A breakthrough has been reached in Gambia’s month-long doctors strike. The striking doctors have quashed their beef with the government; hence which led to the suspension of the strike. The decision to call off the doctor’s strike was announced on Saturday by the president of the Resident Doctors Association Ebrima Bah. Bah said the doctors have decided to return to work, following an agreement they reached with the government. He defended the strike action saying it was in line with their sworn oath; that’s to put patient care first before anything. Notwithstanding, Dr. Bah said they will continue to hold the government accountable especially on issues relating to revamping the collapsed health sector.

The followed, allegations made by the Health Minister Saffie Lowe Ceesay—accusing the junior doctors of stealing drugs from health facilities to open private pharmacies. A charge vehemently denied by the doctors.

In a joint statement signed by Gambia’s Vice President And Women Affairs Minister Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang, Dr. Ebrima Bah, and Dr. Basiru Gai, the government has agreed to entertain some of the doctors demands. For example, the government has promised to allocate $2 million dollars from the Gambia local fund to procure essential drugs and medical services through competitive international bidding.

The delivery of relief medical supplies and equipment worth half a million dollars from MedService through an NGO called Safe Hands for Girls was also part of the deal.

The agreement reached between the doctors and the government also called for the procurement of essential drugs and medical supplies worth $ 1 million dollars through a World Bank project under the management of the National Nutrition Agency (NANA). Nana is a Gambian nongovernmental organization.

Part of the agreement also called for a mobilized multidisciplinary assistance from the USAID, WORLD BANK, UNICEF, UNFPA, AND WHO for a countrywide strategic need assessment for a comprehensive health sector reform.

One of the key demands made by the doctors was for the firing of Health Minister Saffie Lowe Ceesay. Though that demand was not entertained during the negotiations.

Dr. Bah said based on the assurances given by the government to improve the country’s health sector, they have decided to end the strike action.

The government of president Adama Barrow has inherited a virtually collapsed health sector. Acute drug shortages coupled with decayed health infrastructure, are some of the health challenges facing the country.

Below is the memorandum of understanding document signed by the negotiating parties. VP Jallow Tambajang has signed on behalf of the government.

…………………………………..

Written By Pa Nderry M’Bai

The post Gambia: Breaking News: Gambian Doctors End Month Long Sit Down Strike; Amid Government’s Promise To Procure Drugs! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

Hundreds of people showed up on Saturday to take part in Solo Sandeng Freedom March, commemorating the peaceful demonstration spearheaded by United Democratic Party (UDP) youth wing to demand “proper electoral reforms”. The peaceful demonstration, which took place in April 14, 2016 was met with a full-scale crackdown by the Jammeh
regime, leading to the arrest of UDP supporters, and the torture to death of Ebrima Solo Sandeng.

“We are commemorating two years after gallant Gambians descended to the streets for electoral reforms, and also good laws in The Gambia,” Muhammed Sandeng, son of Ebrima Solo Sandeng, told this reporter.

The sad events that occur on these fateful days have left the entire country under shock, and are mainly seen by many observers as catalyst for the politic process that led to the end of  Yahya Jammeh’s 22-year rule. Dubbed ‘Solo Sandeng Freedom March’, the commemorative event followed the path taken by the protesters in April 2016.

Sandeng said the family needs justice. “The identification process should be fast-tracked. My father needs proper burial,” he added.

A trial involving top former officers of the defunct National Intelligence Agency (NIA) linked with Ebrima Solo Sandeng is still ongoing at the High Court, and continue to generate headline in the media. More security were recently arrested and charged in connection to April 14 évents.

Fatoumata Jawara, who was among the rare female protesters arrested along Ebrima Solo Sandeng, said they were 27 in numbers when they started the protest-march two years ago.

“When we were tortured, we never expect to come out alive,” she said.

Now a parliamentarian under UDP banner, Jawara said she keeps on praying for those who lost their life.

“This day should be celebrated by every citizen because what we fought for is what Gambians are enjoying now,” she stated.

Fatoumata Jawara called on Gambian government to pay attention to April 14 protesters, adding that many of them are in dire need of psychological counselling.

“Some of us are still dealing with trauma and grief.”

In a message conveyed to the marchers by Brikama North MP, Alhagie Darboe, UDP leader made it clear that Solo Sandeng and Co. stood up for democracy and rule of law.

“The rule of fear has been ended,” Ousainou Darboe said. He then added that our nation is healing from tyranny.

Fatou Camara, one of the prominent female activists who braved the ‘rule of fear’, said when they initiated the historic march, Gambia’s interests were put ahead. “We were only interested in justice and democracy.”

Do Sannoh, a member of UDP youth wing, said he was coming from hospital when he got a call from the marchers. “Upon my arrival to Bambo junction, I realised that we were surrounded by security forces. I did draw the attention of my colleagues, and suggest that we go back to our party headquarter. I was later allowed to go home,” he said.

He said justice must prevail in Solo Sandeng, and all cases of human rights abuses.

The tiny West African nation is recovering from two-decade long dictatorship by the Jammeh regime. The new gov’t is confronted with rising demand for justice as they push ahead with a reconciliation agenda.

Written by Abdoulie JOHN

The post Gambia: Solo Sandeng, Others Remembered appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

The Police spokesperson, David Kujabi, has denied reports indicating that the arrest of Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC) members in Jimara is politically motivated, saying they are going after individuals, not a political party.

The post Gambia: Police PRO Denies Reports Of ‘Politically Motivated Arrests’ appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

“Presidential security was raised with us, and is a cause for concern as it reinforces the image of a detached President. President Barrow is guarded by Senegalese Gendarmerie, reportedly in a bilateral arrangement funded by France, separate from ECOMIG. To gain access to the President’s residence we had to get past two Senegalese Gendarmes who spoke only French, and were presented with credentials with a Senegalese government stamp on,” a report issued by the Commonwealth revealed.

According to the Commonwealth report, the foreign guards around President Barrow don’t speak English. They communicate with visitors in French.

“This was not as isolated incident as one frustrated Ambassador told us he refuses to speak French to them and simply points at the ag on the front of his car and gestures to be allowed through. Clearly the issue of access to the Presidential residence is not an issue for many people, however the President is driven around in a large, loud, convoy and ringed by Gendarmes when out of his residence and so they are obvious to everyone. Their presence creates a visual image of a President separated from his people, and we were told of resentment among the Gambian armed forces at not being able to protect their own President. Nobody we spoke to could point to a threat to the President commensurate with this level of overt foreign protection,” the report added.

The police said the report, are currently protecting the cabinet and other senior public officials, and the Gambian security forces should be supported to assume the role at the earliest possible opportunity.

Constitutional Review

The impending Constitutional review must learn the lessons of the past. The Gambian national character has two consistent trends, a preference for accommodation over conflict, and tendency to internalise rather than complain. Gambians were consistently described CHRI2018 27 to us as laid back and accepting and none of our experiences on this Commission or previously leads us to contradict this. Because of this, and because as many groups that reinforced to us that Jammeh was a system and not an individual, and that ‘it could happen again even worse,’ now is the time with a new government operating in a decentralised manner, and generous international support and goodwill within the country and abroad, to enshrine and enable strong institutions to protect Gambians against a possible day in the future when a government might not fit these criteria. As our Chair, Barney Pityanay Pityana recalled from his own experience the South African Constitution of 1996 is so strong because the drafters knew that ‘not every President was going to be a Nelson Mandela.’

