwareh have embarked on detailed serialisations have elicited discussions and much soul searching. The investigative piece has created a watershed moment in post-Jammeh accountability politics.

Gambians-abroad, who often maintain financial connections to homeland development, have expressed particular outrage at these findings, with many questioning their continued investment in a system where public assets remain vulnerable to insider dealing. When officials conduct deals through closed bids, stonewall inquiries, and sideline court-appointed receivers, these actions threaten not only our democratic transition and constitutional governance but also the economic confidence necessary for national development.

Gambia’s national motto – “Progress, Peace, and Prosperity” – encapsulates our aspirations. These three values must proceed in tandem, for prosperity without justice brings neither progress nor peace. The Republic’s investigation has highlighted how the current distribution of wealth – particularly land and property – reflects not market efficiency but authoritarian patronage networks that persist beyond regime change.

This revelation has resonated with younger Gambians but particularly those of Kombo who face dispossessions and prohibitive barriers to expanding their families from the homesteads to their former farmyards now declared “state lands.” They watch helpless while well-connected elites control vast properties acquired through criminal means. When victims of human rights violations await reparations while these elites retain assets acquired through those violations, our society merely exchanges one form of injustice for another.

Let us be clear: the ownership of communal lands predates the Anglo-French Convention of 1889 that created the Gambia by centuries. These lands are not the nation-state’s to arbitrarily redistribute and reallocate. Just as we seek accountability from Jammeh himself, we must also address the enduring consequences of his unconstitutional “gifts” to those who profited from his regime.

In the words of political philosopher Hannah Arendt, reconciliation requires “facing reality, whatever it may be.” For Gambia, this means confronting not only the abuses of our authoritarian past but also their ongoing beneficiaries. It means creating a future where land rights and human dignity stand at the centre of our development vision.

The public conversation sparked by The Republic’s stellar journalism represents precisely the kind of reality-facing that Arendt envisioned – a collective reckoning that bridges domestic and emigrant and transnational communities in demanding protection of landed inheritance and a more just distribution of national resources. As that conversation continues in households, online forums, and community gatherings both in The Gambia and abroad, we must insist that it leads not to wringing arms in moral indignation as a collective sign of outrage but to concrete institutional reforms that finally deliver on the promise of democratic transition.

Authored by:
Dave Manneh – Research Lead
Securing Futures: Land Rights Action Collaborative
Kombo Gunjur
The Gambia

Securing Futures: Land Rights Action Collaborative (SFLRAC) is a registered NGO-think tank hybrid based in The Gambia. Committed to empowering Kombo’s dispossessed land-owning communities, SFLRAC combines participatory action with rigorous research to secure ancestral land rights, advocate for equitable governance policies, protect cultural heritage, and advance sustainable development.

Introducing Max Sonko, an Aspiring Entrepreneur

Hadram Hydara
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Introducing Max Sonko, an Aspiring Entrepreneur

SPOTLIGHT

By Dawda Baldeh

In the bustling heart of Serrekunda market, a symphony of emotions unfolds where the sharp sounds of frustration, stress, and anxiety mingle among the voices of eager buyers and determined sellers. Amid this cacophony, a subtle gleam of hope flickers, often overlooked yet persistently present.

As community members of all ages engage in earnest discussions about the myriad challenges plaguing society, a significant portion of the blame is directed toward the government. Many voice their concerns about the lack of job opportunities, casting a shadow over the aspirations of the youth.

Yet, within this landscape of discontent, innovative entrepreneurs are rising to the occasion, transforming adversity into opportunity.

Among these trailblazers is Buba Sonko, affectionately known as Max Sonko, a spirited young man from Serrekunda. With a vision to reshape societal perceptions that equate success solely with destinations abroad, he embodies a growing movement of youth venturing into business.

In an insightful interview with The Fatu Network, Buba recounted how his entrepreneurial journey ignited shortly after he graduated from high school, marking the beginning of his quest to redefine success on his own terms.

“I view business as the best means to achieve financial independence and support my family,” he stated.

A friend introduced him to the world of business.

“Once I started, I realized it was my calling,” he remarked, noting that although business growth is slow, he is steadily progressing.

Like many other young Gambians, Max initially aspired to work in an office after finishing high school.

He discussed the persistent challenges he faces as an aspiring entrepreneur.

“Some customers lack understanding,” he explained, adding that some will order clothing and then change their minds upon delivery.

“Some will request clothes, but when you deliver, they won’t pay, offering excuses like, ‘I don’t like this’ or ‘It’s not what I ordered…’” he continued.

Despite these ongoing difficulties, young Max remains dedicated to achieving his business goals.

“I am determined to ensure my success. It’s not easy, but with hard work and dedication, anything is possible. Allah can make it happen,” he stressed.

Known affectionately as Max Sonko, he is now attracting customers who appreciate his unique fashion offerings.

“I assist my clients in finding exactly what they desire. It’s a trust we build together,” he remarked.

He mentioned that his biggest clients include Bakary Mankajang (Mankajang Daily), Buba, Kaddijatou Jallow, a Gambian based in the US, Yusupha Jatta (360 Pluz), and one Gaddafi, among others.

His confidence in the business is bolstered by the consistent feedback he receives from his expanding clientele after they purchase the clothes he has ordered. Sonko aims to become a leading fashion store owner in the country to inspire others to pursue their dreams, regardless of the obstacles they encounter.

Annetta BV Mahoney: Gambian Civic Leader Championing Transparency and Democratic Engagement

Seringe Touray
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Annetta BV Mahoney: Gambian Civic Leader Championing Transparency and Democratic Engagement

By Michaella Faith Wright

Annetta BV Mahoney, a Gambian civic leader and Mandela Washington Fellow, stands at the forefront of efforts to combat corruption, reform governance, and promote active citizen participation in The Gambia.

As Programs Manager at Gambia Participates, Mahoney has emerged as a bold advocate for transparency and civic engagement. Raised in Bundung, her academic journey began at Nyakoi Nursery School and continued through Gambia Methodist Academy, culminating at the American International University West Africa (AIUWA), where she graduated Cum Laude in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics.

“I’ve always believed that citizens have the power to transform institutions,” Mahoney says. “That belief is what fuels my work every day.”

Her professional career began at the African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS), where she spent three years as a program assistant, focusing on peacebuilding and reconciliation initiatives—particularly those empowering women and youth affected by conflict.

At Gambia Participates, Mahoney leads several high-impact initiatives, including legislative advocacy for the 2019 Anti-Corruption Bill, civic education on electoral reform and constitutional rights, and regional campaigns addressing Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs). She also works to expand youth and women’s political participation, facilitates peace dialogues, and contributes to election observation missions both locally and internationally.

In 2024, her leadership was recognized on the global stage when she was selected as a Mandela Washington Fellow at Michigan State University. That same year, she was named a Young Global Changemaker.

“I am deeply passionate about fighting corruption and making sure every voice—especially those of marginalized groups—is heard in our democracy,” she adds.

Mahoney’s journey reflects an unyielding commitment to transparency, inclusion, and civic empowerment—principles she continues to champion both nationally and internationally.

The Loot – Jammeh’s Assets

Hadram Hydara
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The Loot – Jammeh’s Assets

OPINION

By Momodou Ndow

The only things Jammeh came into power with were rata toy on both sides of his mouth, dala yu kamambay, and a stinky attitude. He took over under the pretense of eradicating corruption. But without a doubt, he’s turned out to be Gambia’s biggest thief. He once boasted that even his grandchildren would never be poor. He didn’t just steal, he raped and murdered countless innocent people too. He impregnated the society with evil, and now we are witnessing the offspring of that pregnancy in different forms.

The Republic’s investigation into his alleged financial wrongdoings found that he had stolen at least $362 million, lavishly spending it on expensive vehicles, aircraft, and real estate. But why stop at $362 million? Why not round it up to $400 million? Better yet, $500 million? How many billions of dalasis would that be? I’m not about to risk the few brain cells I’ve got left trying to calculate that—someone else can take on that math problem.

