The post GAMBIA: BREAKING NEWS: GAMBIA’S POLICE CHIEF KINTEH RESIGNS AMID THE KILLING OF GAMBIAN ENVIRONMENTALISTS BY HIS FORCE! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

Gambia’s former Inspector General of police Landing Kinteh says he resigned from his post to give chance to the nation’s healing process amid the killing of two Gambian environmentalists by the country’s police intervention unit (PIU). Kinteh, speaking for the first time since he tendered his resignation letter on Thursday, said, he also resigned based on principles. “ Yes, this morning I tendered my resignation with the president through the Secretary General. Shortly after submitting my resignation, I got a response that it has been accepted. It is confirmed,” he told the Freedom Newspaper in an exclusive interview.  

Landing Kinteh is a lawyer by profession. He contends that he deems it imperative to resign to safeguard his image and that of the police.

“ Well ofcourse, that is not farfeteched. It has a lot to do with the happenings; where over the weeks, there has been a lot of tensions. I think the country needs a heal and I think I should be part of that healing process. And for the fact that it is for the command’s responsibility even though I am not actively responsible; I did not participate; the fact that the officers that are blamed are under my command, I think the honourable think is to tender my resignation,” Kinteh said.

When asked whether his resignation will not confirm that he is complicit in the murder of the two Faraba residents, Kinteh responded in the negative. He says his resignation should not be misconstrued to suggest in anyway that he is guilty of any crime.

“Far from it; it is not confirming; it cannot confirm and it will not confirm. In the first place, we never gave any order for anybody to shoot anybody; although in a riot situation if there is need to be the use of firearms, it has to be communicated through the chain of command, until the highest authority to give a directive, but that was never done. And the paramilitary discussions we had with the officers is that they took their initiatives on their own without consulting anybody,” he said.

“And again, I was supposed to be out of the country, on that day, in fact, I got to know about the incident just the way you know about it; in the sense that I was on my way out of the country; when I saw some missed calls on my phone; when I called back they said you know: we just want to inform you that the Minister called to tell us that there is an incident in Faraba. We sent a deployment there; that is how I got to know; and I said well I am coming to the office; they said you are no more going; I said no, let me just come to the office and see how the situation unfolds before I leave; then it happened we started recording causalities; then I said no; that means I am not going anymore,” he added.

The resigned police chief believes that the National Assembly Select Committee on the Environment might have triggered the Faraba incident, which left two Gambian environmentalists dead. He told the Freedom Newspaper that the NAMS Select Committee on the environment allegedly triggered incident.

“ This issue has to do with the National Assembly Select Committee on the environment. We understand that they went to the community; they told them that they already told Julakay to desist mining in the area and this information was not filtered to the police; I don’t think it was filtered to Julakay and I am not aware of any message that was send to the police. The community also went to the guard post, where the police are and told them that mining will not take place here because the National Assembly Select Committee told us that they have given instructions that no mining should take place. So, if this has been communicated to Geology, which has the issuing authority of the license; I know they will also inform us; and if that is the case; we will work on the case; but that was not done. So, the time they came to mention this to the officers on guard and the time they attacked was almost the same time,” Kinteh said.

For more on the story, tune in to the Freedom Radio Gambia’s Civic Education show. Our interview with the former IGP Landing Kinteh would be aired.

Written By Pa Nderry M’Bai

Email: panderrymbai@gmail.com

Tel: 919-749-6319

The post GAMBIA: BREAKING NEWS: RESIGNED GAMBIAN POLICE CHIEF KINTEH SAYS THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT ALLEGEDLY TRIGGERED THE FARABA INCIDENT, WHICH LEFT TWO ENVIRONMENTALISTS DEAD; AS KINTEH SAYS HE RESIGNED TO GIVE CHANCE TO NATIONAL HEALING! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

Two military detainees allegedly linked to dictator Yahya Jammeh’s constituted assassin team—known as the jungullars have been moved from the Yundum barracks, this medium can reveal. Wo2 Busso and SGT. Lamin Sambou were moved to the Kanifing PIU base awaiting to be released.

The circumstances surrounding their release is unknown. A source, who reached us said Busso and Sambou were detained on allegations of being part of Jammeh’s assassin team.

Meanwhile, Malick Jatta and the other jungullars held at Yundum are still languishing in custody. Jatta and co have been accused of murdering Gambians and non-Gambians during Jammeh’s twenty-two years rule.

The post GAMBIA: BREAKING NEWS: TWO JUNGULLARS HELD AT THE YUNDUM BARRACKS MOVED TO THE PIU BASE IN KANIFING! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

Gambian president Adama Barrow visited Faraba on Friday, where he empathized with bereaved families and injured victims currently hospitalized. Mr. Barrow’s speech was mainly centered on the future of his presidency, and his legacy as a Gambian president. While taking a jab at his opponents in the opposition—branding them as wolves in a sheep clothing, Barrow cautioned Faraba residents to be mindful of those trying to capitalize on the incident for political gains.

The rambling Gambian rookie president has signaled his intention of running for office after the transition period. Hear him: “We can only have one president at a time. For now, I have been given a five-year mandate to rule. At the end of my five years mandate, then we can all weigh into the political race to vey for the presidency.”

Quoting a Fullani proverb to justify his assertion that Gambia can only have one president at a time, Barrow said, prior to him ascending to the presidency, there were other presidents before him. He cited the presidency of President Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, and Yahya Jammeh; all of whom, he said, have served this country, and are no longer in office. He told residents that he too will one day leave the presidency. But he appealed for calm, and tolerance to prevail in the country.

Mr. Barrow said he wants to propagate a positive legacy so that he will be able to live in the Gambia and coexist with its citizens after he leaves the presidency. He said he never dreamt that he will one day become a president, while recalling the days he used to go to the Kanifing Municipal Council to conduct business there. He singled out Pa Kalifa Sanyang, a former official of the Council, who is also a native of Faraba during his speech. He said he used to meet Sanyang at the Council during his past visits there.

Mr. Barrow has never excluded himself from running for office after what he called his five-year mandate. “We can all run for office after my five year term mandate expires,” Barrow said in the Mandinka dialect.

Barrow’s Faraba Banta statement, has confirmed months of speculations and counter speculations that he is working on forming a political party. He has already formed a Youth Movement. Though, the Coalition government dominant party—the United Democratic Party (UDP) is opposed to the said movement.

Mr. Barrow is no longer sticking to the three-year transition period he and his colleagues in the Coalition Government agreed upon prior to his December 2016 electoral victory. He has been drumming the five-year mandate as stipulated by the constitution in his recent speeches. He made similar remarks during his Koriteh speech.

“This is our country. We own it. No one will come from outside to govern this country for us,” Barrow said.

Barrow also counselled the families of the Faraba incident. He advised them to keep the faith. He recalled meeting the third victim at the Francis Small Teaching Hospital before his recent demise. He said little did he knew that he was talking to a dying young man.