THE CIVIL SERVICE

Nobody we interacted with spoke positively about the Civil Service, and there is a general acceptance that it had become politicised, personalised, and corrupted by the Jammeh system. The Foreign Minister referred to it as ‘broken.’ There has been encouraging talk of reform, but this will require significant additional resources to facilitate training.

Furthermore, the retention of officials who served the past regime has created some bitterness, with the government struggling to communicate the positive steps it has already taken with the Civil Service. On 27 February Dawda Fadera, Secretary-General and Head of Gambia’s Civil Service told the press there would be an end to political interference and that the new government was committed to ‘open transparency and accountability.’ He said he is committed to reform and reducing waste, and called for the strengthening of institutions such as the National Audit Office and Public Service Commission to ensure effective oversight.

An audit of the civil service by the incoming government discovered 3,000 ghost workers, and their removal from the pay role has removed some pressure on the government payroll. The government has been cautious beyond this, perhaps wisely so, with President Barrow commenting to us on the need to ‘sanitise’ the service, ‘without it grinding to a halt.’ We did hear comments that the retaining of civil servants implicated in the crimes of the Jammeh System was ‘wrong,’ but we have seen in other transitional countries the dangers of removing the public services en masse. As noted above after 22 years it would be very difficult to find anyone who had not enabled the Jammeh System to some extent.

Over these 22 years the Civil Service became a tool of patronage for the Jammeh system. Because of a need to maintain the functioning of government most Jammeh officials have remained in place, with the retention of President Jammeh’s Chief of Protocol, Alhagie Ousman Ceesay in the same role being brought up repeatedly. The Secretary-General and Head of the Civil Service had been a departmental Permanent Secretary under the Jammeh Regime.

These people may be highly talented, and possess strong and essential institutional memory, but it must be accepted they also create an image problem. Although some high-profile changes might have been advisable, the government did the cautious thing in maintaining the Civil Service in the short term, as it faces other challenges.

It is essential that reform is enacted to ensure that there is a professional public service that is not beholden to political patronage. Future appointments, especially at senior levels, take into account regional, religious and gender imbalances. As the Ambassador of Sierra Leone pointed out to us, a large number of Gambians are currently serving with international organisations, and one option which could be effected quickly is to request some of these to be seconded back to the Gambian Civil Service.

The post Gambia: President Barrow is guarded by Senegalese Gendarmerie, reportedly in a bilateral arrangement funded by France, separate from ECOMIG-Commonwealth Report Reveals appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

The post Gambia: Breaking News: The Era Of Arbitrary Arrest And Intimidation Is Over – Mamma Kandeh appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

The post Gambia: Gov’t Rescinds Decision To Restore MGI Contract appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

Homosexuality is not an issue in the Gambia, said President Adama Barrow. Mr. Barrow was addressing a forum in the United Kingdom on Wednesday. He was invited to address the UK based Chatham House, of the Royal Institute of International Affairs. Mr. Barrow is currently attending the Commonwealth Summit in the UK.

Mr. Barrow noted that the Gambia is faced with pressing developmental challenges, as he downplayed the issue of gay rights becoming a contentious issue. He said in the Gambia, one can hardly tell who is a gay or straight; hence he assured that the LGBT community’s rights to live in that country is not in dispute.

He recalled being asked on three different occasions by journalists about the fate of gays and lesbians in The Gambia, since he assumed the mantle of leadership in the tiny impoverished West African nation.

Mr. Barrow’s predecessor dictator Jammeh had branded gays and lesbians as vermins during an address at the United Nations General Assembly Summit. He threatens to cut their throats. Jammeh even passed a draconian anti gay law, which stipulates lengthy jail term and life imprisonment for people convicted of homosexual behavior.

On the issue of the draconian anti-gay laws passed by his predecessor dictator Yahya Jammeh, President Barrow said plans are afoot to amend the constitution so that all genders in the country are treated equally.

Homosexuality is not an issue in the Gambia, he reiterated. He said the promotion of fundamental rights, liberties and freedoms are sacrosanct as far as his government is concerned. Mr. Barrow said the upcoming constitutional changes will guarantee freedom of the press, speech, expression and dignity.

Mr. Barrow talks about his government’s plans to eradicate poverty; efforts to amend the constitution to cater for a more progressive, democratic, and free Gambia; repealing draconian media laws and so forth.

The theme of the discourse was: Shaping The Gambia’s Future: How to build a path to sustainable progress. The former British Prime Minister Tony Blair chaired the meeting.

President Barrow also talked about dictator Jammeh’s fate. He said once the ongoing commission of inquiry are completed; those found wanting will face the law including dictator Jammeh. He said with the help of the international community, the Gambia should be able to bring the likes of Jammeh to book. Though, he cautioned that the rights of those accused must be respected. He promised to invoke the rule of law to determine the fate of Jammeh’s and co.

The issue of migration to Europe and deportation of Gambian migrants was also discussed. Mr. Barrow noted that the issue of deportation of Gambian migrants is a common topic at his office. He said Europe has been over flooded with migrants; hence which led to mass deportations.

He recalled living in the UK in the past. It was in 2006, that Barrow decided to return to the Gambia against the advised of his friends and family members. At the time, he said, The Gambia was at the peak of Jammeh’s dictatorship. He was advised not to return home, but he decided to leave England for the Gambia; a country he proudly calls home.

Barrow set up a Real Estate business upon his return to The Gambia. He rented a tiny office, where he stayed until he was able to open a corporate office for his business.

Barrow believes that there is nothing like home. He notes that there were more opportunities in his native Gambia, compared to the UK. Hence, he opines that the Gambian deportees should learn to have faith in themselves and the country. He contends that with one believing in him or herself, the sky is the limit as far as improving one’s living condition is concerned.

Regarding the three year transitional timetable agreed by the coalition government, Mr. Barrow said the issue would be exposed to public debate. He said it is up to the Gambian people to decide whether the current government should be in power for three years or five years. He didn’t state definitively as to whether a referendum would be convened to decide the mandate of the new government. He said that decision would be determined by Gambians.

Written By Pa Nderry M’Bai

Email: panderrymbai@gmail.com

Tel: 919-749-6319

The post Gambia: Homosexuality Is Not An Issue In The Gambia-President Barrow Tells UK’S Chatham House appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

The post Gambia: Breaking News: Darboe Heaps Praises On Bensouda appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

Jeggan Grey Johnson has denied that he, Siddi Sanneh, Alhagie Kurang, and others are working on setting up a political party. “This is not true. But it’s a good idea!,” Mr. Johnson told the Freedom Newspaper when contacted for comment.

Earlier yesterday, a source contacted this medium to intimate to us about an upcoming political party to be spearheaded by the following people:

Seedi Sanneh, former Jammeh Foreign Minister

Alhagie Kurang of Jollof Tutors.