And Jammeh did it all while holding a Quran ‘ak Kuruss’, preaching Allah ‘teng ning teng’! He was revered by many—some practically worshipped him. When he poured out his Sam Sam Evian, people rushed to receive their “blessing.”

Before I go any further, I must thank The Republic for their masterpiece of an investigation. What an incredible piece of journalism. I can only imagine the time and resources that went into it. Though the report is lengthy and extremely detailed, I’ll focus on three key areas that stood out to me:
1. The release of the stolen assets by the court
2. The sale of the Fajara property
3. Alpha Kapital Advisory

1. The Release of the Stolen Assets

In 2018, High Court Judge Amina Saho-Ceesay froze some of Jammeh’s assets at the request of the Ministry of Justice, led by Baa Tambadou. Augustus Prom was appointed as the Receiver, but was later replaced—something Judge Saho-Ceesay called illegal. She argued that dismissing a court-appointed Receiver via “administrative procedures” is “unknown to law.”

Later, the Ministry applied to release plots of Jammeh’s land within the Tourism Development Area, which had been frozen by the High Court. Judge Saho-Ceesay denied the request. Then, while her court was on vacation, the Ministry filed the same application before vacation judge Hon. Justice Ebrima Jaiteh—who approved the release.

Justice Jaiteh later admitted his court was blindfolded into making that decision, calling it an “abuse of process.” He said, “They should have filed an appeal… not a fresh case before me. I was not aware of Amina’s judgment. It was an abuse of process.”

Tambadou countered that the application before Justice Jaiteh was a fresh one, with new details, and therefore not an abuse of process. But why not simply appeal the existing ruling instead of filing a fresh application with added “details”? Was this a deliberate workaround? Hmmm.

Justice Jaiteh essentially claims he was misled into unfreezing the stolen assets. But how could he, an active judge, be unaware of a landmark ruling that even those who are not in the legal profession were aware of? He should have been following the case closely. Hmmm.

2. The Sale of the Fajara Property

Once the assets were released, MOAB Capital—owned by Binta Ceesay, who is in a relationship with Baa Tambadou—was hired to work with Alpha Kapital to sell off Jammeh’s physical assets and shares. This alone raises massive red flags for conflict of interest. Unprofessional. Unethical. How convenient. Hmmm.

Among the assets sold was the Fajara property that was mortgaged to the Arab Gambia Islamic Bank Limited in December 2004 by Baboucarr Sompo Ceesay. After defaulting on the loan, the bank obtained a judgment of D8, 763, 254 against Baboucarr Sompo Ceesay (who happens to be Binta Ceesay’s ex-husband) and order for judicial sale of the property.

If the property was used as collateral for the loan and qualified for a D8,763,254 judgment, it would be reasonable to assume that the land was valued at least at that amount. So, how was Sompo Ceesay able to purchase the same land—foreclosed by the bank due to his loan default—for only D3 million? According to their agreement, Sompo was to include the names of the three children he shares with Binta Ceesay (the seller and his ex-wife) on the deed.

Sources say the property was jointly purchased by Sompo and Binta. In a July 2020 letter to Alpha Kapital, Binta stated she paid for the property and wanted out of the deal after Sompo failed to honor their agreement. He refused to put their children’s names on the deed.

Let’s be clear: Alpha Kapital—the company hired by Baa and his ministry—worked directly with MOAB Capital (owned by Baa’s love interest Binta) to dispose of a property that originally belonged to Sompo, Binta’s ex-husband. This is corruption at its finest.

Binta claim she paid for the land with the intent that their three children would be beneficiaries. But Sompo double-crossed her, kept the land, and as of April 29, still has the property in his name—not their children’s. The double cross! What’s built on deceit will always crumble under its own weight.

3. Alpha Kapital Advisory

Alpha Kapital was hired by Baa Tambadou and his Ministry of Justice to work with Binta Ceesay in disposing of Jammeh’s assets. They facilitated the sale of the Fajara property to her ex-husband, Sompo Ceesay—all done quietly, behind closed doors.

Assuming Alpha Kapital Advisory is a professional accounting firm, they should have known better. This is a blatant conflict of interest and may even be criminal. Alpha Kapital should’ve advised against it.

On top of it all, Alpha Kapital earned a 10% commission on all assets sold, and 5% on all shares liquidated. The Janneh Commission previously protested a similar 10% fee taken by Augustus Prom, arguing it should be reduced to 3%. So, who approved the 10% this time? The court—or Baa and his ministry?

At the end of the day, no matter how you slice it, there are glaring ethical violations in every one of these three key areas. So, how can Baa Tambadou claim he did nothing wrong? The potential conflicts of interest are clear and numerous—not to mention the other backdoor deals regarding the rest of Jammeh’s assets that may still be hidden. Unless Baa wants us to believe that this is the normal course of business, which I highly doubt.

Unity Crucial for Opposition in December 2026 Presidential Election; Urgent Call for Transparent Appointment of New IEC Chief by President Barrow

Hadram Hydara
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Unity Crucial for Opposition in December 2026 Presidential Election; Urgent Call for Transparent Appointment of New IEC Chief by President Barrow

OPINION

By Bakary J. Janneh

The political atmosphere is taking shape as The Gambia prepares for the crucial December 2026 presidential election.

Yet, one reality is becoming increasingly clear: unless opposition parties rally together and form a united front, President Adama Barrow and his National People’s Party (NPP) led coalition are poised to retain power with relative ease.

Since assuming office, President Barrow has demonstrated political resilience, navigating through challenges while strengthening his coalition. The NPP, alongside its partners, enjoys the advantage of incumbency, access to state machinery, and a relatively stable support base. Without significant counterbalancing from the opposition, the scales are tipped heavily in favour of the current administration.

Opposition fragmentation has historically undermined efforts to mount a serious challenge in Gambian elections. Different ideological positions, leadership rivalries, and a lack of a coherent strategy have often allowed ruling parties to triumph with divided votes since independence. If these parties, including the UDP, PDOIS, GDC, and others, fail to forge a strategic alliance or common platform, they risk repeating the same mistakes, much to the dismay of their supporters.

Moreover, institutional readiness is equally vital. A key step toward ensuring a credible election is the appointment of a new chairman for the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). Since the retirement of the former commission chairman, there is a growing concern among stakeholders that delays in naming a successor could compromise preparations for the 2026 polls.

There is an urgent need for President Barrow to act swiftly and transparently in appointing a qualified, impartial chairman before mid-2025. The credibility of the election process hinges on the perception of independence and professionalism at the IEC. Any suspicion of manipulation or political favouritism could erode public trust and destabilise the post-election atmosphere.

The next few months will be critical. For the opposition, the path to victory lies in coalition building, strategic candidate selection, and issue-based campaigning.
For the President, ensuring a fair and credible electoral process will be a legacy-defining moment. Gambians deserve a free, fair, and competitive election, one that strengthens the country’s growing democratic culture.

The clock is ticking, and the choices made now will determine the outcome in December 2026 and the political future of The Gambia.

Africa Must Rise: The Final Battle Against Neo-Colonialism and Western Puppetry

Seringe Touray
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Africa Must Rise: The Final Battle Against Neo-Colonialism and Western Puppetry

The struggle for African liberation did not end with the lowering of colonial flags and the recitation of independence speeches. What followed was a more insidious and calculated form of control neocolonialism, which continues to cripple the continent economically, politically, and culturally.

Africa remains in chains, not with iron shackles but with debts, foreign aid dependency, policy manipulation, and covert regime change tactics. The dream of true sovereignty has been manipulated by former colonial powers who now operate through proxy governments, exploitative corporations, and so-called development agencies with imperialist agendas.

Africans must come to terms with the bitter truth that the so-called colonial masters will never desire the complete unity and liberation of the African continent. Their tactics have evolved from direct rule to diplomatic manipulation, media censorship, covert assassinations, and economic sabotage.