“Let us accept God’s decision. The incident was predestined by God. I have never visited the hospital since I became president. This was my first visit to the hospital since I was elected. I had a lengthy conversation with one of the injured young men. I was told that he died a day later after we met,” Barrow remarked.

“I lost my own son immediately I won the elections. He died. That was a test for me, from God. Let us continue to put our faith in God,” Barrow added.

Mr. Barrow’s son was bitten by a stray dog while he was in Dakar, Senegal, during Gambia’s month long political impasse. His son was buried in his absence.

Written By Pa Nderry M’Bai

Email: panderrymbai@gmail.com

Tel: 919-749-6319

The post GAMBIA: BREAKING NEWS: ” WE CAN ALL RUN FOR OFFICE AFTER MY FIVE YEAR MANDATE ENDS-BARROW; AS HE VISITS FARABA BEREAVED FAMILIES! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

Omar Faye, the former Gambian Ambassador to the United States and was recently appointed as Deputy Head of Mission at the Gambian Embassy in Dubai, has been redeployed to the Gambian Consulate in Jeddah, the Freedom Newspaper can reveal. Mr. Faye is the new Consular at the Gambian Mission in Jeddah.

Mr. Faye was appointed to head the Jeddah chancery in April. He has finally received his AGREEMA. The Saudi government has accepted his accreditation to the Islamic Kingdom.

Mr. Faye has started reporting to work at the Jeddah Gambian Consulate. He recently performed Um-rah in Mecca.

Mr. Faye was the first Gambian Ambassador to resign from Jammeh’s government, following Jammeh’s refusal to accept the will of the Gambian people, in Gambia’s past December 2016 presidential elections. This followed, a month long political impasse, in which the West African nation was thrown into a state of political uncertainty. Jammeh finally stepped down from power amid sub-regional pressure of a possible military option to force him to relinquish power.

The post GAMBIA: BREAKING NEWS: OMAR FAYE IS THE NEW CONSULAR AT THE GAMBIAN MISSION IN JEDDAH appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

Gambian human rights activists and rappers convened a successful demonstration on Sunday. The venue for the protest was at the busy West field intersection. The protesters have sent a strong message to the Barrow led Coalition government. They strongly denounced what they called the growing culture of impunity and official corruption in the country.

The protest, which was self-styled “ DAFA DOY” in the Wollof dialect, meaning in English Enough is Enough, featured high profile Gambian rappers. A new anti-corruption diss song was released by the protesting rappers against the Barrow government. The song talks about the growing culture of corruption in Barrow’s administration. The rappers also raised the issue of police brutality, and the regime’s alleged disrespect for human rights.

Also prominent on the viral single diss track, was the regime’s alleged lack of environmental friendless. The rappers also lamented about the regime’s broken promises to the Gambian electorate and Barrow’s inability to steer the affairs of the nation.

The DAFA Doy diss track had the appearances of different Gambian rappers. Among them includes Killa Ace, alias Ali Cham. Mr. Cham led the cheering crowd into singing the DAFA DOY diss track against Barrow’s regime.

One of the female rappers raised the nation’s acute water and electricity shortages in the four minutes long DAFA DOY song. The issue of high gas prices at the pump, and high cost of living was also on the rappers mind. Gambia’s decayed infrastructure was also on the agenda. The rappers said there no good roads in the Gambia; coupled with lack of competent leadership.

Officials in Barrow’s government including Barrow himself, have been accused of living the life of Flamboyant lifestyle in that damning song. The regime, according to the song, has abdicated its duties and responsibilities to the Gambian population. They said public officials are only concerned about themselves and families.

The rappers also wondered about the whereabouts of the millions of dollars the regime secured from donor partners since coming to power. Such funds, they said, haven’t reflected in the lives of Gambians and the country’s socio-economic developmental agenda.

Addressing the procession, Alieu Bah, one of the organizers of the protest said, they are determined to take over their country from the current crop of failed politicians. Bah called on Gambian youths to assume their civic and constitutional duties by holding the regime accountable. He opined that “we are living in a dangerous time” adding for the sake of history Gambian youths shouldn’t watch by allow the current administration to wreck the ship of the state. Bah notes that it is incumbent upon all Gambians to ensure that the country is governed within the tenets of democracy and good governance.

Forces of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOMIG) arrived at the venue of the demonstration in the early hours of Sunday. They were fully armed. Personnel of the Gambian armed forces, including some agents of the State Intelligence Services (SIS) were also at the protest.

The Vice President Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang had a meeting with the organizers of the protest prior to the demonstration. She was concerned about the issue of security. She used the meeting to call on the organizers to remain peaceful during the protest.

Also, in attendance at Sunday’s protest was Lizzie Eunson.  Ms. Euson praised the protesters for their loved for country and justice. She said she was advised not to attend the protest, but notwithstanding, she defied the advice. She said she has decided to stand in solidarity with the protesting Gambian youths. Ms. Eunson has called for an end to sand mining, and destruction of Gambia’s flora and fauna. She also advocated for quality education.

Sunday’s protest was geared towards condemning the killing of the three Faraba environmental activists. This followed, a sand mining dispute in Faraba Banta, where the Julakay Engineering and Construction Company, has been accused of illegal sand mining and environmental destruction.

The protesters have issued a set of demands for the Barrow government. They have called on the regime to train Gambian security officers on human rights; provide financial compensation to the Faraba victims and the repealing of the Public Order Act. The Public Order Act requires protesters to apply for police permit before they could be allowed to use a Public-Address System (PA System).

President Adama Barrow visited Faraba over the weekend. He reassured residents of Faraba about his government’s commitment to human rights and the rule of law.

In his address, Madi Jobarteh, one of the protesters said, the Barrow government should be more serious in tackling corruption. He observed that the Gambia has an anti-corruption commission in 2012, but the former Jammeh regime failed to constitute the membership of commission.

“The Gambia, we have an anti-corruption commission 2012. Yahya Jammeh never set up the commission. These people came one year, six months; they have never set up that commission to fight against corruption. And corruption is the most insidious cancer that erode our rights and erode our services,” Jobarteh noted.

The Dafa Doy protesters have declared a vote of no confidence against Barrow’s government. Speakers upon speakers, have registered their dissatisfaction at the current state of affairs, and Barrow’s inability to keep Gambians safe. They lamented the country’s growing crime rate. They said murder, and violent crimes are on the increase in the Gambia.

Pa Njie Girigara, a businessman, and a former GDC Mayoral Candidate, also spoke at the protest. Njie praised the initiative taken by the protesters to communicate their frustrations to the regime in a peaceful and respectful manner. He described the event historic–given the fact that such a public demonstration has never taken place in the country for the past fifty years. He called on the government to respect human rights and the rule of law.

Some section of the corrupt and compromised Gambian so called media on the ground were conspicuously missing at the protest. Some journalists have decided to sell their souls to the powers that be in Banjul for monetary gains.