Jeggan Grey Johnson

Madi Jobarteh, Tango

Serign Cham former Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Finance

Isatou Jallow

James Monday

Our source said he stumbled through a document on March 21^st, 2018, in which the aforementioned people were listed as purported members of the upcoming political party. Our source also said some Gambians on the ground were contacted to be part of the purported party, but they declined.

As reported in the news, Jeggan and Sidi Sanneh are part of a newly formed organization called Right2know Coalition. It’s a Civil Society Group. They are currently working with the UDP Serre-Kunda West MP Madi Ceesay to spearhead a campaign for Parliament to investigate the circumstances surrounding the Semlex contract debacle.

Semlex is a Belgian bio-metric company, which was recently awarded Gambia’s ID Card and Passport national documents contract through a single sourcing. No formal tender was convened by the government.

Right2know and MP Madi Ceesay felt that Pristine Gambia Limited was not treated fairly by the Barrow government. The Pristine CEO Abdou Draman Touray passed away recently.

The post Gambia: Jeggan Denies Reports Linking Him, Sidi Sanneh And Co To A New Political Party In The Making! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

A major corruption racketeering has been uncovered at the Gambia Immigration Department, the Freedom Newspaper can authoritatively report. Corrupt Immigration officers at the Banjul Sea Port, acting in concert with their superiors at the GID Headquarters in Banjul, have allegedly defrauded the Gambian state over one million dalasis in respect of visa fees collected from visiting Dutch tourists. The stolen money was shared among the officers, this medium has been reliably informed.

The story goes like this: It was on March 23^rd 2018, when a cruise ship from the Netherlands anchored at the Port of Banjul. There were 724 passengers on board the ship; with different nationalities. Each passenger was required to pay a visa fee of three thousand dalasis (D3,000) upon arrival in Banjul. In total, over two million and one hundred and seventy two thousand dalasis ( D2,172,000) visa fees was collected from the visiting Dutch tourists.  Out of that figure, one million and four hundred and seventy two thousand dalasis ( D1,472,000) was not accounted for, according to Immigration insiders familiar with the story. The stolen money was shared among GID officers at the sea port and headquarters, the insiders added.

“Thanks to one of our Immigration Intelligence officers at the sea port, who was privy to the deal, he decided to blow the whistle on them. That’s when Seedy Touray, the GID Deputy Director became panic. He tried to pull head and threw them under the bus by reporting that he has discovered a big scam at the sea port to DG Zil Sagnia. He was instructed by DG Zil to set up a panel headed by the Immigration Department Intelligence officers to investigate the matter as soon as possible. Instead of executing Zil’s orders, Seedy decided to write to the Ministry of Interior because he was not comfortable with what the Immigration Intelligence unit was going to discover,” said the insiders.

“So, when the letter got to the Ministry, they copied DG Zil Sagnia; that was the time that he DG knew what was going on. The DG decided to set up a panel headed by Mr. Ebou Correa, Chief Intelligence Officer at the Gambia Immigration Department. Nderry, in the first phase of the investigations, they discovered that the D700,0000 was paid to Seedy Touray and not the Finance Department headed by Daddy Lowe or the Central cashiers. Nderry, the interesting thing is; when the money was paid to Seedy Touray, he decided to keep the money in his office for few days without telling anyone from the Immigration senior management at the headquarters or the cashiers; so that the right thing can be done; that’s to for the Finance Department to pay the money at the Central Bank,” the insiders added.

The Immigration insiders couldn’t understand why Deputy DG Seedy Touray should receive the visa fee money and kept it in his office in the first place. They said Seedy’s conduct is in total contravention to the Financial Act.

“Had been that the Intelligence officer at the sea port didn’t blow the whistle, what was Seedy planning to do with the money? Something else came up with the few officers questioned by the investigation unit; they are saying that Seedy Touray is part of them, and he is aware of everything that happened on the day in question. Do you know that Seedy’s wife is part of the senior Immigration management team at the sea port? Nderry, you kept saying time and time that president Barrow needs to do something about families working at the same area or department at the Immigration; they will always work against the interest of the Gambia and her people. And, President Barrow needs to set up an anticorruption unit ASAP,” the insiders lamented.

In a letter addressed to the Interior Ministry Permanent Secretary, Seedy Touray said he deemed it imperative to expose the theft at the Immigration Department. Mr. Touray in turn accused his fellow officers complicit in the alleged theft of denying government the much-needed funds to develop the nation.

“On 23^rd March 2018, with Netherlands flag anchored at the Banjul Port, with passengers from different countries. However, the manifest indicates that 724 out of the total were legible to pay Gambian visa at a cost of D3,000 per person. This amounts to D217,2000 of which only D700,0000 was paid to government coffers, leaving a discrepancy of D147,2000. This colossal figure was shared between seniors at GID at HQS thus depriving the Central government of the much-needed revenue to facilitate development projects envisaged by the new dispensation. This is in contravention of the financial instruction Act and equally directly affects the fiduciary management of GID,” Deputy DG Touray writes.

“Considering the foregoing as well as the seriousness of the act, I deemed it prudent to officially notify your good office and further crave your indulgence to probe into the issue with the view to punishing the perpetrators and their cohorts so as to serve as a deterrent to other potential offenders,” he added.

In a letter dated April 19^th, 2018, Immigration Director General Buba Sagnia, instructed his Intelligence Director Ebou Correa to commence an investigation on the matter referenced: REPORT ON THE MASSIVE FRAUD AT GID SEA PORT OFFICE.”

“You are hereby advised to institute a team, which should include one officer from West Coast, and Kanifing Intelligence Unit,” DG Sagnia wrote.

The Freedom Newspaper is also in possession of the Dutch ship arrival manifest. Below is the manifest, which was forwarded to us by our sources.

The concerned insiders alleged that corruption is becoming endemic at the Immigration Department; Customs and other sister services. The insiders warned that unless President Barrow demonstrates honest leadership, and take on the perpetrators, the country will continue to be denied the needed revenue to combat poverty.

“The same scam was taking place at the airport within the Immigration; officers taking money from people for visas at the entry point without issuing them receipts; that’s how the two killers of former president Yahya Jammeh got into the country, without been noticed. The officers were busy collecting visa fees from foreigners and people with European passports. DG Zil is really trying his very best but he is not getting the necessary support from the Interior Ministry to fight corruption. They are turning the Immigration Department into a family business. Just look at the case of ASP Abdul Cham. How can the Minister Ebrima Mballow of all people; putting big pressure on Zil Sanyang to select ASP Abdul Cham by force to go represent the Gambia Immigration Department in Europe; knowing very well that ASP Abdul Cham is a bad cow. He cannot even write his name properly. His only qualification is; he is a friend of Minister Ebrima Mballow. He gives cattle and other things to the top command,” the insiders alleged.

The insiders said some of their colleagues owned five-bedroom storey buildings and fancy cars. They said the source of the officers wealth is questionable by all standards; hence they called for the probing of the Immigration Department.

The Immigration spokesman could not be reached for comment during the weekend.