Every strong African leader who has ever dared to chart an independent path has faced hostility from within and without. These enemies of progress infiltrate, sow discord, and use African collaborators to neutralize revolutionary minds. The fate of leaders like Patrice Lumumba, Amilcar Cabral, Thomas Sankara, and many others shows how betrayal, often orchestrated by external forces, remains a key weapon in the hands of neocolonialists.

Today, Captain Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina Faso stands as a bold symbol of the ongoing struggle for African dignity and independence. Much like his revolutionary predecessors, he faces enormous pressure not only from foreign governments but also from traitorous elements within his own ranks.

France and America, in their pursuit to retain geopolitical control and resource access in the Sahel, are deploying both soft and hard power to frustrate Burkina Faso’s efforts at self-determination. The hypocritical posturing of Western states as protectors of democracy and freedom is a smokescreen to undermine any leadership that refuses to bend to their will.

These western powers camouflage their control mechanisms through international financial institutions, intelligence networks, and NGOs disguised as donors. Under the pretext of humanitarianism and development, they impose policy prescriptions that undermine African sovereignty. Any attempt to build local industries, nationalize resources, or reduce foreign dependency is met with economic sanctions, coup support, or character assassination. The goal remains the same: to keep Africa weak, fragmented, and dependent.

What is happening in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger is more than a regional matter; it is a continental awakening. The boldness of Sahelian leaders to expel French troops, sever exploitative ties, and reassert their countries’ sovereignty is a call to all African nations to rally behind them.

Africa must learn from history and refuse to be used as pawns by imperial powers whose only interest lies in mineral wealth and strategic positioning. Solidarity among African states, pan-African collaboration, and grassroots mobilization must be intensified to resist recolonization in all its forms.

The time has come for Africa to rise – not in rhetoric but in action. African Union must be more than a ceremonial body; it must champion the cause of true liberation. Citizens must awaken to their collective strength and reject puppet regimes. Let the sacrifices of Sankara, Cabral, and Lumumba not be in vain.

Let the resistance of Captain Traoré be a reminder that Africa is still fertile with hope and courage. The destiny of Africa lies in African hands and it is time to take full control.

Servant Musa Ousainou Yali Batchilly
Secretary General and Party Leader
Gambia Action Party (GAP).

Truth, Compassion, and the Path to National Healing – The Many Sides of Jammeh – Good Side and the Callous

Seringe Touray
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Truth, Compassion, and the Path to National Healing – The Many Sides of Jammeh – Good Side and the Callous

By Suntou Touray

To be fair, Yahya Jammeh’s legacy is not one-dimensional. Many Gambians benefited from his policies and generosity. He awarded scholarships, provided financial support to individuals, and elevated many from disadvantaged backgrounds through PaJEP project and other random methods.

After acknowledging that, it is therefore prudent to come to terms with his human folly. Yahya Jammeh is, first and foremost, a human being. Like all human beings, he was capable of making mistakes. Yet, the mistakes he made during his presidency were not minor—they were profound, emotional, and, tragically, deadly. Many Gambians lost their lives, their freedom, and their dignity under his rule.

For those who continue to love and admire him, the most noble and human response is not blind loyalty, but a sincere acknowledgment of his wrongs. The Noble Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught us that when one commits grave errors, the righteous path is Tawba—repentance. This involves seeking forgiveness from God and from those who were harmed. That is the beginning of emotional and moral accountability, and it is an act of strength, not weakness.

What is deeply troubling, however, is the persistent refusal by some to accept the consequences of Jammeh’s actions—choosing instead to defend the indefensible. This stance reflects a lack of compassion and an erosion of our collective empathy. It diminishes the pain of countless victims and their families.

The Gambian people are, by nature, a forgiving nation. And for the sake of national brotherhood, if supporting Jammeh provides emotional fulfillment for some, that is a personal decision. But such support should never come at the cost of truth. It should not invalidate the pain endured by others or erase the lived experiences of those who suffered under his regime.

I speak from personal experience. In December 2007, I was detained at the Navy Headquarters. It was only by the grace and intervention of one naval officer on duty that I was released without harm. Had that officer not been present, I could have become another name in the long list of Gambians who were brutally tortured or disappeared. That moment stays with me—not as bitterness, but as a testimony to how fragile survival was for so many.

To be fair, Yahya Jammeh’s legacy is not one-dimensional. Many Gambians benefited from his policies and generosity. He awarded scholarships, provided financial support to individuals, and elevated many from disadvantaged backgrounds. His government opened the civil service to those who previously had little access, and he sponsored spiritual pilgrimages for many of his supporters, particularly women.

Yet, these contributions do not and should not absolve him of the serious human rights violations that occurred during his time in power. It is human to feel gratitude for the good one has received. But it is also human—and necessary—to show empathy toward others who carry scars from the same era.

We must create space for both truths: that some Gambians were empowered by Jammeh’s leadership, and others were irreparably harmed by it. A healthy society is one that can hold these truths simultaneously without allowing one narrative to silence the other.

I remember my late friend, Ebrima Solo Sandeng—may Allah grant him eternal peace. He was a principled man, a brilliant humanist, and a compassionate family man. To his family and to the families of all victims of past injustices, I extend my deepest prayers: may Allah grant them Jannah and peace.

The road to national healing begins with acknowledgment. Only by facing the past honestly and with compassion can we move toward reconciliation, justice, and unity.

Gambinos Stars Africa Triumphs Over RS Talinding 7-1 to Top Gambinos U14 Cup

Seringe Touray
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Gambinos Stars Africa Triumphs Over RS Talinding 7-1 to Top Gambinos U14 Cup

By: Dawda Baldeh

Gambinos Stars Africa has surged to the top of Group A in the ongoing Gambinos Cup Tournament in Lamin Mandinary with a commanding 7-1 victory over RS Talinding.

The hosts opened the tournament against Senegal Elite Stars in a tightly contested match featuring 30-minute halves, which ended in a 2-2 draw. Sulayman Sambou put Senegal Elite Stars ahead with a long-range effort in the first half, but Gambinos Stars Africa’s Biran Bah responded with a well-placed header to level the score. In the second half, Senegal’s Momodou Lamin Sanneh (#8) restored their lead in the 7th minute, only for Modou Lamin Bah of Gambinos to equalize just two minutes later with a powerful shot, sealing the draw.

In the second fixture, LK City and RS Talinding battled to a 1-1 draw as both teams struggled to assert dominance. The third game saw Senegal Elite Stars bounce back with a resounding 4-1 win over RS Talinding. Sulayman Sambou was the star of the match, netting a hat trick to bring his tournament tally to four goals, while midfielder Younous Patrick Mayol (#6) added a low shot from inside the box. RS Talinding’s only goal came early in the game through Lamin Sanneh.

Gambinos Stars Africa then returned to the field for their second match, producing a stunning 6-1 win over RS Talinding. Right-winger Muhammed Ali Bah stole the show with a hat trick, while Aziz Nadella, Abdoulie Fatty, and Derek Sonko each added a goal to the tally. RS Talinding’s consolation goal was scored by Ebrima Drammeh.

With the group stage matches concluded, Gambinos Stars Africa now leads Group A with four points and nine goals, following their draw with Senegal Elite Stars and emphatic victory over RS Talinding.

AB Beautiful Blinds: A Journey of Passion, Quality, and Empowerment in The Gambia’s Interior Design Industry

Seringe Touray
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AB Beautiful Blinds: A Journey of Passion, Quality, and Empowerment in The Gambia’s Interior Design Industry

AB Beautiful Blinds is a dynamic business in The Gambia specializing in custom-made window blinds and other interior design solutions. Focused on quality, customer satisfaction, and local job creation, the company has grown from a small venture into a recognized leader in the interior design and home improvement industry, with plans for regional expansion.

Founder Saihou Balajo shared how the idea for the business was born. “I noticed a gap in the market for custom-made window blinds here in The Gambia. Before AB Beautiful Blinds, people were stuck with readymade blinds that didn’t fit properly or match their personal styles. I wanted to offer tailored solutions that could truly meet the needs of both homes and businesses.”