Written By Pa Nderry M’Bai

Email: panderrymbai@gmail.com

Tel: 919-749-6319

The post GAMBIA: BREAKING NEWS: THE DAFA DOY PROTESTERS HAVE DECLARED A VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE AGAINST BARROW’S FAILED GOV’T! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

MASSIVE CORRUPTION OF SOME OFFICERS AT THE LANDS MINISTRY

As concern citizens we are obliged to bring to the attention of the public particularly those in authority so that all those who should know get to know the facts to enable decisive action be taken. There exist high corruption in the way application for land is treated at the Department of Physical Planning and Housing and other forms of corrupt practices. The following under mentioned are the ways such malpractices are done:

 When applicants filed their applications for land at the Department of Lands and Surveys such files are send to the Department of Physical Planning and Housing for recommendation or otherwise and such decisions are handle by one Essa Camara who has been in charge of such for nearly two decade. He made recommendation for approval to be given and these files are then returned to Department of Lands and Surveys for onward transmission to the Ministry of Lands and Regional Government for the Honourable Minister’s approval. If the applicants don’t bribe this Mr. Camara such recommendations would not be made or were they are made it would be in the negative. He would tell you the area applied for are allocated already while it is not or he would say the area is being committed meaning earmarked for someone else who can give more token to him. At times he even would sell an area to some who are in dire need if not he would ensure that you don’t get the area by using his dirty deals to frustrate you by all means.

Examples at the Brusubi Institutional Layout he sold some plots to individuals purportedly using an allocation that was why when the former Minister Aki Bayo wanted to de-reserve the area he Mr. Camara went all out to seeing that such does not happen all just to cover up by giving wrong information to the Ministry at the time. He even sold a plot to Jah Oil in the area with the assistant of one Lamin Jawara a staff at the same office who is an errand boy of Jah Oil in the name of allocation according to our source. Some residents of Sukuta village one time wrote a petition to the Office of the President in 2016 naming the duo for selling their land in this area as informed by a resident of Sukuta.

The same Essa Camara engineered the reduction of the area allocated to the Trade Fair in the same area because he connived with a family member and he Essa Camara wrote series of letters to Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry ( GCCI) luring them and the area was subsequently reduced and he Essa Camara was given a plot of land in return in the area which he sold through this family member as that was the condition he put forward to this family member as revealed by a relative. Correspondences at the GCCI which Essa Camara forward there would confirm the story. All this was geared for him to get part of the land to sell for his selfish gains.

There was a layout called Kenebaring in Brufut which was later canceled and moved to Salagi Layout in Sukuta and the area remained as a layout for some time. Later some developed and he Essa Camara wrote to the Ministry for the area to be de-reserved before which he talked to some of those land owners who have big chunk in the area telling them that the area can be de-reserved only if they can give him plots of land which he succeeded and wrote to the Ministry for the area to be de-reserved (cancelled the layout and the area revert back to the owners). He was given land from one Kebbeh, Bojang and others. He has been writing series of letters to the Ministry on many occasions but it was not until in the first quarter of 2017 that approval was obtained from the Ministry as confirmed by our source.

The Sukuta Coatal Road institutional reserve, Sukuta agricultural reserve and Sukuta industrial reserve were all de-reserved and he Essa Camara got plots of land in this areas since he told the owners the area would only be de-reserve with his intervention and one Ansu Fatty was given a plot at the agricultural area because he brainwashed one land owner in the area using the lifting as a bait to trap this innocent land owner. All the letters send to the Ministry were written by Essa Camara as he was pushing for self interest and this was made known to us by a land agent. The question that arises is why since that time the Ministry never approved such request until the first quarter of 2017, is it that those their now do not know Essa’s intention or what is the matter?

For compensation, for Essa Camara to recommend one he would condition you to give him in kind or cash. At the Brusubi Institutional the compensation given to one Sankung was an example as others family were not compensated and the other compensation done at Sinchu Sorrie/ Nemakunku from the land of Ndow Njie was also done in the same way as he Essa Camara got two plots of land each measuring 20 metres by 30 metres which he sold to one semester.

Reserves are reduced after negotiating with the landowners for self benefit. For example at the Brikama Industrial layout an area belonging to one Buba of Brikama was expunged from the layout by the trio ( Essa Camara, Mamudou Manjang and Ansu Fatty) in 2015 ,the owner has no option but to succumb to their demand by giving them cash after the land was sold as stated by a son of the victim. In the same area another family is seeing them for their land to be removed from the reserve for the past months according to our sources the process is at an advance stage as the negotiator is putting their demand to the family for consideration. The reserve at Jambur Village by the Nyambai Forest Mamudou Manjang is consulting with some family members with a view of reducing the area so that they can sell it and share the money as revealed by a close native of the village whose land is at the heart of the reserve and this person promised to talk to the authorities if they go ahead.

At the Jalambang reserve Mamudou Manjang what you did there with your collaborator Mondo Jatta Alkalo of the village we are aware of and in our next publication it would be made known to the public.

By the Coastal layout there was a court case involving Babou Tunkara as plaintiff and Kebba, Thomas and others as defendant which case was won by the plaintiff but Essa Camara went all out to jeopardized the case and the plaintiff Solicitor has to warn Essa Camara to stop interfering with the matter as he Essa Camara was covering his dubious things he did in the area by favouring   Kebba. He Essa Camara and one by the name Lamin Jawara sold plots at the Coastal Layout purportedly within the layout while it was not in it as the owners were not privy to the actual truth. This came to light when one of the buyers wanted to re sell her plot and the intended buyer went to Lands Office to find out about the plot before putting in his money and the site visit confirmed that the plot is not within the layout as they were told before as they were shown a map covering the layout from Lands Office.

At the Salagi Layout an area identified for petrol station was not allocated despite being applied for by others as it was kept for one man by Essa Camara who is from the same village as him according to a lady close to Essa Camara.

By the Futurelec building at Kotu Essa Camara recommended for state allocation through fictitious names which he later sold by assigning them using such fictitious names and at the Kanifing Industrial Area what you did would be featured in our next article including other areas. You think you can hide but we have infiltrated your dirty deals and more to follow.

Nemasu Layout cemetery is fully developed leaving the settlement without a burial ground and by our source Ansu Fatty and Lamin Jawara both sold plots within the area as this was revealed to us by a resident in the area.

Essa Camara and one Dawda Darboe at Lands Office a brother to Lawyer Ousainou Darboe  jointly sold two plots of land to a Gambian lady based in Sweden and a businessman in Kanifing at Abuko by the”Burrwa” fence (Abuko Nature Reserve) which belong to the state and other land forfeited to the state in other areas have been tampered by the duo and this would be expanded in the next article as we are waiting for one of our sources who travelled for a short visit.

At Jambur along the Farato – Jambur road at an area called CDC were a district court rule in favour of one Bojang kunda family of Jambur village and the area was sold to a real estate and this real estate gave a plot to Ansu Fatty because of his dirty involvement and in the next write up such would be explained in detail. This same Ansu Fatty by favouring the wrong person in Jambanjelly Nema Fula Kunda by their football field though the land is in Jambur according to our sources Ansu Fatty was bribed a plot of land.