Written By Pa Nderry M’Bai

Email: panderrymbai@gmail.com

Tel: 919-749-6319

The post Gambia: Weekend Bombshell: Gambian Immigration Officers Accused Of Defrauding Over D1.4 Million Visa Fees Collected From An Anchored Dutch Tourists Cruise Ship Visitors In Banjul appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

FARAFENNI, NORTH BANK REGION—Ten men armed with AK 47 rifles attacked the Gambia National Petroleum Company (GNPC) gas station, and forcefully subdued the watchmen on duty, before fleeing with over one hundred and twenty thousand dalasis (D120,000) found in two different cash safe boxes, the Freedom Newspaper can authoritatively report. The robbery incident happened last in the heart of Farafenni town, where the GNPC is operating a gas station.

GNPC is a Gambia Government owned petroleum company. But the company was monopolized by dictator Yahya Jammeh during his twenty two years rule. The GNPC gas station in Farafenni, is often referred to as Yahya Jammeh’s gas station, even though it is a state owned company.

When the armed robbers descended at the GNPC gas station in Farafenni, they found two watchmen on duty, said our sources. The armed robbers then tied the watchmen, and proceeded into the cash office, where they found two safe boxes. One of the safes had a cash amount of D110,000, and the other had D11,000, dalasis sources familiar with the story told the Freedom Newspaper.

The robbers left with the cash. They also confiscated a mobile phone belonging to one of the GNPC watchmen. The robbers fled with the watchman’s phone. They are currently at large. No arrest has been made yet.

The watchmen on duty told the police that the robbers communicated with them in one of the local Gambian dialects. They claimed that the robbers are Gambian nationals.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of police operations Landing Bojang today left Banjul for Farafenni to join the investigators in Farafenni. Mr. Bojang will proceed to Basse after his Farafenni mission, as law enforcement sources said there is high possibility that the GNPC gas station in Basse might also be attacked by the robbers.

The Gambia of late has witnessed a dramatic increase on crime rate. Armed robbery has become a common recurrence in the impoverished West African country.

The post Gambia: Breaking News: Ten Men Armed With AK 47 Rifles Robbed The GNPC Gas Station In Farafenni Last Night! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

BANJUL, THE GAMBIA—Gambian Immigration officers implicated in a theft case at the Gambia Port Authority, have been summoned for questioning by the police command in Banjul, the Freedom Newspaper can authoritatively report. This followed, the extortion of visa fees collected from a visiting Dutch cruise ship tourists by the accused Immigration officers. Over two million dalasis of visa fees were collected from the visiting tourists. The accused officers allegedly stolen over D1.4 million dalasis and shared it among themselves.

As we file this report, the following officers are currently being interviewed at the police headquarters conference room by officers led by CMC Demba Sowe:

Sulayman Colley, Chief Superintendent

Modou Jammeh, Assistant Superintendent

Fatou Cham, Chief Inspector, also the wife of Immigration Deputy DG Seedy Touray

Metta Kujabi, Chief Inspector

Ramatoulie Gaye, Inspector

Omar Ceesay, Immigration cashier

The next person to be called for questioning is one Mr. Gaye. Mr. Gaye’s company handles the operations of the cruise ship in the Gambia. He too is under the radar of the police.

According to sources, Interior Minister Ebrima Mballow referred the Immigration case to the police for investigations. But a law enforcement source said without the intervention of the State Intelligence Services he is not convinced that justice will be done in the port theft case.

“ My only worry is that most of the police officers investigating the these Immigration officers are part of the mafia group. I can assure you that nothing will come out it because the police officers will not avail justice to the accused Immigration officers. A panel should be constituted to look into the matter. The SIS must be part of that panel if there should be any element of justice dispensed,” the law enforcement source said.

The story goes like this: It was on March 23^rd 2018, when a cruise ship from the Netherlands anchored at the Port of Banjul. There were 724 passengers on board the ship; with different nationalities. Each passenger was required to pay a visa fee of three thousand dalasis (D3,000) upon arrival in Banjul. In total, over two million and one hundred and seventy two thousand dalasis ( D2,172,000) visa fees was collected from the visiting Dutch tourists.  Out of that figure, one million and four hundred and seventy two thousand dalasis ( D1,472,000) was not accounted for, according to Immigration insiders familiar with the story. The stolen money was shared among GID officers at the sea port and headquarters, the insiders added.

“Thanks to one of our Immigration Intelligence officers at the sea port, who was privy to the deal, he decided to blow the whistle on them. That’s when Seedy Touray, the GID Deputy Director became panic. He tried to pull head and threw them under the bus by reporting that he has discovered a big scam at the sea port to DG Zil Sagnia. He was instructed by DG Zil to set up a panel headed by the Immigration Department Intelligence officers to investigate the matter as soon as possible. Instead of executing Zil’s orders, Seedy decided to write to the Ministry of Interior because he was not comfortable with what the Immigration Intelligence unit was going to discover,” said the insiders.

“So, when the letter got to the Ministry, they copied DG Zil Sagnia; that was the time that he DG knew what was going on. The DG decided to set up a panel headed by Mr. Ebou Correa, Chief Intelligence Officer at the Gambia Immigration Department. Nderry, in the first phase of the investigations, they discovered that the D700,0000 was paid to Seedy Touray and not the Finance Department headed by Daddy Lowe or the Central cashiers. Nderry, the interesting thing is; when the money was paid to Seedy Touray, he decided to keep the money in his office for few days without telling anyone from the Immigration senior management at the headquarters or the cashiers; so that the right thing can be done; that’s to for the Finance Department to pay the money at the Central Bank,” the insiders added.

STORY BACKGROUND

A major corruption racketeering has been uncovered at the Gambia Immigration Department, the Freedom Newspaper can authoritatively report. Corrupt Immigration officers at the Banjul Sea Port, acting in concert with their superiors at the GID Headquarters in Banjul, have allegedly defrauded the Gambian state over one million dalasis in respect of visa fees collected from visiting Dutch tourists. The stolen money was shared among the officers, this medium has been reliably informed.

The story goes like this: It was on March 23^rd 2018, when a cruise ship from the Netherlands anchored at the Port of Banjul. There were 724 passengers on board the ship; with different nationalities. Each passenger was required to pay a visa fee of three thousand dalasis (D3,000) upon arrival in Banjul. In total, over two million and one hundred and seventy two thousand dalasis ( D2,172,000) visa fees was collected from the visiting Dutch tourists.  Out of that figure, one million and four hundred and seventy two thousand dalasis ( D1,472,000) was not accounted for, according to Immigration insiders familiar with the story. The stolen money was shared among GID officers at the sea port and headquarters, the insiders added.

“Thanks to one of our Immigration Intelligence officers at the sea port, who was privy to the deal, he decided to blow the whistle on them. That’s when Seedy Touray, the GID Deputy Director became panic. He tried to pull head and threw them under the bus by reporting that he has discovered a big scam at the sea port to DG Zil Sagnia. He was instructed by DG Zil to set up a panel headed by the Immigration Department Intelligence officers to investigate the matter as soon as possible. Instead of executing Zil’s orders, Seedy decided to write to the Ministry of Interior because he was not comfortable with what the Immigration Intelligence unit was going to discover,” said the insiders.