The road from concept to launch wasn’t easy, but Balajo was determined. “The journey was challenging, but I was committed to making it happen,” he explained. “I spent a lot of time researching the best products, testing materials, and building relationships with suppliers. It took a lot of effort, but slowly, we started to build trust with our clients and establish our brand.”

One of the early hurdles was the high cost of raw materials, which made competitive pricing difficult. “In the beginning, the cost of materials was high, which made it hard to offer affordable options,” Balajo recalled. “On top of that, many people didn’t really understand the value of window blinds. So we had to invest a lot in educating the market—using social media, word-of-mouth, and before-and-after examples to show the transformation customized blinds can bring.”

When it comes to quality, AB Beautiful Blinds maintains a high standard. “We pride ourselves on clear communication, attention to detail, and precision at every stage,” Balajo said. “I personally oversee many projects to make sure we meet our standards. We only use materials tested for durability and aesthetic appeal. Every project is tailored to the client’s needs, and we always follow up to ensure satisfaction.”

Beyond products and services, AB Beautiful Blinds is playing a role in youth empowerment and employment. “We train young Gambians in skills like measurement, installation, and customer service,” Balajo said. “It’s important to me that we’re not just building a business—but building people. As we grow, we bring others along with us.”

Looking ahead, the company plans to extend operations beyond its current locations in The Gambia, Senegal, and Sierra Leone. “Our goal is to open more branches and showrooms across The Gambia,” Balajo revealed. “We also plan to launch sub-businesses in related areas like interior design, so we can offer a more complete experience.”

To young Gambians hoping to start their own ventures, Balajo had a message: “Start small, be open to learning, and stay consistent. The most important thing is to take that first step. Challenges will come, but if you’re committed, you’ll grow.”

Backway Returnee Recalls Painful Journey, Torture, and Inhumane Treatment

Seringe Touray
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Backway Returnee Recalls Painful Journey, Torture, and Inhumane Treatment

By Mama A. Touray

Amfaal Mbaye, a “Backway” returnee, has opened up about his harrowing experience of embarking on a perilous journey across the Mediterranean Sea in search of better opportunities abroad.

A former Political Science student at the University of The Gambia, Mbaye left the country in 2022 with hopes of continuing his education and building a better life overseas. Today, back in The Gambia, he not only shares stories of struggle and survival but also carries a renewed sense of purpose and determination. He is committed to resuming his bachelor’s degree and remains hopeful for a brighter future.

Reflecting on his ordeal, Amfaal spoke of the pain, frustration, and torture he endured during his journey—a journey that ultimately ended in failure and forced him to return home. He described the dangerously inadequate boat used for the crossing, which played a major role in the failed attempt.

“My first push wasn’t successful because of bad agents, and the boat was just a balloon—not wood or metal. Even a sharp string could burst it, and everyone on board could die,” he explained.

Amfaal also recounted the desperate conditions in the desert, where food and clean water were scarce.

“I took an oath that I must make it, no matter the consequences. You’d see women and children struggling in the desert, everyone fighting for food. It was not easy—we survived on garri and biscuits. Sometimes we’d pour water into empty fuel gallons and drink it. When we belch, we smell the scent of oil, but we had no other choice. What shocked me most was seeing people drink their own urine to survive,” he recalled.

Despite spending over D400,000 on the unsuccessful journey, Amfaal believes the risk and expense were worth it—at least in principle.

“My family and my future are worth it. I didn’t plan to go to Europe and roam the streets or become a drug dealer. My plan was to further my education and live a decent life. The painful part is, if it fails, you lose everything. Yet, if you ask your family to give you that amount of money to start a business, they won’t.”

Sharing his thoughts on what drives many Gambians to leave the country, Amfaal pointed to economic hardship as the root cause.

“Gambians are economic migrants. We’re not fleeing war, famine, or persecution like some other nations, but we’re facing a different kind of struggle—poverty, lack of opportunity, and a failing economy. People from other countries are shocked when they hear Gambians are leaving. They don’t understand, but we know what we’re going through.”

He stressed that the government alone cannot stop irregular migration and proposed long-term solutions to address the issue.

“They can’t stop irregular migration by force. Between 2022 and 2023, more Gambians entered Spain than migrants from Libya or Tunisia entering Italy. The government needs to have real plans, starting with reforming our education system. The current curriculum doesn’t serve the needs of the population—especially the youth.”

Amfaal believes that if The Gambia’s education system were more aligned with the aspirations of its young people, fewer would risk their lives on such dangerous journeys.

Public Statement: Immediate Call to Stop the Deportation of Lamin Jarjusey and Protect His Right to Health

Hadram Hydara
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Public Statement: Immediate Call to Stop the Deportation of Lamin Jarjusey and Protect His Right to Health

Date: 11 April 2025

We, the undersigned and all concerned individuals and organisations committed to human rights and justice, strongly condemn the arrest, detention, and the planned deportation of Mr. Lamin Jarjusey, a gravely ill individual who is currently undergoing life-saving medical treatment in Germany.

After his asylum application was rejected, Mr. Jarjusey has been living in Germany under Duldung (tolerated stay). Despite this status, he has demonstrated remarkable resilience, integrity, and commitment to integration. Lamin has undergone multiple major surgeries since arriving in Germany (December 2019, December 2019, and 2024) and is currently receiving intensive, ongoing medical care for a chronic and life-threatening illness.

His medical situation is critical. His attending physician has confirmed—both in written form and verbally—that without continued medical treatment and access to vital medication in Germany, Lamin Jarjusey’s life is at serious risk. According to his doctors, the healthcare infrastructure in The Gambia is insufficient to meet the complexity and urgency of his condition.

Despite this, Lamin was arrested on 9 April 2025 and is facing imminent deportation to The Gambia on 15 April 2025. This act represents not only a violation of basic human compassion but potentially a violation of both German constitutional rights and international human rights obligations.

We remind the German authorities and international bodies of the following:

Article 25(1) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states:
“Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself… including medical care and necessary social services…”

Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) (which Germany has ratified) recognizes “the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.” Deporting Mr. Jarjusey under these conditions would constitute a violation of this treaty.

The European Convention on Human Rights (Article 3) prohibits torture and inhuman or degrading treatment. Forcing Lamin to return to a country where he cannot access life-saving treatment may amount to inhuman treatment, as recognized in case law of the European Court of Human Rights (e.g., Paposhvili v. Belgium, 2016).

According to German Basic Law (Grundgesetz) Article 1, “Human dignity shall be inviolable. To respect and protect it shall be the duty of all state authority.” Denying Lamin the medical care he urgently needs directly contradicts this principle.

Despite immense physical suffering, Lamin has shown extraordinary character:

He is gainfully employed, contributing to society and not dependent on public welfare.

He has no criminal record and has complied with all legal and civic obligations.

His colleagues, employer, and community speak highly of his dedication, respectfulness, and courage.

We urgently call on the following stakeholders to intervene immediately and prevent this life-threatening deportation:

The Government of The Gambia, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Gambia Immigration Department, and Gambia Human Rights Commission

International Organization for Migration (IOM)

Human rights organizations in Germany and worldwide

German authorities, especially the Härtefallkommission Stuttgart, to urgently re-examine his case as a humanitarian emergency

Health is a fundamental human right, not a privilege tied to immigration status. To deport Lamin Jarjusey in his current medical state would be a death sentence. We must not let that happen in silence.

We stand in solidarity with Lamin Jarjusey and call on all responsible authorities to act with humanity and in accordance with the law.

#LetLaminStay
#HealthIsAHumanRight
#StopTheDeportation

Signed,
Gambia European Centre for Jobs Migration and Development Agency.
Stuttgart.

FATE OF A DESPERATE SOUL

Hadram Hydara
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FATE OF A DESPERATE SOUL

By Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

“His sweet talk wove a spell around me with promises of marriage that crumbled when I discovered his two wives. Pregnant and abandoned, I watched him unravel, not just from my life but from the web of lies he had spun. Once a student with dreams that burned bright, I’m now cast out of school, my future a flickering ember. The excuses I crafted for my parents to preserve their image of me as their pure and untarnished girl dissolved against the weight of their knowing. He texted me to meet at his rented house, a snare I stepped into blindly; now his silence traps him in a prison of his own making, one he’ll never escape.”