Salagi layout in Sukuta witnessed a lot of corrupt practices by Ansu Fatty, Mamudou Manjang, and Musa Badjie. The trio sold properties in the layout with the pretext that such properties are within the layout while that is not true and the family who owned such properties are not aware of such lies but in the next write up more information would be provided as we are working on to complete the details. In the same Salagi layout Lamin Jawara, Ansu Fatty, Mamudou Manjang and Baba Cham sold plots from the land of one Khan according to our source. These people are using their positions to take people properties illegally. This Ansu Fatty by defrauding innocent land owners of their land has now built a storey building at the Salagi Layout and in our next issue we would try to include the photo of the building.

Development Permits issued by the Department of Physical Planning and Housing serves as source of revenue for government but our source revealed that majority of such monies go to individuals and not to the state. A lady and her European partner applied for a permit at the Office. The lady gave the process to a friend to do on her behalf. When the approval was obtained the lady realized that the names were wrongly spelt and the lady came to the Office as the friend he send previously travelled to the provinces. At the records office the file copy was check so that both can be corrected but the file was not seen because it was not in the system. While talking to the Records Clerk Mamudou Manjang came and luckily for this lady she happen to know Manjang (Deputy Director) for long and it was made known to her that the approval was done by Lamin Jawara independently without the correct procedure in placed followed and also taking the permit money due to the state. It was made to the lady that Lamin Jawara is fond of doing such. When the lady asked I was not given a receipt why and she was asked to let it go till next time by Manjang. Further inquiry confirmed that Lamin Jawara is continuously doing such practice depriving the state of such funds. More evidence would be made in our next letter to expose this malpractice as vital information has been gathered from this furious lady as she is a neighbour to one of our agents.

In 2015 – 2016 while Essa Camara was the Acting Director all the appointments he did were based on nepotism as stated by a former girl friend and he connived with the accountant by the name Haddy Secka to inflate invoices during that period and such is still going on as the current accountant by the name Salimina together with the Director and Deputy Director are doing the same and this was revealed by a vendor to us. Also there is speculation that the Accountant is tampering with the manual receipts she issued as the IFMIS system (computerized receipting is not working) as gathered from someone who frequent this office to by receipts. The Treasury / Accountant General should be very vigilant to checking invoices and receipts issued by this Accountant (Salimina) so as to confirm this claim.

Essa Camara greediness has made him to spread his tentacles to Farafenni were there is a Physical Planning Office by defrauding some family members of their land through corrupt practice. This information was obtained from a native of Farafenni during the Local Government election and would be detailed in our next letter.

Not long ago Buba Ceesay Officer in Brikama Physical Planning Office and assistant Ebrima Fofana were nabbed by the police because of a bribery scandal of three hundred thousand dalasis (D300 000). They were summoned to the Banjulinding police station and at first they denied but later they confessed and they paid back the money. The skeptics can contact the said station for details. It is alleged that Essa Camara and/or Mamudou Manjang were given part of the money but we are yet to confirm the issue through our sources.

This revelation is just a drop in the ocean as more would follow in the next issue. But it must be noted that despite the dubious dealings of these officers there exist honest and people of integrity at the Department of Physical Planning and Housing who need to be commended as they have the interest of the nation at heart.

BY CONCERNED CITIZENS.

The post GAMBIA: MASSIVE CORRUPTION OF SOME OFFICERS AT THE LANDS MINISTRY appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

The workforce at Gambia’s Social Security, Housing and  Finance Corporation today walked into the president’s office in Banjul today, demanding that their boss should be fired. They have accused their boss of corruption, abuse of office, and nepotism. This followed, a petition they filed to the head of Gambia’s Civil Service, Habibou Drammeh, outlining their grievances against Managing Director Muhammed Manjang. Manjang has denied any wrongdoing.

The procession was led by Momodou Camara, the Head of the SSHFC staff representative. SSHFC staffers displayed placards while they walked towards the State House main entrance. One of the placards read: Manjang must go!

MD Manjang is a former Standard Bank Manager in Kenya. He was hired MD of the SSHFC, following the firing of Edward Graham, who was accused of being Jammeh’s financial pawn while heading the pensioners office. Graham appeared before the Janneh Commission to shed light on the millions of dollars of pensioners funds, the former Gambian dictator squandered during his twenty-two years stint as the leader of the country. Other SSHFC MDS also appeared before the Commission.

Dressed in a red fashion shirt, Momodou Camara told Kabiro Darboe that they were marching to the State House to call for Manjang’s firing. “ It is the new Gambia, we are building; people have to be ethical; people in position have to be ethical. The new Gambia belongs to us. It is a new generation,” Camara said adding that there are folks trying to block the 21 page petition document they filed against MD Manjang. “Nobody is passing the document to the president. Our petition has been sitting there for over eight weeks. Nothing has been done to redress our demands,” he added.

Camara has accused MD Manjang of sponsoring Ms. Bayo, a  newly hired staffer of the SSHFC,  to study in Ghana, without due process. He also said MD Manjang is allegedly involved in corruption.

MD Manjang has repeatedly denied such allegations in an interview with the Fatu Network. He said the staffers of the SSHFC are not ready for change; hence they have resorted to disparaging his reputation. He said the staffers must be ready to adopt to change adding that the old way of conducting business at the SSHFC is untenable.

Two years ago, no one in the country, dared organizing a protest to march to the State House. Observers believe that President Barrow’s tolerance for dissent has given hope and courage to the citizens of the impoverished West African nation. Though, some environmental protesters were killed in Faraba few weeks ago by members of the police intervention unit (PIU). The Barrow government has set up a Commission to investigate the killings.

Written By Pa Nderry M’Bai

Email: panderrymbai@gmail.com

Tel: 919-749-6319

The post GAMBIA: BREAKING NEWS: DEMONSTRATING SOCIAL SECURITY STAFFERS WALKED INTO THE STATE HOUSE; CALLING FOR MD MANJANG’S FIRING! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

Ebrima G Sankareh’s purported recent appointment as the government spokesperson, became a contentious issue today at the State House press conference, as the State House Press Director Amie Bojang Sissoho, clarified that the only government spokesperson she is aware of is the Minister of Communication and Information Demba Ali Jawo. She also said she is President Barrow’s spokesperson at the State House. Hence, she said, the news of Sankareh’s appointment never originated from her office.  

“Any official information that is going to the media, coming from the office of the president, comes through my office. So, if you have not received it from my office, as far as I am concerned, it doesn’t exist. Two, as far as the spokesperson of the government is the Minister of Information, who is the person responsible for being the spokesperson for the government. My role as you clearly stated is the spokesperson for the president. I think that is clear. It didn’t come from my office; I don’t know where it came from; and I don’t know how it get to the media; I cannot respond to that,” Mrs. Sissoho told reporters.