“So, when the letter got to the Ministry, they copied DG Zil Sagnia; that was the time that he DG knew what was going on. The DG decided to set up a panel headed by Mr. Ebou Correa, Chief Intelligence Officer at the Gambia Immigration Department. Nderry, in the first phase of the investigations, they discovered that the D700,0000 was paid to Seedy Touray and not the Finance Department headed by Daddy Lowe or the Central cashiers. Nderry, the interesting thing is; when the money was paid to Seedy Touray, he decided to keep the money in his office for few days without telling anyone from the Immigration senior management at the headquarters or the cashiers; so that the right thing can be done; that’s to for the Finance Department to pay the money at the Central Bank,” the insiders added.

The Immigration insiders couldn’t understand why Deputy DG Seedy Touray should receive the visa fee money and kept it in his office in the first place. They said Seedy’s conduct is in total contravention to the Financial Act.

“Had been that the Intelligence officer at the sea port didn’t blow the whistle, what was Seedy planning to do with the money? Something else came up with the few officers questioned by the investigation unit; they are saying that Seedy Touray is part of them, and he is aware of everything that happened on the day in question. Do you know that Seedy’s wife is part of the senior Immigration management team at the sea port? Nderry, you kept saying time and time that president Barrow needs to do something about families working at the same area or department at the Immigration; they will always work against the interest of the Gambia and her people. And, President Barrow needs to set up an anticorruption unit ASAP,” the insiders lamented.

In a letter addressed to the Interior Ministry Permanent Secretary, Seedy Touray said he deemed it imperative to expose the theft at the Immigration Department. Mr. Touray in turn accused his fellow officers complicit in the alleged theft of denying government the much-needed funds to develop the nation.

“On 23^rd March 2018, with Netherlands flag anchored at the Banjul Port, with passengers from different countries. However, the manifest indicates that 724 out of the total were legible to pay Gambian visa at a cost of D3,000 per person. This amounts to D217,2000 of which only D700,0000 was paid to government coffers, leaving a discrepancy of D147,2000. This colossal figure was shared between seniors at GID at HQS thus depriving the Central government of the much-needed revenue to facilitate development projects envisaged by the new dispensation. This is in contravention of the financial instruction Act and equally directly affects the fiduciary management of GID,” Deputy DG Touray writes.

“Considering the foregoing as well as the seriousness of the act, I deemed it prudent to officially notify your good office and further crave your indulgence to probe into the issue with the view to punishing the perpetrators and their cohorts so as to serve as a deterrent to other potential offenders,” he added.

In a letter dated April 19^th, 2018, Immigration Director General Buba Sagnia, instructed his Intelligence Director Ebou Correa to commence an investigation on the matter referenced: REPORT ON THE MASSIVE FRAUD AT GID SEA PORT OFFICE.”

“You are hereby advised to institute a team, which should include one officer from West Coast, and Kanifing Intelligence Unit,” DG Sagnia wrote.

The Freedom Newspaper is also in possession of the Dutch ship arrival manifest. Below is the manifest, which was forwarded to us by our sources.

The concerned insiders alleged that corruption is becoming endemic at the Immigration Department; Customs and other sister services. The insiders warned that unless President Barrow demonstrates honest leadership, and take on the perpetrators, the country will continue to be denied the needed revenue to combat poverty.

“The same scam was taking place at the airport within the Immigration; officers taking money from people for visas at the entry point without issuing them receipts; that’s how the two killers of former president Yahya Jammeh got into the country, without been noticed. The officers were busy collecting visa fees from foreigners and people with European passports. DG Zil is really trying his very best but he is not getting the necessary support from the Interior Ministry to fight corruption. They are turning the Immigration Department into a family business. Just look at the case of ASP Abdul Cham. How can the Minister Ebrima Mballow of all people; putting big pressure on Zil Sanyang to select ASP Abdul Cham by force to go represent the Gambia Immigration Department in Europe; knowing very well that ASP Abdul Cham is a bad cow. He cannot even write his name properly. His only qualification is; he is a friend of Minister Ebrima Mballow. He gives cattle and other things to the top command,” the insiders alleged.

The insiders said some of their colleagues owned five-bedroom storey buildings and fancy cars. They said the source of the officers wealth is questionable by all standards; hence they called for the probing of the Immigration Department.

The Immigration spokesman could not be reached for comment during the weekend.

Written By Pa Nderry M’Bai

Email: panderrymbai@gmail.com

Tel: 919-749-6319

The post Gambia: Breaking News: Immigration Officers Accused Of Stealing D1.4 Million Dalasis Visa Fees From A Visiting Dutch Tourist Ship Summoned For Questioning! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

GAMTEL, BANJUL—We know there are a lot of differences in opinion about MGI as a gateway manager. It is really alarming to see how much efforts are being made just to make sure MGI is not allowed back to manage the gateway.

We know gateway management started since 2006, and up to date, there were at least 5 – 6 gateway managers including Gamtel being the current. We want to be as independent as possible in our analysis of the situation.

We are made to understand that all the gateway management changes happened in the form of a sudden take over instead of a seamless handing over.

First, we need to look at the performance of each gate keeper in terms of average revenue they have been making as presented by Gamtel. We have information about how much all past gatekeepers have been paying out to Gamtel as Gamtel shares until in 2013 when the former president yaya JAMMEH directed TELL to divert all of gamtel’s shares to an account in the central bank.

Find attached an executive directive from the office of the president to that effect.

Executive directive

The signature on thé minutes was Mr. Suso’s, the then Ag. MD when Sanyang was arrested.

We have come across correspondences from Gamtel management to the office of the president and from the office of the president to Gamtel way back in 2013 and 2014. These were appeal letters back and forth about the office of the president to reconsider the decision of diverting all the gateway revenues from Gamtel to the central bank.

Let’s get to the bottom of the current situation. Ever since MGI’s contract was terminated in July 2017, Gamtel took over the management of the same gateway. This was as a result of a recommendation from a task force. It could be noted that this task force was setup by president barrow to look into the affairs of the gateway during former president Yaya JAMMEH’s time. This task force report recommended that Gamtel management could do it and do it better without compromising quality of service and revenue assurance better than MGI.

This decision was seen by many Gambians as a well thought decision of the authorities. None, including all the service providers, I.e the ISP, the gsm operators and even those who are not registered businesses and are terminating traffic, had any issues with that decision. From an independence point of view, we believe that there is a very big interest of some lobbyist groups for this change but we will find out about that later.

It can be noted that revenues earned from this national asset should go a long way to help Gamtel and the Government in addressing national development agenda.

To implement this directive, Gamtel had to identify a partner and develop a strategy by setting up a bypass as it has always happened for any gateway takeover in the past. This all happens unbeknown to the gate keeper at that time.

Who was Gamtel’s strategic partners and what has become the outcome of Gamtel’s performance. This is the most important question supposed to be coming from ordinary Gambians. We need to know what the stake holders take on this is. Who are the stake holders. First is the Board of directors, then the minister of information and communication infrastructure, the minister of finance and economic affairs, PURA, interns of quality of service and or the existence of any potential signs of fraud.

All of the stake holders mentioned above should be concerned about the quality of service, fraudulent activities and most importantly the promised monthly revenue that both the task force and the then managing director of Gamtel (SUSO) promised in their report.