Bintaa had once been a vision in her crisp school uniform, tall and fair-skinned. Her elegance was a quiet flame amid the chaos of teenage chatter. Her full lips parted in a shy smile, with small ears catching the light and silver rings nestled beneath her dark hair. Slim yet strong, she moved with a grace that seemed effortless, a blue bag scrawled with “miss” in red slung over one shoulder, or a white one fit for a bride cradled in her arms. Her brown eyes shimmered with ambition, her teeth flashing white against her sharp, dark jawline – a proud mark of her Fulani roots.

Binta was raised in a home where faith and honor were the mortar binding every brick. As the eldest child of Yafatou and Pa Lamin, she lived under their unyielding rules: returning home after school, chanting prayers at dusk, attending evening dara lessons by lamplight, and upholding the family’s dignity above all else. Yafatou pictured the night Bintaa would be draped in white, handed to a husband as a jewel of tradition, while Pa Lamin swelled with pride over her virtue, his voice booming her praises to neighbors. In her early secondary years, Bintaa embodied the dreams her parents had for her. She was their triumph: earning top marks, displaying flawless conduct, and serving as a beacon for teachers and a mirror for peers. Parents in their community would urge their daughters to emulate her as a model.

At school, her beauty drew stares, but Bintaa kept her eyes on her books and her dreams a ladder to hoist her family higher. In her final year, with exams looming like a gateway to glory, Sulayman Touray slithered into her orbit. A handsome English teacher in his mid-thirties, he camouflaged cunning with charm. Known as the “Gambian Shakespeare” for his mastery of language and literature, Sulayman, at thirty-four, juggled two wives and four children across separate homes. Yet two wives never sated him. Teaching was his stage, seduction his script, and luring students to his bed had become a game he played with impunity.

To Sulayman, women were vessels: pliable, predictable, meant to bend to his will. He saw them as extensions of his power, their beauty a currency he could claim, and their trust a weakness he could exploit. His mother had been a shadow to his father’s thunder, his sisters hushed echoes in their husbands’ compounds. In his classroom, he reigned as a king, students his pawns, and their innocence his battlefield. Bintaa, radiant and ripe with potential, unfortunately, became his next conquest.

It began with flattery. “You’re a star, Bintaa,” he’d purr, his voice smooth as the Sanyang beach. Bintaa would blush, and her heart would quicken under the spotlight of his praise. Sulayman fed on that flush, a predator savoring the scent of prey. He offered free extra lessons for grade 12 students gearing up for the West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination. He would scribble his number on the board with a casual, “Call anytime.” Bintaa, starved for success, bit the hook, blind to the trap beneath.

Their first meeting unfolded in the school’s cluttered library, desks crooked and air thick with chalk dust. After a quick exchange of words, Sulayman invited her to his rented house for “extended lessons.” The next day, Bintaaa lied to her parents about staying late for class, her voice steady despite the tremor in her chest. Her peers shrugged off his offer, some wary, others indifferent, leaving Bintaa to hunt her grades solitary. At his house, a shabby den shared with colleagues and funded as a lure for women, he told her. “Has anyone told you you’re the prettiest girl here?” he murmured, leaning close, his breath warm against her ear. “No, sir,” Bintaaa stammered, heat rising to her cheeks.

Sulayman played her like a fiddle, blending commendation with promises. One afternoon, as the school emptied under a blazing sun, he texted Bintaa: “Meet me at the house.”

She arrived expecting lessons, her books clutched tight, but he greeted her half-dressed, gesturing inside with a lazy grin. “Make yourself at home—this is your place now,” he said, stepping away under the guise of dressing. He returned moments later, sitting too close and his eyes tracing her like a map. “You’re special,” he whispered. “Imagine a life with me as your husband.” Bintaa froze, flattered yet uneasy, her mind a tangle of hope and doubt. His hands roamed on her breast, her ears—his touch a tide that swept away her defenses. That day, behind the pretense of lessons, their secret took root, shattering the bright arc of her future. Sulayman, tethered to two wives, stripped her pride bare. She wept, but his “I’ll marry you” hushed her tears, a lie she clung to like driftwood in a storm.

At first, it felt like a lifeline. Bintaa trusted him, swept into his vows like a moth to flame. Their clandestine meetings became a pulse stolen hours in his dimly lit den and his whispers a balm to her guilt. She’d rush home before dusk, masking her shame with forced smiles, clutching a future he’d never deliver. Inside, a war raged: the girl who’d memorized Quranic verses at night and honored rules battled the one who now craved his touch. “What am I becoming?” she’d wonder, gazing at her reflection in a mirror above her bed. “This isn’t me—but what if it is?” The conflict chewed at her faith screamed betrayal, yet his words painted a dream she couldn’t unsee.

Six weeks later, sickness seized her: nausea twisting her mornings and weariness sinking into her bones. Too weak for school one day, she staggered home, her uniform clinging to her sweat-damp skin. Her parents, ever watchful, rushed her to the clinic after she retched into a basin. The doctor probed her symptoms: fatigue, fever, nausea—then paused. “When was your last period?” Her father Pa Lamin’s jaw tightened. “Is that necessary, doctor? She’s eighteen, still a child!” The doctor pressed for a test, and Pa agreed. Two minutes later, the truth crashed down: “She’s pregnant,” the doctor said, holding a test result in his hands. Her mother Yafatou gasped in shock, crumpling into a chair, and tears blazing her face. Pa Lamin turned to pebble, his eyes molten with rage.

“How could you, Bintaa?” Yafatou sobbed, hands trembling. “We gave you everything—love, faith, a path!” Her vision of a pure daughter ravaged like glass. Pa Lamin, who’d trumpeted her virtue, felt a betrayal knife through him. “Who?” he growled, voice rough as gravel. Bintaa faltered, fear choking her, but his glare pried it loose. “Mr. Jallow,” she whispered, “our English teacher.”

Pa Lamin demanded Jallow’s whereabouts. When he learned, he stormed to the house, Yafatou trailing, her wails slicing the air. They confronted him, fists pounding on his door. “I never promised marriage,” Jallow said coolly, arms crossed, his voice as flat as a dagger. “It was mutual. I’ll pay for the child—that’s it.” Pa Lamin’s fists clenched. “You preyed on her!” he roared. Jallow shrugged, unrepentant. “I never forced her—she came willingly,” he lied, his smirk a taunt.

Bintaa’s family wouldn’t end the pregnancy because faith forbade it.

“After all our praise, you brought this humiliation,” Pa Lamin sounded, his voice breaking. “Seven generations could feel this. Why trust him?” He turned away, unable to meet her eyes. Yafatou’s tears hardened into a brittle resolve, though the wound bled on.

Quickly, gossip blazed through the village. The community branded Bintaa “a wolf in sheep’s clothing.” Her classroom seat grew cold, her bags gathered dust, and her shoes stilled by the door. Friends drifted away, their pity sharper than scorn. But Jallow’s reckoning brewed.

Whispers reached his wives, Mariama and Hawa. Mariama, fierce and weary from his neglect, unearthed his trail of deceit, piling up like bones. Furious, she rallied Hawa, the second wife. One evening, they stormed his hideout, voices like thunder, dragging out evidence in texts. Students caught wind, and outrage swelled. Parents besieged the school, and Jallow was sacked, his career reduced to ash. His wives divorced him and demanded his assets. But the reckoning didn’t end there.

The community, once dazzled by his charm, turned with a vengeance. A group of fathers, led by Pa Lamin, lodged a formal complaint with the local authorities, their voices hoarse with rage as they recounted Sulayman’s predation not just on Bintaa but on others whose stories now surfaced like ghosts from the shadows. The police, pressured by the swelling crowd outside their station, hauled Sulayman in. He sat in a cramped, sweat-soaked cell, his usual swagger replaced by a scowl, as they pieced together testimonies: three other girls, lured and discarded over the years, and their families too embarrassed to speak until now.