It would be recalled that Ebrima Sankareh’s appointment as the government spokesperson was announced on the state media—GRTS. The State Broadcaster in a newscast said the press release on Sankareh’s appointment came from the president’s office. Sankareh also told the Freedom Newspaper in an earlier interview that he received his appointment letter to serve as government spokesperson.

Now, the State House Press Director Amie Bojang Sissoho is denying knowledge of any government spokesperson appointed by President Barrow. She said the information reported by GRTS was news to her.

“I did not give it to GRTS; I don’t know where they get it; I don’t know who sent it; I don’t know who wrote it; I don’t know nothing about it; I just saw it in the television and people were calling me. That’s all I can answer,” she said.

The post GAMBIA: BREAKING NEWS: SANKAREH’S APPOINTMENT AS GOV’T “SPOKESPERSON” DISPUTED; STATE HOUSE PRESS DIRECTOR SAYS THE ONLY GOV’T SPOKESPERSON SHE IS AWARE OF IS THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION DEMBA JAWO! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

The Current Crisis At The SSHFC Rest Squarely On The Shoulders Of Amadou Sanneh, the Finance Minister Who Appointed Manjang as MD In 2017 To Run The Corporation Without A Functioning Board!

The SSHFC Saga If Not Addressed Immediately By President Barrow Could Crippled The Economy And Bring Untold Hardship To Pensioners.

Dear Mr. Pa Nderry,

At the time Gambians went to the polls in 2016 to replace the brutal regime of Yaya Jammeh, Amadou Sanneh was in jail serving sentences for document forgery, and Mohamed Manjang was globe-trotting the world looking for job. These two people were never part of the struggle that today brought Adama Barrow and his coalition government to power. In fact thanks to the active participation of staff at the SSHFC and the collective votes of the pensioners, today they are now enjoying whatever loot they can get from pillaging the meagre resources of the poor pensioners and behaving as if they own SSHFC. The duo have been running the affairs of SSHFC together in a manner that is completely opaque and lack transparency.

The connection between Honorable Amadou Sanneh and Mohammed Manjang dates back since the time they were working in the same office at the National Investment Board in the early 1990s. At that time both Amadou and Manjang were all investment officers at the defunct NIB. How Amadou Sanneh and Manjang left the NIB is still a mystery but immediately following the appointment of Mr. Sanneh as Finance and Economic Minister in 2017, he engineered the dismissal of Edward Graham and replaced him with Mohammed Manjang. The first thing that Mr. Manjang did was to order the reinstatement of Saikou Sanneh , a nephew of Amadou Sanneh who was sacked for falsifying documents about his Master’s degree under the sponsorship of SSHFC which he failed to complete due to poor academic performance. Saikou was dismissed two years before Amadou Sanneh became minister.

Running the affairs of the SSHFC without a functioning board for over a year and a half gave Manjang a blank check to misuse the funds of the pensioners. He was taking direct instructions from Mr  Amadou Sanneh and sometimes through Amadou’s nephew at the ministry of finance one Momodou Samateh who heads the debt department at the MOFEA. It was deliberate on the part of Minister Amadou Sanneh not to appoint a Board Chair for Manjang to facilitate the mismanagement of the SSHFC funds. The records at the SSHFC finance department would show the number of times in which Sanneh, Samateh and Manjang have been paid huge per diems for some of the overseas trips they travelled together.

The lack of a proper board also gave the self-serving MD to authorize the payments of his hotel bills spent wining and dining with his girlfriend(s), recruiting outsider as confidential secretary which is not lacking in the office, settling his private utility bills, home internet connections, drivers, fuel for his personal vehicles and even dishing out fuel coupons to his family friends. Corruption, nepotism and cronyism have replaced dedication, sacrifice and hard work in today’s Social Security corporation. Putting the wrong people in position of trust without making due diligence on their past is hampering our progress as a nation.

The development agenda that President Barrow has worked hard to visualize for the Gambia is being derailed by the likes of Amadou Sanneh and Mohamed Manjang who were never part of the long and arduous struggle that all of us went through to remove Jammeh from power. Today, Honorable Amadou Sanneh is the most unfit finance minister that our country ever had. His hands are everywhere for the wrong reasons. From the controversial awarding of the Gateway to CISCO at PURA, to the GPA expansion project loan from the Chinese, the Kaarpower contract from which it is reported that he received one million USD as bribe as well as the questionable transfers of 2.5 million dollars from the Gateway money of GAMTEL. Gambia’s credibility is now in tatters thanks to greediness of people like Amadou Sanneh and Mohamd Manjang who believed they owned SSHFC.

If the rightful authorities failed to intervene in the current melee affecting the SSHFC and remove Manjang who is nothing but a faked pseudo-intellectual criminal, we will continue our struggle unhindered with serious consequences for the poor pensioners. One individual, who was never part of the struggle that we as a nation went through, can today hold the entire pension system of the country to ransom simply because of greed.  Over three hundred SSHFC employees signed the petition to remove him. By ignoring our concerns, Finance Minister Amadou Sanneh cannot absolve himself from blame for the current saga at the SSHFC. To say that the current SG is behind us is a blatant lie to divert the attention of the public to the real issues of corruption, reckless spending, mismanagement and abuse of office under the stewardship of Mohamed Manjang. Is this price worth paying?

Sirrading Yama Sanneh

SSHFC Staff

The post Gambia: The Current Crisis At The SSHFC Rest Squarely On The Shoulders Of Amadou Sanneh, the Finance Minister Who Appointed Manjang as MD In 2017 To Run The Corporation Without A Functioning Board! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

President Adama Barrow has denied reports attributed to him that he allegedly killed his son for ritual purposes so that he can be elected into office as Gambia’s President. The president made the denial through his Press Director Amie Bojang Sissoho, who addressed a news conference on Wednesday at the President’s office in Banjul. This followed, a statement made by President Barrow, during a recent visit to Faraba Banta, where he was quoted as having said that he (Barrow) had to sacrifice his own son, wealth, and life in order for The Gambia to be freed from Jammeh’s twenty-two years dictatorship. Barrow was in Faraba last week to sympathize with the bereaved families, whose loved ones were killed by Gambia’s police intervention unit— the (PIU).

“ When he lost his son, is because he left the Gambia, as president elect. When his son died, he had to leave the children behind. If he was not the president, he would not have done that at that point in time; he wouldn’t have left his family behind. That is what he was trying to explain; that even he has lost his family, but he had to move on because he has taken a responsibility of serving the country,” State House Press Director Amie Bojang Sissoho clarified.

Mr. Barrow’s statement attracted a huge reaction on social media. Many Gambians were taken aback by Barrow’s statement, in which he allegedly made the appearance that he sacrificed his son for ritual purposes to become the country’s President. But the State House was quick to dismiss such reports saying that the President’s statement was being blown out of proportion. It also says Barrow’s statement was being interpreted out of context.