You may recall that this gateway management transfer to Gamtel happened since June 2017, and is about 10 months since then. The ten months was observed without any protest, no arguments about Gamtel managing it at all, no one wrote against it, not even the ministry of finance querying about Gamtel’s very poor collection or nine at all.

Some days ago, we read a correspondence from the office of the president re engaging MGI to a negotiation table in anticipation for them to continue with the gateway management since Gamtel was proven not to be able to do it.

Find attached a copy of the letter to MGI.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

This has proven to simply be misleading and a collection of fabricated stories from recommendations on the termination of Mgi’s contracts, whilst the task force further recommended that Gamtel on their own, can do it even better. At the time, these were the basis for which conclusions were made to abruptly terminate Mgi’s contract without their knowledge.

Let’s look into the most recent issue just before Mgi’s contract was terminated. Our sources have revealed that from July 2014 to April 2017, representing 35 months of operations as a gate keeper, MGI has paid 46.3 million US dollars to a special projects accounts in the central bank of The Gambia. This represents 1.3228 million US dollars average monthly revenue when this is compared to all other gateway managers, MGI turns out to be better interns of what they presented as monthly revenues.

How did MGI managed to do this? We will get back to you on that with clear information later.

The same sources have shown that Gamtel took over responsibility of managing the gateway from 7th. July 2017 to December ending 2017, representing about 6 months of operation. A total of 2.5 million dollars was what Gamtel declared as revenues over 6 months period, meaning an average monthly revenue of 416.7 thousand dollars.

Something must have significantly gone wrong here. Has this difference been a concern to the task force set up by the government, the board of directors of Gamtel, the ministry of information and communication infrastructure and most importantly the ministry of finance and economic affairs. By a way of simple calculation, and making comparisons to the latest payments of MGI during this regime, with an average monthly payment of 1.5 millions, it is clear that Gamtel management has incurred about 70% losses in revenue. Please we must agree that all the traffic in and out are the same, WhatsApp, messenger, Skype and all other social media platforms remain the same as before.

What is the explanation to these losses?

Why do we still keep quiet about it? Don’t worry, we will get back to you on this later.

As it stands now, there is a smoking gun that president Barrow needs to investigate. The insider is working on this conclusions for a definite answer. We will be back soon with some evidence next time.

Written By An Insider

The post Gambia: Smoking Gun Uncovered At Gamtel-Facts About MGI And The Gateway appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

REPLY TO SO-CALLED-GAMTEL INSIDER STORY CAPTIONED “Smoking Gun Uncovered At Gamtel-Facts About MGI And The Gateway”

GAMTEL, BANJUL, THE GAMBIA–Pa Nderry, I am vindicated by the SO-CALLED GAMTEL insider, who and the entire MGI enablers are doubling efforts to fight for the FREE DOLLARS from MGI BALLA JERSEY…

I want to thank the SO-CALLED GAMTEL INSIDER for the unpatriotic and UN-GAMBIAN and selfish attitude them the MGI enablers always portrays and willing to stake their dignity and integrity to fight for the course and interest of MGI. For GOD shake, why can’t the SO-CALLED INSIDER fight for the interest of GAMTEL and GAMBIA or turn a fresh page and pave the way for a new gateway manager ??? I have the belief that the SO-CALLED INSIDER is HALF-GAMBIAN; looks like he/she is from CASSAMANCE just like the GOD FATHER of the whole shady MGI deal RETIRED GENERAL, FIELD MARSHAL, DOCTOR, PROFESSOR, SHEIHK, YAHYA JAMUS JUNKUNG, BAABILI MANSA JAMMEH.

Please inform the insider-enabler that the bonafide and decent staff of GAMTEL are on top of the episode more than the OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, THE SECRETARY GENERAL and all those bent on making the deal. WE ARE HERE FOR GOOD and will dictate and they follow. With or without MR. SUSO or the President nor the Secretary General, GAMBIANS interest has to and will continue henceforth to prevail.

See the attached letter prior to the termination of the contract and please let the INSIDER-ENABLER or MGI REP which ever fits, address and respond to the letter first on behalf of MGI. These dangerous elements in our society have no BESSINGS from their parents’ homes (AMUN NYAAN). Why fight for someone’s interest and can’t even sit back and know that the gateway is GAMBIA’s and GAMTEL. The gateway was fully manned by  GAMTEL when the entire traffic was through the satellite and more difficult to manage than the current submarine cable system. GAMTEL had the competence and trained personnel taking care of every bit of the gateway; from service delivery to ticketing to billing and all what is involved. And even with MGI most of the work is done by GAMTEL staff.

Everyone can now see how the State House contradicts its office. SEE AND ANALYSE the attached letter and the letter the INSIDER-ENABLER posted. All these were the making of the MGI CARTEL and the enablers. President Barrow should be very, very careful with these sycophants, hypocrites, selfish and unpatriotic liars who are fabricating stories for selfish gains. What do the unpatriotic insider mean by (((BYPASS))); the same term BABU SANYANG used at the commission ????? What does BABU knows in that FIELD of telecoms. What a bunch of liars.

In taking over the gateway, GAMTEL pushed aside all that belong to MGI and provided our own circuits and trunks to the partners, interconnected all required machinery up to billing with limited resources and no financial backing. And all the equipment acquired in the name of GAMTEL and with our money like the DPI, Fraud detection System have not been handed over neither functional up till now. Probably you as an INSIDE-ENABLER can facilitate and make sure that is handed back to GAMTEL so that your deals in the heart of the LANDING STATION to terminate calls for one of the GSM operators can stop. This will be a breaking news very soon and need not to elaborate on that much as it’s under secret investigation.

…HAVE TO STOP NOW and will come back on the INSIDER-ENABLER letter soon in my next write-up…

Written By An Insider

Editors Note: The views expressed by the author do not represent the position of the Freedom Newspaper. Thanks for your attention.

The post Gambia: War At Gamtel; As Insiders Are Having A Go At Each Other Over The MGI Call Termination Issue appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

BANJUL, THE GAMBIA—The Intelligence Unit at the Immigration Department in Banjul, has issued its report in regards to the theft of visa fees recently collected from a visiting Dutch tourist boat, currently anchored at the port of Banjul, the FREEDOM NEWSPAPER can reveal. The report detailed a chilling corruption web at the Immigration Department, especially at the GID Seaport station. The report has called for disciplinary action to be taken against the officers linked to the corruption web. It also called for the immediate transfer of all Immigration officers posted at the port, and the recovery of the stolen funds amounting to over D1.4 million dalasi.

Though some insiders at the GID are the least pleased with the intelligence report. Some opined that the report hasn’t done justice to the main crop of the case. In that, insiders said the investigators were out to exonerate Deputy DG Seedy Touray, even though they claimed that there is a smoking gun hanging on Touray’s head.

“ The Immigration Intelligence unit didn’t do justice to the case. But thanks to the office of the Inspector General of police and CMS Demba Sowe, a lot has surfaced from the police investigation that was not reported by the Immigration intelligence unit. The police report will soon be out,” said one insider.

“The intelligence report seeks to give cover to Seedy Touray. But the police have gotten a lot of interesting information from the officers interviewed by the detectives. The officers have opened up big time. I feel sorry for Seedy,” the insider added.