The law moved slowly, but it moved. He was then taken to court. At the court hearing, the air thick with dust and anger, Sulayman stood defiant, his arms crossed, and claimed consent as his shield. But the evidence of texts promising marriage and witnesses to his coercion painted a predator, not a teacher. The magistrate, a stern woman with gray-streaked hair, sentenced him to seven years in prison for abuse of authority and statutory violations. “You preyed on trust,” the magistrate said, her voice cutting through his protests. “This ends here.”

Shackled and led away, Sulayman’s eyes darted to the crowd, to Pa Lamin’s glare, Mariama’s cold triumph, and the murmurs of students he’d once commanded. Shunned and caged, he festered in a concrete cell, the “Gambian Shakespeare” ameliorated to a cautionary tale, his only audience the rats skittering across the floor.

Bintaa heard the news from a neighbor, the words a bitter salvage “He thought he’d escape,” she murmured, her fingers tracing. “Fate caught him, and the law did too.” Her shame still lingered, a heavy cloak, but the weight of his punishment lifted a corner of it, letting a sliver of light through. “I was their star; how did I fall so far?” she thought, her hands trembling as she stitched cloth scraps. “If I could rewind, I’d see his lies. This is my fate now, and maybe this child is my hope.” Regret clawed at her, but a flicker of resolve sparked too—she’d bear this and rise.

Over time, Yafatou, her mother softened, her love laced with sorrow, while Pa Lamin’s silence melted into small acts, mending a stool, fetching water. Forgiveness came hard, but they stood by her, cradling her through the pregnancy Sulayman abandoned.

Eight months later, Bintaa labored under a tin roof, and Aisha was born, her brown eyes mirroring her mother’s. Her cry lit a fire in Bintaa, a vow to climb from the ashes. Aisha grew bold and bright, topping her class, and her laughter a salve. Yafatou taught her prayers, Pa Lamin carved her toys, and their love quietly mended. The village’s scorn faded as Bintaa sewed clothes, each stitch a brick in Aisha’s future. Sulayman’s promised money never came; he was gone, locked away, but Aisha shone. “This is my redemption,” Bintaa whispered, her desperate soul now a foundation of hope.

About the Author

Muhammed Lamin Drammeh (ML) is an award-winning Gambian journalist, recognized as the 2024 Gambia Press Union Journalism Excellence winner for his reporting on women’s issues.  With a Bachelor of Arts from the University of the Gambia, he brings his keen eye for detail and storytelling prowess to vivid fiction that reflects the complexities of real life.  He currently serves as the Communications Officer at the Gambia Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (GCCPC), while also leading as Secretary General of the Sports Journalists Association of the Gambia and Fortune Football Club.

Leadership, Accountability, and the Role of the Media in National Development

Seringe Touray
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Leadership, Accountability, and the Role of the Media in National Development

Eid-ul-Fitr is a sacred occasion that brings people together in the spirit of unity, peace, and reflection. It is a time when leaders, both political and religious, should engage in meaningful dialogue on national progress and societal well-being. However, when such meetings are reduced to comparisons of past regimes rather than focusing on pressing national issues, the opportunity for constructive engagement is lost.

Every administration in The Gambia, past and present, has had its share of successes and setbacks. Leadership is not about dwelling on the past but rather about learning from it to build a better future. President Adama Barrow must recognize that governance is a continuous process that requires learning, tolerance, and proactive decision-making. Instead of fixating on criticisms from the opposition and political opponents, he should focus on addressing the economic struggles, security concerns, and social challenges affecting Gambians daily. A leader who listens to criticism with an open mind is one who paves the way for national development.

Citizens have the constitutional right to express their opinions and critique government policies. Constructive criticism should not be seen as an attack but rather as a tool for improvement. Democracy thrives when leaders are held accountable, and governance should not be reduced to personal grievances or political rivalries.

Furthermore, the media plays a crucial role in shaping public perception and fostering informed decision-making. Journalists and media houses must exercise responsible journalism, ensuring that their reports are factual, unbiased, and geared towards national interest. While the media should not be silenced or intimidated, it must also uphold ethical standards and avoid sensationalism or misinformation that could incite division.

The Gambia must move forward by fostering a culture of dialogue, accountability, and national interest above partisan politics. Religious leaders should use such occasions to advise the government on policies that affect the people rather than engaging in discussions that add little value to national progress. Political leadership should focus on uniting the country and working towards sustainable development rather than engaging in unnecessary political debates.

A progressive nation is built on collective responsibility, where leaders govern with wisdom, citizens engage constructively, and the media serves as a bridge for information and accountability. It is time for The Gambia to embrace leadership that is forward-thinking, inclusive, and dedicated to the well-being of its people.

Servant Musa Ousainou Yali Batchilly
Secretary General and Party Leader
Gambia Action Party (GAP).

Fatoumata A. Jobe’s Journey as The Gambia’s Top Female Barber

Seringe Touray
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Fatoumata A. Jobe’s Journey as The Gambia’s Top Female Barber

By Michaella Faith Wright

In a profession traditionally dominated by men, Fatoumata A. Jobe has established herself as one of The Gambia’s finest barbers. With three years in the industry, her passion for barbering has driven her to overcome challenges and skepticism, turning her dream into reality.

For Fatoumata, barbering is more than just a profession—it’s a culture and a passion that has shaped her career. However, the journey has not been without obstacles. In a society where seeing a young female barber was once unheard of, she faced skepticism and doubt. Many questioned her abilities before giving her a chance, but she remained focused on her goal, believing that talent would always triumph over doubt.

“At first, people found it funny that a woman could be a barber. It was tough, but I chose to focus on the destination, not the journey. That mindset has brought me this far,” she shared.

Despite the hurdles, Fatoumata has become a rising star in the industry, earning the trust of her clients and proving that women can thrive in any profession they are passionate about. Her dream of being the best female barber in the country is slowly coming to life.

Balancing her career with her other profession as a teacher, she acknowledges that teaching alone cannot pay the bills, which is why she remains dedicated to barbering. She credits her boss for his unwavering support and belief in her talent, vowing to make him proud.

To young women aspiring to break into the barbering industry, Fatoumata offers words of encouragement: “If you have a passion for barbering, pursue it, love it, and never let doubt stop you.”

AB Beautiful Blinds: Crafting Custom Window Coverings for Homes and Offices in The Gambia

Seringe Touray
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0
AB Beautiful Blinds: Crafting Custom Window Coverings for Homes and Offices in The Gambia

AB Beautiful Blinds, a Gambian-owned business based in Bijilo, specializes in crafting custom window coverings tailored for both residential and commercial spaces. The company ensures precision by taking accurate window measurements before producing blinds that fit perfectly. “We take precise measurements of your windows, then use these measurements to create custom-made blinds, ensuring a perfect fit,” the company explained. Customers can choose from various materials, colors, and styles, with consultations helping to determine specific needs for “light control, privacy, and aesthetics.”

As a locally owned business, AB Beautiful Blinds supports the Gambian economy by creating jobs and reducing dependence on imported blinds. “We also help reduce reliance on imported blinds, promoting local manufacturing and supporting Gambian businesses. By offering a quality alternative to imported products, we help keep money circulating within the Gambian economy,” the company wrote in an official statement.

The business offers a variety of blinds, including vertical blinds and zebra (day and night) blinds. Preferences vary, with office spaces often opting for vertical or zebra blinds, while homeowners tend to prefer zebra blinds, with some also choosing vertical blinds. “For office spaces, customers usually prefer vertical blinds and sometimes zebra blinds due to their preferences. For home use, customers usually prefer zebra blinds as well as vertical blinds sometimes.” Zebra blinds remain popular due to their versatility and ability to control light effectively.