“We have to understand things into context. And remember that when people are in a difficult situation; we have to understand how, and what was the context in which things happened. And this was what simply he was trying to explain. And that is simply what he was trying to explain. That in a process, anything could happen. This is what happened; these lives were loss because of a cause; to show that even he himself lost his child because of a cause. His child died,” Mrs. Bojang Sissoho further clarified.

Mr. Barrow’s son was bitten by a stray dog, and he died in the process. Barrow and his two wives were in Dakar, Senegal, at the time of the incident. His son was buried in his absence.

Mr. Barrow left the Gambia for Mali, to attend a regional Summit over Gambia’s political impasse. He later resettled in Dakar, Senegal, in the wake of the country’s month long political impasse. Former Gambian dictator Yahya Jammeh had refused to concede defeat during Gambia’s December 2016 Presidential elections, which had thrown the impoverished West African country into a state of turmoil.

“And it was difficult time. We all know that..; when his son died, he was president elect; he was not sworn in; he left the country, but that did not stop him to move on. It is not that he did not feel it; what he was trying to say is that we have our difficult times, but we have to move on as a country,” Mrs Bojang Sissoho told journalists.

“I think people have to calm down on receiving information. What the president was emphasizing was that; we all have lost somebody for the sake of the Gambia; We have been either directly or indirectly affected,” she added.

Written By Pa Nderry M’Bai

Email: panderrymbai@gmail.com

Tel: 919-749-6319

The post GAMBIA: BREAKING NEWS: GAMBIAN PRESIDENT BARROW DENIES KILLING HIS SON FOR RITUAL PURPOSES TO BECOME PRESIDENT! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

Six personnel of the police intervention unit have been charged with the murder of three Faraba Banta environmentalists. The accused officers: Baboucarr Cham, Bala Musa M.K Fatty, Mamadou Z Jallow, Alieu Camara, Musa Badjie and Nuha Colley briefly appeared before a Magistrates court in Banjul on Thursday, before they were remanded into custody. The accused persons have been remanded at the police headquarters in Banjul, pending further directives about their fate. They are yet to be granted court bail.

The prosecution’s particulars of offence count one stated: Murder contrary to section 187 and punishable under section 188 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The indictment revealed that on June 18, 2018, the aforementioned accused officers, while at Faraba Banta, within the West Coast Region of the Gambia, with malice aforethought caused the death of Bakary Jarju and thereby committed an offense.

Court papers filed by the prosecution also revealed on count two that the accused officers acting with malice aforethought allegedly caused the death of Ebrima Bah. The accused were also linked to the death of Amadou Jallow.

It is important to note that the original police press release identified the two deceased Faraba residents as Bakary Kujabi, and Ismaila Bah. But going by the charge sheet shared below, Bakary Kujabi has been referred to as Bakary Jarju, while Ismaila Bah, has been referred to Ebrima Bah. The charge sheet appeared to be defective. It doesn’t tally with the police’s original press release on the incident.

Below is the original police press release on the matter. Compare the charge sheet with the press release. The names and identification of the deceased Faraba residents are not adding up.

Families of the accused PIU officers showed up in court on Thursday, where they hugged each other. The accused persons appeared confused and worried.

The case of the accused officers is expected to be referred to the High Court for prosecution. It was briefly mentioned in court and adjourned.

At a news conference on Wednesday, acting IGP Momour Jobe told journalists that the accused officers were supposed to appear in court before the end of the week. Jobe briefed reporters about the procedures governing police crowd controlling, and the measures officers should employ in quelling protest marches.

According to Jobe, officers are allowed to use minimum force to disperse protesters. This includes the usage of baton, and tear gas. He noted that armed rifles can only be used as a last resort, but it is part of the police’s operational crowd controlling mechanism.

The post GAMBIA: BREAKING NEWS: SIX GAMBIAN POLICE OFFICERS STANDING TRIAL ON MURDER CHARGES; REMANDED INTO CUSTODY! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

President Adama Barrows reshuffles Cabinet

STATEHOUSE, BANJUL, 29 JUNE 2018 – Effective today, 29 June 2018, the Cabinet of the Republic of the Gambia has been reshuffled as follows:

Vice President of the Republic – Hon. Ousainou Darboe

Ministry of Information and Communication Infrastructure – Ebrima Sillah

Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs – Mambury Njie

Ministry of Agriculture – Lamin N. Dibba

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Gambians Abroad – Momodou Tangara

Ministry of Lands and Regional Government – Musa Drammeh

Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration – Amadou Sanneh

Ministry of Youths and Sports – Hadrammeh Sidibeh

Minstry of Helath and Social Welfare – Dr. Isatou Touray

Meanwhile Hon. Fatoumata Tambajang has been redeployed to the Foreign Service, while Hon. Henry Gomez is now Special Youth Adviser to the President of the Republic. Omar Jallow has been relived.

The post GAMBIA: PRESIDENT BARROW EFFECTS A MAJOR CABINET RESHUFFLE-VP TAMBAJANG REPLACED BY OUSAINOU DARBOE! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

The Brikama police station came under attack this morning from a hostile crowd, amid angry residents, who tried to invade the station in an attempt to lay their hands on three men, accused of killing a Brikama youngster, who was on his way seeing off his girlfriend, the Freedom Newspaper can reveal. Over ten thousand residents stormed the station; throwing stones and other deadly objects thereby destroying the entire police station. The station’s windows were completely smashed.

The deceased has been identified as Musa Colley from Brikama Daarule Harele. He was in his twenties when he allegedly got killed by a truck driver and two apprentices. The accused killers: Assan Bah, Abdoulie Jallow and Ousman Jallow have been taken into custody by the police. The trio, are said to be Gunjur natives.

The deceased Musa Colley was seeing off his girlfriend Oumie Sonko at 3:00 AM. He was on on his way seeing off his girlfriend, when he got attacked. They allegedly started mocking him. It was on his way back going to his home, he was allegedly attacked and killed by the driver and the two apprentices, police sources said.

“The police have arrested the accused persons. Over ten thousand people invaded the station—demanding that the accused persons be handed to them so that they can kill him. The station doors were smashed. It was completely vandalized.  As we speak, angry Brikama residents are still at the station vowing that they will kill the accused persons if they lay their hands on them. This is a nation of rule of law. The police cannot handover the accused persons to them,” our source added.

Meanwhile, the angry residents are threatening to burn down the Jah Oil Gas Station. The accused driver’s truck has been found parked at the petrol station. Hence, the residents are threatening to set the place on fire.

There is pandemonium in Brikama, as we file this story. The Brikama station houses service men and their families. The police employed restraint in handling the crisis, as they fear being blamed at the end of the day–given what happened to the accused PIU Faraba officers.

Meanwhile, President Barrow has departed Banjul for Mauritania to attend the AU Summit.