Part of the GID’S intelligence findings revealed that out of the D180,000.00 that was received by Omar Badjie to be shared among some senior officers at the headquarters, Deputy Director Seedy Touray received D100,000.00.

“Evidence herein exposed that the D180,000.00 received by Omar Badjie, which he said was going to be shared among some senior officers at the headquarters as in D100,000.00 for the Deputy Director General, D30,000.00 for Sambujang Badjie, D50,000.00 for him Omar Badjie, was never delivered and there is no evidence to collaborate his statement. Thus this is considered absolute greed with a view to implicate his superior and deny government from revenue,” the report stated.

Even though the intelligence report has doubted the veracity of Omar Badjie’s  incriminating statement against Seedy Touray, one insider doesn’t want to hear the investigators attempts to counter Badjie’s statement.

“ The million dollar question is: Where does these people got the courage to deliver D100,000,000 to Seedy Touray if he is not part of them? That’s the big question he needs to answer. If he was not part of the scheme to defraud the state, why was he handed D100,000.000 share? Just look at the amount; that was one of the biggest shares,” the insider added.

Below is the Immigration Intelligence Report.

…………………………………………

The post Gambia: Weekend Bombshell: GID Intelligence Report Says Deputy DG Seedy Touray Received D100,000.00 From Officer Omar Badjie From The Stolen Dutch Tourist Boat Visa Fees But…… appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

Both Interior Minister Ebrima Mballow and his Permanent Secretary Bulli Dibba were out of the country last week. The duo returned home over the weekend. Guess what? They are in the air again—this time flying to Morocco. Both Mballow and Dibba are in Morocco on an official trip amid rising crime rate in the country.

An insider at the Ministry of Interior said: “ Mballow and Dibba are flying like birds. No wonder that’s why the crime rate in the country. Instead of staying in the country, to fix the security challenges, they are travelling all over the world.

Ebrima Mballow was recently hired as Interior Minister by President Barrow. He is a native of Basse. Mballow is a former Gendarmerie officer.G

The post Gambia: Breaking News: Interior Minister And His Perm Sec Leave Town For Morocco Amid Rising Crime Rate! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

BANJUL, THE GAMBIA—Interior Permanent Secretary Bulli Dibba, has instructed the Director General of the Gambia Immigration Department Buba Sagnia, AKA Zil, to send three officers implication in the Immigration port visa theft case on interdiction, Interior Ministry sources have told the Freedom Newspaper. Mr. Dibba wants the following officers to be interdicted: Omar Badjie, Omar Ceesay, and Sarjo Saine, according to insiders familiar with the story. An interdiction means: sending an officer, who is under investigation on an administrative leave, pending the outcome of the crime, he or she has been accused of. But there are set rules and regulations governing an interdiction officers.

Ministry sources said Zil Sanyang is reluctant to execute PS Bulli Dibba’s orders. His grounds are that Mr. Dibba has woefully failed to follow the procedures governing the interdiction of an officer. That interdiction of officers are normally done by the Personnel Management office (PMO) and the Justice Ministry, and not a serving Director of GID.

“ Zil Sanyang is a true professional. He is conversant with the Civil Service Act. He will not do anything that will undermine the Civil Service Act. Bulli Dibba needs to be schooled about what the Act says. He thinks that he can outsmart Zil to overstep his bounds. That’s not Zil Sanyang. He is a meticulous officer, with an outstanding professionalism,” said the Interior Ministry insiders.

“The matter in question is above the Interior Ministry, or the Immigration Department. In fact, why the rush on a matter, which is still being investigated by the police? The police haven’t concluded their investigations. Secondly, this is a high profile economic crime case. It should be investigated thoroughly, and those found wanting should face the full brunt of the law,” said the insiders.

“Zil Sanyang will not be associated with the biased and flawed DIG intelligence report. The brilliant analysis you and Omar Bah did on Saturday is reverberating in the length and breadth of the country. That analysis has reached many households in the country. Zil is not that naive to be used by Bulli Dibba to execute an illegal order, the insiders added.

Senior Immigration officers at the GID headquarters and at the seaport in Banjul, have been implicated in this grand theft of government revenue. Over D1.4 million of visa fees collected from a visiting Dutch tourist cruise boat was shared among the officers.

The following officers and people were named in the corruption scandal:

Sulayman Colley, Chief Superintendent

Modou Jammeh, Assistant Superintendent

Fatou Cham, Chief Inspector, also the wife of Immigration Deputy DG Seedy Touray

Metta Kujabi, Chief Inspector

Ramatoulie Gaye, Inspector

Omar Ceesay, Immigration cashier

Aleem Faye, Shipping Agent

“Evidence herein exposed that the D180,000.00 received by Omar Badjie, which he said was going to be shared among some senior officers at the headquarters as in D100,000.00 for the Deputy Director General, D30,000.00 for Sambujang Badjie, D50,000.00 for him Omar Badjie, was never delivered and there is no evidence to collaborate his statement. Thus this is considered absolute greed with a view to implicate his superior and deny government from revenue,” the GID intelligence report stated.

According to the report, the sum of D300,000.00 was given to the agent of the ship Aleem Faye, a Banjul native, while the officers at the GID headquarters and at the seaport received D3,200.00.00 out of the stolen government revenue. GID Cashier Omar Ceesay reportedly handed the funds to officer Omar Badjie, who according to the report in turn took D180,000.000 out of the D3.200.00, which he shared among the senior officers at the GID headquarters. The remainder of the funds were shared among the officers at the seaport, the report stated.

“ All this rush is intended to save Touray and his wife Fatou Cham Touray, and Sambujang Badjie, because PS Dibba knows that if Sambujang is down, many people will go down with him. He has a lot of evidence from the past and the current case of the seaport,” the insiders added.

The post Gambia: Breaking News: Interior PS Bulli Dibba Wants GID DG Zil Sanyang To Interdict Three Officers Linked To D1.4 Million Port Visa Theft Case! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

BANJUL, THE GAMBIA—The high-profile corruption case involving some personnel of the Gambia Immigration Department, has reached the Secretary General and Head of the Civil Service, the Freedom Newspaper can reveal. The accused officers will soon know their fate.

Reports have it that the Inspector General of police is on the verge of submitting the outcome of the criminal probe spearheaded by the detectives at the police headquarters in Banjul. The police report, according to sources, will lead to some heads rolling at the Immigration Department.

It would be recalled that some senior Immigration officers at the GID headquarters and at the seaport in Banjul, have been implicated in this grand theft of government revenue. Over D1.4 million of visa fees collected from a visiting Dutch tourist cruise boat was shared among the officers.

The following officers and people were named in the corruption scandal:

Sulayman Colley, Chief Superintendent

Modou Jammeh, Assistant Superintendent

Fatou Cham, Chief Inspector, also the wife of Immigration Deputy DG Seedy Touray

Metta Kujabi, Chief Inspector

Ramatoulie Gaye, Inspector

Omar Ceesay, Immigration cashier

Aleem Faye, Shipping Agent

“Evidence herein exposed that the D180,000.00 received by Omar Badjie, which he said was going to be shared among some senior officers at the headquarters as in D100,000.00 for the Deputy Director General, D30,000.00 for Sambujang Badjie, D50,000.00 for him Omar Badjie, was never delivered and there is no evidence to collaborate his statement. Thus this is considered absolute greed with a view to implicate his superior and deny government from revenue,” the GID intelligence report stated.