The ordering process involves consultation, design selection, pricing and payment, production, and installation. “A representative from AB Beautiful Blinds visits your home or office to discuss your needs and take measurements. Sometimes customers prefer taking the measurements themselves and sending them to us,” the company notes. After selecting styles, materials, and colors, an invoice is issued, requiring a 50% deposit before production begins. The blinds are then manufactured, and once completed, “it is communicated to the customer to schedule an ideal date and time for installation.”

To attract more customers, the company offers special promotions. “Special offers or promotions can attract more buyers by providing incentives, such as discounts, free upgrades, or bundled packages. These offers can make the purchase more appealing for customers who have been looking to purchase and encourage customers to choose AB Beautiful Blinds.”

Beyond Beauty: Binta Bojang Redefines Pageantry in The Gambia

Hadram Hydara
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0
Beyond Beauty: Binta Bojang Redefines Pageantry in The Gambia

By Michaella Faith Wright

Binta Bojang, a journalism student at the Media Academy for Journalism and Communication (MAJaC) and the reigning Miss MAJaC, is on a mission to change the negative perception of pageantry in The Gambia. She believes pageantry is more than just beauty; it serves as a platform for advocacy, empowerment, and social change.

For many, pageantry is often seen as a contest based on physical appearance. However, for Binta Bojang, it is a tool for advocacy. She explained that her journey into pageantry was inspired by the misconceptions many Gambians have about the profession.

“People think pageantry is just about beauty or exposing oneself, but I have come to realize it is beyond that,” Bojang said. “It is a platform where contestants discuss real issues affecting our country, from mental health to child abuse.”

As a strong advocate for children’s rights, Bojang has used her pageantry platform to raise awareness of child abuse. She believes that a nation that fails to protect its children is a failing nation.

“Look at the number of children begging in the streets, many of them stealing instead of being in school. Pageantry helped me find my voice to speak about these issues,” she stated.

Despite her passion, Bojang has faced mockery and body shaming, with many telling her pageantry is only for slim girls. However, she remained committed to her dreams.
“People discouraged me, but I didn’t give up. I love pageantry, and it has become a part of me,” she said.

Her determination paid off when she won her first crown at MAJaC, proving that pageantry is not just about beauty.

Though she once considered stepping back due to criticism, Bojang decided to stay and continue inspiring young girls.

“I am the voice of the voiceless, and I am not stepping back. I want to show the world that pageantry is beyond beauty,” she declared.

Bojang acknowledges that pageantry is challenging and costly, but she believes it offers opportunities that can lead to greater success.

“You never know where pageantry will take you. It is not easy, but it is worth it,” she concluded.

Introducing Saffiatou Joof, Author & Poet Advocating Change Through the Power of Writing

Hadram Hydara
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0
Introducing Saffiatou Joof, Author & Poet Advocating Change Through the Power of Writing

SPOTLIGHT

Saffiatou is a dynamic, young, and prolific individual, a discerning writer who frequently ignites discussions with her remarkable writing abilities. She is recognised for her poetic lifestyle and activism, enjoying a successful writing career that has inspired numerous individuals.

She continues to attract attention and sell her books on Amazon. On 15 February 2025, at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara Conference Centre, she and her team launched a distinctive project focused on waste management called the “Zero Waste Project Gambia,” attended by esteemed guests, students, educators, and environmental advocates.

Lamin B Jawara, the project director, delivered an impressive presentation outlining the project’s goals and strategies for maintaining a clean environment. The speakers commended and acknowledged Saffiatou’s vision, which is truly worthy of imitation. The launch was successful, addressing and discussing many significant issues.

The data collection method presented was excellent and will guide the project toward its goals. It was noted that this concept could shift many mindsets and encourage people to properly segregate their waste and refrain from littering, which poses risks to our lives. Since the announcement of the project, she has consistently urged her followers to take action regarding their environment.

“We must alter our perceptions, as our waste is intertwined with our lifestyles. It is time to change our mindset and contribute to our development. This cannot solely be managed by our authorities; we must take full responsibility for our actions,” she said.

The project aims to turn waste into a source of revenue, promote awareness, and work towards a cleaner environment for everyone. This should be a collective responsibility shared by communities across the regions.

She added that it’s important for people to understand that waste can have value, and we must put an end to littering in our streets.

“This is a crucial issue we must tackle, but it requires people to understand the benefits and work towards transformation. This can be achieved if the youth unite and cultivate a sense of ownership towards their environment,” Saffiatou explained.

Saffiatou’s educational journey began at Deeper Life School, where she completed both her primary and upper basic education. She then graduated from Gambia Senior Secondary School. Currently, she is studying computer science at American International University West Africa.

Her debut book, “Under the Spell of Poetry,” was a breakthrough success in 2022, selling 1,000 copies nationwide. In 2023, she also earned an undisclosed profit from the launch of her second book, “Words on War.”

Following the success of “Under the Spell of Poetry,” she established the Nna-kala Virtual Poetry Academy and the Standstill Organization in The Gambia. These organizations focus on training young people in poetry and leadership, providing them with opportunities to visit various locations alongside lecturers, motivational speakers, and influential figures who can inspire their future careers.

In addition to her literary endeavors, Saffiatou works part-time as a secretary at Sotuma Industrial and Commercial Trading while managing her book business and clothing brand. Her second book, “Words on War,” is currently one of the most engaging titles gaining traction online in The Gambia.

Through her network and organization, she is supporting a select number of students and assisting young individuals facing critical situations, such as health issues.

Writing has always been Saffiatou’s passion, and she is currently adapting her critical poetry style to penetrate the international market, which has become her primary focus. Her books can be found at Timbooktoo, Suba Bookshop, and Amazon.com.

Moreover, she believes that talent must be protected and nurtured. She expresses pride in her friends, fans, and family who support her work and thanks them for their motivation. Her poetry reflects the lives of her people, their needs, and her personal experiences, written in the style of authentic African poetry.

She is creatively critical and focused, believing that the future belongs to those who are serious and eager to overcome barriers. Following the successful launch of the Zero Waste Project Gambia, she and her dedicated team are inviting everyone to participate.

They are currently concentrating on forming partnerships with other organizations, engaging stakeholders to understand their project goals, and exploring ways to collaborate and promote the initiative.

Participating in the country’s development is a form of patriotism.

“This should not limit or hinder any young person from achieving their goals. Saffiatou and her team are prepared to take responsibility and lead by example as young individuals,” she explained.

Our Political Discourse – Misguided and Toxic

Hadram Hydara
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0
Our Political Discourse – Misguided and Toxic

OPINION

By: Mambanyick Njie
Deputy Ambassador
Havana-Cuba

Listening to the ongoing political discourse in both the mainstream and social media by politicians, members of CSOs and even ordinary Gambians, one will not fail to realise how misguided and toxic the Gambia’s political discourse has become. The overwhelming majority are engaged only in concerted criticism, character assassination, mudslinging and sometimes personal insults and rarely offer any alternative policies, programs and/or strategic solutions to the issues they criticize with so much passion. This aggressive behavior, in all honesty, contradicts the tenets of democracy and devalues the opportunity for peace, constructive discourse and social justice. The country, like many others, is faced with so many developmental challenges that need urgent attention from everyone that we cannot afford to waste so much time on trivial issues.

For some, the only argument they have got to offer to the Gambian people is ‘Let’s vote Barrow out’. Some would misguidedly draw parallels between the Gambian and Senegalese political environment citing the victory by PASTEF in the last Senegalese general elections and some hold the most extreme view that Gambians should take to the streets to liberate the country. But to liberate the country from whom and from what? These set of people must realize that the overwhelming majority of Gambians understand that we are not dealing with an unpopular dictator who must be removed by all means but with a president who with all intents and purposes, is a peaceful leader and a democrat to the core.