The post GAMBIA: BREAKING NEWS: ANGRY CROWD INVADES AND VANDALIZED BRIKAMA POLICE STATION AS THEY DEMAND TO KILL A DETAINED TRUCK DRIVER AND TWO APPRENTICES AMID THE KILLING OF A BRIKAMA YOUNG MAN! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

A seventeen-year-old boy, was allegedly killed last night in Tanji, Kombo South, in the West Coast Region of the Gambia by his elder brother. They boy had his head smashed and eyes decapitated by his killer. The deceased is the son of one Pa Jallow, a senior Fullani citizen of Tanji.

The deceased’s brother had a history of “devilish mental illness of that sort.”  He was believed to have his mind possessed by the devils. He started acting weird since on Thursday. His illness became worse towards the weekend. His younger brother was always around him.

Family members had made frantic efforts to seek prayers from spiritual leaders to help the accused to recover, but his illness aggravated over the weekend. He was quoted as telling his mum and the women at their Tanji home, that they should cover their faces as prescribed by Islam, or else they will all die. Both his Mum and Dad fled the house upon realizing that his health condition was worsening.

The accused person, who is in his twenties, was earlier taken into custody by the Tanji police station. He was later transferred to the Gunjur police Station.  The incident happened on Saturday evening.

Our sources on the ground will update us with more information about the incident in our subsequent editions. Stay tuned.

The post GAMBIA: BREAKING NEWS: TANJI MAN ALLEGEDLY KILLED HIS SEVENTEEN YEAR OLD BROTHER; YOUNG BOY’S HEAD SMASHED, AND EYES DECAPITATED! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

The sacked Gambian Agriculture Minister Omar Amadou Jallow says the Coalition government under the leadership of President Adama Barrow, has not only betrayed the Gambian government, but has also betrayed God, who has paved the way for the country to be liberated from dictator Jammeh’s twenty-two years tyrannical rule. Mr. Jallow, speaking for the first time, since he was fired by President Barrow, said, to add insult to injury, Mr. Barrow, has hired former Jammeh enablers in the persons of Mamburay Njie, and Momodou Tangara—both of whom were appointed Ministers during the weekend cabinet reshuffle.

OJ, as he is widely referred to, noted that even the United States of America, which is the world’s bastion of democracy, will not resort to such misplaced prior appointment of public officials, linked to aiding and abetting a former Gambian despot Yahya Jammeh.

Mamburay has been appointed Finance Minister, while Momodou Tangara, is Barrow’s Foreign Minister. Jallow has faulted the appointment of Njie and Tangara. He says there are competent people in the Coalition government who can man such portfolios.

“Momodou Tangara is my nephew because his mother Fatou Ndure used to be the Yai Compin of the late Landing Jallow Sonko of the PPP. My point is: We are not more democratic than the United States of America. It is my fervent belief that there are competent people in the Coalition government who can man such positions. As a member of the Coalition government, I have forgiven those who wronged me, in the previous regime, but forgiving them doesn’t mean that I will reinstate Yahya Jammeh into the presidency.  We should reflect on this matter thoroughly because the message the President is sending out is that we do not have good and competent people in the Coalition, and that is not true,” OJ said.

According to OJ, President Barrow, has shifted from the Coalition’s goals and objectives. He reminded Barrow that he never ascended into the Presidency, through an individual effort, but through a collective concerted effort.

“From my own observation as a Gambian, I think there is a shift in position from the president to forget that he has been put in place by a coalition government and not by a party. And I think for me, I think the only thing that the Gambia had, and God have made us happened was when seven parties and three independents came together to form a coalition and that was the reason why we ousted Yahya Jammeh,” OJ noted.

“The president contested as an Independent candidate and that’s why I couldn’t understand the Chairperson of the Coalition should be removed as Vice President and be replaced by Ousainou Darboe, because I thought we are all part of the Coalition and that Coalition spirit and unity should survive until the end of the transitional government, if not, we have betrayed the trust of the Gambian people; and we have betrayed the trust that God has put in the Coalition; because it was God’s decision that if we come together; we been together fighting for twenty two years; most candidates have stood for twenty two years and failed; it is only when we had a Coalition, and have an Independent person, who didn’t contest under any party or any color; that is where God decides that changes will happen; I think we should have respected that decision and live by the Coalition agreement,” he added.

OJ told Freedom Newspaper that President Barrow’s decision to fire him and spared his UDP colleagues in Cabinet, has confirmed the widely held view in the country that he has compromised his independence as an Independent elected President.

“There is this saying in the Wollof Fanafana that if you are accuse of being a witch, and you are caught eating a kid’s leg; what does that mean? You are a Fanafana; I guessed you know the insinuation of that statement,” OJ remarked.

OJ also accused President Barrow of trying to favor the United Democratic Party—the (UDP) by not firing its officials in Cabinet. He observed that the goal of Barrow’s political biasness is purely aimed at consolidating the UDP into a future government post transition period. “That’s the way I see things. We have to be honest,” OJ posited.

The former Agriculture Minister also raised the firing of the former Vice President Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang. OJ contends that Ms. Tambajang shouldn’t have been fired—given her immense contribution in mobilizing support, resources and bringing the opposition together to form an alliance to defeat Jammeh’s in the past elections.

“I couldn’t understand why the Chairperson of Coalition should be removed as Vice President and be replaced by Ousainou Darboe because I thought we are all part of the Coalition and that Coalition spirit and unity should survive until the end of the transitional government if not we have betrayed the trust and confidence of the Gambian people; and we have betrayed the trust that God has put in the Coalition,” OJ remarked.

“To be honest, I think the Vice President was doing well, very well; as she was the Chairperson of the Coalition; I think that position belongs to her because thank God, she was the one, thick and thin, who was coordinating; and sharing; and calling all the meetings; and with patience and perseverance of all the struggle and all the hustling within the committee, the Executive, that is why we arrived where we are right now,” he added.

OJ said he is not going to resign from the Coalition government, but he maintained that he will not watch by and allow Mr. Barrow and his cronies to rule this country towards the path of democratic retrogression. He said now that he is out of government, he has more leverage to criticize and hold the government accountable if he feels that they are departing from what Gambians have voted for.  He also said he is going to network with his colleagues, who believed that President Barrow should rule the Gambia for three years as agreed in the Coalition Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). He said Barrow should step down from office after the completion of the three years agreed by the Coalition.

“For me, I will continue to be an active politician because I owe it to this country; that’s why I am here; and I will never ever allow myself to be a “standbyer”; to stand by and see this Gambia move in a wrong direction and for me to keep quiet about it; that is not possible,” said OJ.

OJ was in Parliament, when he received a phone call that he should report to the State House. Upon arrival, the Secretary General and Head of the Civil Service Habib Drammeh, handed him a letter stating his services with the Gambian government has been terminated.

“I have never anticipated it. I have never seen it coming. I always tell people that I have one and half more years to go because for me, as usual, I have told people that after the three years I am going; that’s what the contract with the Gambian people; that I agreed with the Gambian people,” OJ said.