According to the report, the sum of D300,000.00 was given to the agent of the ship Aleem Faye, a Banjul native, while the officers at the GID headquarters and at the seaport received D3,200.00.00 out of the stolen government revenue. GID Cashier Omar Ceesay reportedly handed the funds to officer Omar Badjie, who according to the report in turn took D180,000.000 out of the D3.200.00, which he shared among the senior officers at the GID headquarters. The remainder of the funds were shared among the officers at the seaport, the report stated.

The post Gambia: Breaking News: High Profile Corruption Case Involving Gambian Immigration Officers Reaches The Office Of The SG! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

BULLY DIBBA THE BULLY OF THE SERVICES

Hi readers, these documents are intercepted from the Ministry of Finance, please carefully read the attached documents and draw your own conclusions. These are monies collected from the Forms Account of the departments under Interior. PS Bully Dibba is the perfect embodiment of corruption and mismanagement of public funds. Funds have been diverted to furnish offices of the new Interior building near One plus One. A lot of it was converted into his own account. This is just a fraction, will come with a lot more revelations on the bogus spending spree of the Ministry. We demand investigation into this matter.

His wife who is heavily pregnant has been denied an American visa lately. He tried to intervene but without success.  Does he think he is bigger than the American Embassy? Uncle Sam does not take any nonsense.

Is it not interesting, check points are back in full swing all over the country? The writer has been vindicated. Three weeks back an armed robber attacked an office of Jah oil at daytime, fleeing with a huge amount of cash including foreign currencies. The argument is if check points were mounted the armed robber would have been arrested and sitting in Mile Two now.

The minister is not a security material. Since he assumed the office of Minister of Interior, there have not been effective coordination and collaboration and amongst services. Instead, his policies are more of divide and rule campaign.

During the short spell of the Secretary General as Minister of Interior, Gambians saw a lull in crime. He was able to achieve that through consultation and teamwork-Habib Drammeh respects everyone. He was an effective communicator who encouraged collective decision making unlike Mballow who is a dictator imposing his will on his staff. Within a spate of ten days the police have registered numerous crimes including the killing of a soldier at Madiana, two armed robbery cases and many knife attacks resulting to deaths. The list could go on…

Mballow may only wake up the day the robbers attack his office.  The rampant crimes occurring daily are now surely your responsibility.  What is really being revealed is your inept behavior and inability.

Nepotism, Minister Mballow, does not pay.  The time has come to treat each and every Gambian equally-without dash or bribe…

Written By An Insider

Editors note: The views expressed by the author do not represent the position of the Freedom Newspaper. Thanks for your attention.

The post Gambia: Breaking News: PS Bulli Dibba’s Pregnant Wife Denied US Visa; BULLY DIBBA THE BULLY OF THE SERVICES appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

TANTRUMS AT IMMIGRATION

BANJUL, THE GAMBIA—Attempts are being made at ministry level to exonerate Seedy Touray, the Deputy Director General of Immigration and his wife Fatou Cham. Seedu is the Justice Paul of the Gambia for those who knew Justice Paul very well. He was the Nigerian Judge the Jammeh Government saw as a hero during the AMRC investigations. Finally he was blown by MP Hamat Bah for being complicit and part of the corruption racketeering at AMRC. He [Justice Paul] had to resign and leave the country in haste.  Seedu Touray is highly corrupt and a great manipulator but there is no chance for him to escape this wrath.  Touray is a big player in this case and I tell you why.

• The question that comes to mind is why was he silent about the matter for 19 days without informing his immediate boss? Aiding and abetting stands strong, so why was he offered two payments at different times and dates with different amounts? The officer dare not come back to with a bigger offer this time round if it was true that Touray chased him out of his office as alleged. If he were serious, the money would have been paid and payment confirmed by him through receipts. Economic crime stands strong here.
• The amount reported was not the right figure. He claimed according to his own letter the state was defrauded 1.4m when in actual sense according to the intelligence Report was about D600, 000.00. Giving false information to a Public officer is a heinous crime. With this attitude how can one entrust Touray with the mantra of DG and as chief adviser to the president on immigration matters.
• Seedu Touray’s wife seems to be part of the rather nasty crime, a scam that speaks volumes.
• Touray can also be accused of insubordination and undermining authority.

According to sources, the police the report will be detailed and straight to the point. They will not be cowed the source added.

It is as clear as the light of noon day all is not well amongst the security services and Minister Mballow and Permanent Secretary Bully Dibba are compounding and fueling the problems by the day. Some Service chiefs are not on talking terms. There is a total lack of coordination and collaboration at the strategic levels of the law enforcement outfits. Cooperation is a none starter.

Every service is on its side. Recently, the post mortem of the soldier killed and dumped in a well at Madiana was out. The autopsy report said the soldier died as a result of torture. This is evident by the marks the soldier sustained on the sides of his ribs. There was no injury on the head therefore couldn’t have mistakenly fallen in the well without breaking or sustaining injuries on the head. The police are refusing to cooperate with the army on the matter. The autopsy report is with the police and they are refusing to share it the Army. Soldiers take no nonsense they are waiting big time. Some senior police officers are bent on having the case compromised but is too late for them. Mballow and his PS are strongly supporting the police. Mballow going by his temperament and character isn’t going to make any success story at the interior. His lack of understanding of his job description is tantamount to the problems faced within the law enforcement departments. The security services are more divided today than one can imagine or believe. President Barrow is campaigning for national reconciliation, whilst Minister Mballow is advocating mayhem and disruption. This is the Minister who could not manage correct handing over procedures. The handing over documents for Brikama reveals much.

Bully Dibba is the causative agent for death and destruction. He is the drum beater of the infighting and the instability in the services. He has encouraged and still encouraging indiscipline and destructive behaviour in the services. Bully leans on lies and supports falsehood over the truth. As permanent secretary he lacks foresight and wisdom to prevail other trivial issues. Being permanent Secretary, he should be on top of the roof as far as government functions are concerned. Amusingly, the myopic Minnesota street vendor turned PS will never change. Bully, when shall you cease to be corrupt? Bully should be clever enough to avoid being used by people with toxic characters. Dead wood they say, cannot be carved no matter how hard you try, though burning it is easy.

Mr. Dibba when did you became a coalition supporter? You were a staunch supporter of Yahya Jammeh and the APRC. How many times have you worn green to come to work? Tell me, how many people did you have issues with in your native village of Salikeni over the lack of support for the APRC? Tell me how were you appointed from Deputy Permanent Secretary to Permanent Secretary? Was it not political? Bully Gambia is too small, tell me how you succeeded in getting a scholarship to study in UK, was it not political? You are the chameleon of the Gambia; Bully you should never be trusted.

Written By An Insider

Editors note: The views expressed by the author do not represent the position of the Freedom Newspaper. Thanks for your attention.

The post Gambia: Breaking News: TANTRUMS AT IMMIGRATION appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.