Besides, those who think they can replicate what happened in Senegal here in the Gambia must truly have a rethink because the scenarios in both countries are completely different for three (3) reasons:

1. The Senegalese constitution has a clause that deals with term limits clearly prohibiting any one person to govern for more than two consecutive terms, but the 1997 Gambian constitution doesn’t
2. Former President Macky Sall tried to stop the PASTEF movement and many other political movements from participating in Senegal’s last general elections by all means but President Barrow is not trying to stop any political movement from participating in the 2026 general elections
3. The PASTEF movement presented to the Senegalese people alternative policies and programs that they believed to be far more reflective of the wishes and aspirations of the Senegalese people, especially the youth hence the massive support for Sonko and PASTEF but the political movements in the Gambia are mainly good at criticizing and politicizing every little thing but rarely put anything convincing on the table for the majority of Gambians to even consider

Those calling for Gambians to rise up to remove President Barrow, by all means, must realize that the country does not need heroes but strategic thinkers who can effectively champion and/or contribute to the economic transformation of the nation. For example, what do they have to offer to transform our education system we inherited from the colonialists that does not equip us with the necessary skills and tools to help us decolonize our economic structures to make us less dependent on loans for our economic development?

It is important to note that the economic structures designed by the colonialists to perpetually keep us poor still persist today, and that is the problem for the Gambia in particular and across Africa in General. This is seen in the form of our external debt. Superficially, the debt trap sounds like a problem we have created because we are the ones borrowing and that our leaders and politicians are corrupt and mismanaging our resources. Some of these arguments may be true but looking deeper under the surface, one realizes that the colonial structures that were imposed on us only help to reproduce the debt trap. The truth is when a country is indebted, it relies on external lenders based on imposed conditions that tend to pursue deeper into the debt trap.

What do those seeking to replace Barrow suggest we should do about our youth unemployment issue which, by the way, is not specific to the Gambia? Even highly industrialized nations like China, The US, Great Britain, Germany and others have their own share of youth unemployment issues. This is indeed a problem that needs urgent attention to tackle as many of our youths have perished and continue to perish in the Atlantic. President Barrow and his government are doing what they can to address the youth unemployment situation in the country. Now it is left to those who seek to remove President Barrow from office to propose strategic alternative policies, programs and actions that are seen to be better than what currently exists as their own solution to this important issue.

What better alternative policies and programs are they putting forward that could transform our agriculture sector to ensure we attain food sovereignty such that we wouldn’t depend on others for our survival? It is of utmost importance for Gambians to note that there is a difference between food sovereignty and food security. Food sovereignty means that we have a right to define our food and agriculture systems and produce what we eat by ourselves and not depend on others for our basic food requirements. Food security on the other hand is a technical term which means that you are able to secure the calorie nutrition of your people either by producing the food by ourselves, or by using our own money or by borrowing to import from abroad which we do as a nation or by way of food aid. Let me remind ourselves that at the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine war, more than half of the African Heads of State travelled to Russia to meet and negotiate with Putin for a corridor for the uninterrupted flow of wheat into the continent. These are the kinds of serious developmental issues that we should be discoursing and fighting over and not some trivial superficial issues that only seek to entrench our seeming lack of political maturity.

Many people outside of the government sometimes make sweeping allegations of corruption against public officials even though they rarely provide evidence to back up such allegations. But even if those allegations were found to be true, what viable and result-oriented measures are they proposing to tackle corruption in the public service of the Gambia?

It is a documented fact that a handful of people have tried so hard since 2021 and even before to push President Barrow to the wall in a calculated effort to force him to react viciously to their provocations thereby presenting them with the opportunity they have been looking for to prove their wrong and misguided designation of him as a dictator. The Gambian people know that President Barrow is not a dictator, and this includes those trying to make us believe otherwise. If President Barrow was truly a dictator like former president Yahya Jammeh, then most of those making the loudest noise today would either have still been living abroad or hiding in their small corners of the country pretending not to have any interest in politics as was the case in the Jammeh era.

President Barrow is not perfect, and none of us is, but he has a perfect idea in his heart that we can engage in our political discourse with tolerance, patience and sometimes with little humor for the good of the country. It is important for all of us to realize that with our current democracy, we have an opportunity to be more civil in our politics and engage with each other positively and constructively for the strategic transformation of our country.

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect The Fatu Network’s editorial stance.

Tapping into the Future: Why The Gambia Needs Cashless Fare Payment

Seringe Touray
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0
Tapping into the Future: Why The Gambia Needs Cashless Fare Payment

By: Adama Sanneh

In The Gambia, clashes between drivers, conductors, and passengers are a common occurrence, often stemming from the scarcity of change and disputes over incomplete fares. These confrontations, which sometimes escalate into insults or even physical altercations, highlight the growing need for the country to adapt to the global shift toward cashless transactions.

A report by Elena Ivanova, published in The Recursive, reveals that 44% of urban residents worldwide use public transport daily to commute to work, school, or university. This statistic underscores the urgent need to modernize The Gambia’s transportation sector, particularly through the adoption of cashless fare payment systems.

The current cash-based system, while long-standing, poses significant challenges for both drivers and commuters. Ansumana Jawneh, a daily commuter along the Brikama-Banjul highway, describes the system as “outdated and inconvenient.” He explains, “I often experience delays due to the lack of change and disputes over fares.” For Ansumana, a cashless payment system would ensure convenience, security, and efficiency. “It would eliminate the need for physical cash, reduce fare disputes, and make commuting smoother,” he says. He urges authorities to collaborate with transport unions, banks, and mobile wallet providers to introduce a digital fare payment system.

Mamjarra Ceesay, a student, shares similar frustrations. She recalls instances of arriving late to school because conductors often lacked change. “Some conductors would keep you waiting or tell you they don’t have change, which wastes a lot of my time,” she says. While Mamjarra acknowledges the potential benefits of cashless transactions, she expresses concerns about security. “It depends because sometimes you might not have physical cash but have money in your mobile wallet. However, some people can send money and then retrieve it, which could affect drivers.” Despite her reservations, she calls on authorities to provide a more secure and convenient digital payment option.

Adama Bittaye, another regular commuter, acknowledges that the cash-based system has worked for years but notes its many shortcomings. “Occasionally, when someone unintentionally leaves their purse or wallet behind, they struggle to pay in cash. I’ve been affected by this,” he says. Adama also encounters issues with change during his daily commute, especially in the early mornings. He suggests that introducing a cashless payment system would ease the burden on both drivers and commuters, calling on stakeholders to consider it as a viable option for a smoother transportation experience.

Transitioning to a cashless payment system in The Gambia’s transportation sector offers transformative benefits, including improved efficiency, transparency, financial inclusion, and economic growth. The country can draw valuable lessons from neighboring West African nations like Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, and Benin, which have successfully integrated cashless payment systems into their public transport networks.

Drivers, as key stakeholders, play a crucial role in the success of this transition. Ebrima Camara, a seven-seater taxi driver at the Westfield-Turntable garage, welcomes the idea of cashless payments. “I have already started accepting fares digitally, so I don’t have a problem with that,” he says. Ebrima believes drivers should embrace digital transactions, noting, “We are in a digital era. There was a time I carried two boys who didn’t have cash, so they requested to pay through cashless means, and I accepted because I’m always online.” However, he acknowledges that some drivers are reluctant due to concerns about being offline and unsure whether payments have been received.

On the other hand, Amadou Leigh, another taxi driver, remains skeptical. “I don’t trust the cashless payment system because there are so many dishonest people,” he says. Amadou recounts an incident where a customer paid via WAVE, and he received a notification, but the money never appeared in his account. “Since that incident, I don’t trust any form of cashless transactions,” he adds. For Amadou, physical cash remains the only acceptable payment method, despite its challenges.

While the transition to cashless payments presents concerns such as security, user adoption, and underbanked communities, these barriers can be addressed through small-scale pilot projects, collaboration with mobile money providers and fintech firms, and government support. Public awareness campaigns will also be essential to educate citizens on the benefits and usage of cashless systems.

The Gambia’s Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy has already outlined its aspirations in the Draft Digital Transformation Strategy for The Gambia 2023-2028, emphasizing access to digital services and value creation for socio-economic development across all sectors. Adopting cashless fare payments in public transport would be a significant step toward achieving these goals and fostering a more digitally inclusive society.

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