Asked whether his sacking has anything to do with the sale of the expired fertilizer belonging to The Gambian government, OJ retorted: “He has fired not me alone; he has removed Health; he has removed Information; he has removed the Vice President; and these people have nothing to do with the fertilizer. I think he has just wanted to a reshuffle and then I think he thought this is the way he should do it.”

Mr. Jallow said he has filed a lawsuit against the Kerr Fatou blog, which published what he called a defamatory story against me. He said the matter is before the High Court.

Written By Pa Nderry M’Bai

Email: panderrymbai@gmail.com

Tel: 919-749-6319

The post GAMBIA: BREAKING NEWS: BARROW’S COALITION GOV’T HAS BETRAYED GOD AND THE GAMBIAN PEOPLE-OJ appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

Momodou Bou Jarju Expelled

The Chairman and Party Leader of the APRC Hon. Fabakary Tombong Jatta acting under executive powers vested on him by the party constitution, and in consultation with the National Executive Committee, and the founder of the party, wishes to inform the general public that with effect from Tuesday 3rd July 2018,  Mr. Momodou Bou Jarju has been expelled from the APRC Party.

The expulsion is necessitated to redress his action and behaviour pose threat of jeopardizing the harmony and unity of the party. By this action, Mr. Momodou Bou Jarju may not in anyway use the name of APRC or act in anyway representing APRC.

Thus, all supporters of the APRC are urged to desist from destabilising the peace and harmony APRC is known for. In the same vein, all APRC militants are to be aware of the expulsion and urged to continue to exercise their loyalty and unreserved support to the executive.

The Party Leader is thanking all the APRC supporters and well wishers for their tedious efforts and loyalty to the Party. May Allah continue to shower His blessings on all Gambians and the world at large.

HON. Fabakary Tombong Jatta

APRC Party Leader

The post GAMBIA: BREAKING NEWS: APRC EXPELS MOMODOU BOU JARJU! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

GAMBIA: BREAKING NEWS: PRESIDENT BARROW’S GOV’T HAS NO SENSE OF DIRECTION—GDC YOUTH MOBILIZER MC CHAM CLAIMED! 

Written By Mamour M Mbenga

Modou Cham, the Youth Mobilzer of the Gambia Democratic Congress Party (GDC) has said that President Barrow’s government has no sense of direction in steering the affairs of the nation. Cham, speaking in an interview with the Freedom Newspaper, noted that Gambia’s much anticipated system change, has been dashed in the thin air—thanks to Barrow’s inability to champion meaningful democratic reforms. The Gambia, he went on, has ushered regime change back in December of 2016, but the country, he added, is far from accomplishing system change. The democratic pillars that should facilitate good governance are still absent in the country, he said.

Modou Cham, alias MC Cham, said the current government has failed to deliver the promises it made to the Gambia people after been voted into office. He has accused the regime of shirking its responsibilities when it comes to running a viable and productive democratic dispensation. He said Barrow’s government has become a total failure.

According to MC Cham, the only development registered by the Barrow led Coalition government since voted into office was the amendment of the age limit for the office of Presidency and Vice Presidency. This, he said, was done to suit their own selfish interest and not that of the nation. Cham believes that the Barrow government is an interest driven regime–forgetting that it was the masses who elected them into office.

Reacting to the recent cabinet reshuffle, Cham posits that there cannot be serious cabinet reshuffle in the absence of youth empowerment. He accused the regime of marginalizing Gambian youths. He said no Gambian youth, has been appointed in that cabinet, which is mainly dominated by aging politicians. He says the Barrow regime has demonstrated that youth empowerment is not a priority for the government. If they do, he said, they would have tapped on the potentials of the country’s youths. But that is not the case, he added.

Mr. Cham said the time has come for Barrow to develop trust in Gambian youths to help steer the affairs of the nation. He noted that the country has been blessed with competent intellectuals, who are capable of contributing their quota to nation building.

The Barrow government, he said, has failed largely because of its inability to identify and tap on Gambian potentials to develop the country. He said the regime to some extent, has been pursuing misplaced priority projects at the expense of the suffering masses.

Mr. Cham has credited his party Leader Mama Kandeh for the recent cabinet reshuffle. He said it was Mama Kandeh, who called on the president to reshuffle his cabinet via the media prior to the recent changes. He said Barrow has responded to Kandeh’s call for cabinet reshuffle by firing his Ministers.

MC Cham also discussed the appointment of Ousainou Darboe as Vice President. He opines that younger people should be availed with the opportunity to occupy such portfolios. He also said the National Assembly should be empowered to vet such appointments.

Cham has also called on President Barrow to honor the three-year transition period he agreed with his coalition partners. He said Barrow should resign from the presidency at the end of the three years transition so that fresh elections can be held.

The post GAMBIA: BREAKING NEWS: PRESIDENT BARROW’S GOV’T HAS NO SENSE OF DIRECTION—GDC YOUTH MOBILIZER MC CHAM CLAIMED! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

Gambia’s fired Vice President Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang has reportedly left the country for Senegal, with a heavy heart amid her disgraceful firing last week by President Adama Barrow. Ms. Tambajang travelled with SN Brussels and her next port of destination was Dakar, Senegal, where she is expected to brief President Macky Sall about her unceremonious sacking. Ms. Tambajang left the country without officially handing over her office to her successor Ousainou Darboe, the leader of the United Democratic Party (UDP) and onetime former Foreign Minister.

“ Did you know that the former VP Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang left the country unceremoniously yesterday with SN Brussels? She was so mad that she didn’t hand over and she will not report to the Foreign Ministry,” said our source.

“People are speculating that she went to Dakar to appeal to Macky Sall for her reinstatement. She was shocked when she received her sacking letter. She told the SG Habibou Drammeh that this was a mistake and told him that she needed to check with the President. She tried to talk to Barrow, but he would not receiver her calls,” Our source added.

The Freedom Newspaper has placed calls on phone numbers associated with the former Vice President, but all our calls went on voicemail. The lines were out of service.

Below is a statement issued by the dismissed former Vice President about eleven hours ago.

……………………………………..

On June 29th 2018, I was relieved from my post as Vice President and Minister of Women’s Affairs by H.E, President Adama Barrow.

I thank God Almighty for enabling me to champion the creation and success of Coalition 2016, which uprooted Yahya Jammeh’s 22 year dictatorial regime.

I thank all those who gave and continue to give me tremendous support, including H.E President Adama Barrow; my former cabinet colleagues; Gambian supporters in and out of The Gambia; and international partners, during my tenure in government.

My new mission as a private citizen is to continue championing democracy, sustainable peace and development.

For The Gambia Ever True!

#Gambia Evolves

In another development, a senior Gambian Immigration source said Ms. Tambajang after landing in Dakar, she later proceeded to Switzerland. She is currently in Switzerland, our source added.

The post GAMBIA: BREAKING NEWS: DISMISSED GAMBIAN VICE PRESIDENT SUDDENLY LEAVES THE COUNTRY WITHOUT HANDING OVER HER OFFICE TO HER SUCCESSOR OUSAINOU DARBOE! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

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