Dear Mr. Mbai,

“COALITION OFFICIALS SECRETLY LOANED THEMSELVES MONIES WHEN THEY TOOK OVER FROM JAMMEH”

My attention was drawn to the above article in ‘Freedom Newspaper’ of today the 17th September 2018.

Perception is very important in politics. I was appointed on the 1st February 2017 as Minister of Interior, and relieved from this position on the 10th November 2017.

During this period, I did not take or receive any loan from The Gambia Government  or at any other material time.

This clarification is necessary to ward off any possible perception or inference that I may be among former Ministers who allegedly took secret government loans under the new government, and to make it crystal clear that I am not among those former Ministers allegedly inferred in the said report. Kindly accord this rejoinder the same prominence you accorded to the principal story, as major headline.

Sincerely;

Mai Ahmad Fatty

Former Minister of Interior

The post I did not take or receive any loan from The Gambia Government  or at any other material time-Mai Fatty Clarifies! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

The Leader of the yet to be registered political party—The Gambia Alliance for Unity (GANU’s) Sheikh Tijan Hydara said his country is in dire need of a strong, honest, upright, and committed leader, who can steer the affairs of the impoverished West African nation. Mr. Hydara, speaking in an exclusive interview with Freedom Radio Gambia’s prime time Leral show, notes that if elected into office after the country’s transition period to democratic rule, he will usher in a corruption free, democratic, and prosperous Gambia, that would be the envy of the world. “ The Gambia is in need of strong leadership that does not just have a vision, but a realistic plan that would transform the lives of our people, so that they can live in dignity and to have adequate access to social services and economic opportunities. We want to be a political party with difference. We will not only be responsive to the needs of The Gambian people, we will also create an enabling environment in which citizens will live in dignity,” Hydara remarked.

Hydara told Freedom Radio that The Gambia is currently faced with complex and challenging economic nightmares—threatening the lives of the citizenry. He said there is hunger and abject poverty in the country, and that if not tackled with urgency, it could pose a humanitarian situation in the foreseeable future.

“There is real hunger in this country. People are starving. The cheapest bag of rice called Saddam costs nothing less than D1,500 dalasi. How many people earn more than D2,000 dalasis in this country? Revamping the economy; youth and women empowerment; fixing our collapsed heath sector, agriculture, and education are top on our priority when elected. We confident of victory come the next elections,” Hydara further remarked, adding that the problem of poor teachers’ pay and negligence of Government workers will be a thing of the past once GANU assumes office.

Hydara contends that The Gambia cannot develop, if a war on corruption is not declared. Hence, he said, that’s why he deems it imperative to make sure that corruption is weeded out in the country if elected.

“We will make sure that corruption is eradicated completely in The Gambia. We will make sure that the world will know that there is a credible government in The Gambia that has the interest of Gambians and it is committed to advancing the living standards of her citizens. I will lead by example. I am not corrupt. I am corruption free,” he declared.

Mr. Hydara was cited by a Commission of Inquiry he set up when he was appointed Justice Minister under Jammeh’s rule. The Commission discovered that he failed to report monies in his bank account at the time. An amount of D250,000 dalasis was found in his account. The Commission fined him an additional D250,000 dalasi for failing to disclose monies in his bank account.

“ Many people were compelled to pay money. Money was in my account. They said, I did not inform the Commission that there was that amount of money in my account. Two hundred and fifty thousand dalasis was found in my account. They didn’t care to find out when that money was in the account and they made a wrong finding,” Hydara said.

According to Mr. Hydara, the former Gambia Vice President Isatou Njie Saidy, former Health Minister Dr. Gassama, and others were also fined by the Commission. He said the Commission was tasked to investigate land issues. He denied any wrong doing or being involved in cover up.

Mr. Hydara has denied criticism that he is barely known in the country. He thinks that his past public life, and parental background will help advance his Presidential ambition particularly in areas, where he is not known.

“If you recall, I was Attorney General for three years. As an Attorney General, I think people know me. And I also come from a family background. I think my father is well known in The Gambia. Even if people don’t know me, if they are told that this is the son of Sheikh Kebba Hydara, I think everybody will know me. So, I don’t have a problem with that,” he said.

“To say that we don’t have a political cloud, I think that is a misstatement; that is not something that is true because if I am known in Kombo, and I am known in Serre-Kunda; I am known in Banjul; I am known in the North Bank Division; and I am known in LRR; that means I am known all over The Gambia,” he added.

Hydara said he cares about the country and her people that’s why he decided to jump into the political ring. He said his decision to form a political party is not motivated by money or getting rich.

“I think if it is moneymaking, I wouldn’t go into politics. Politics will take money from me. Right now, I am sacrificing for the people of The Gambia. To go into politics, it is even a risk because you can invest everything and loose everything; losing all.  What my private practice is giving me, I think it is enough. I think I can live on that till I die. I have other businesses. I have a yogurt company; and I have cows. I think I don’t need government money. I don’t need money from the coffers of the government,” he told me.

“The Gambia Alliance for National Unity (GANU) is born out of a desire to fill a void long over-sighted by politicians and political parties here in The Gambia. GANU seeks to provide a practical solution to the already existing daily challenges of The Gambian people. In our view, when a people knows what they can achieve together, they will desire to move heaven and earth to achieve that and GANU will be there to provide that leadership,” he remarked.

Written By Pa Nderry M’Bai

Email: panderrymbai@gmail.com

Tel: 919-749-6319

Editors note: Part two of our interview with Mr. Hydara will run in our subsequent editions. Stay tuned.

The post GAMBIA: BREAKING NEWS: THE GAMBIA NEEDS A STRONG LEADER-EX JUSTICE MINISTER AND THE OPPOSITION GANU LEADER DECLARES; SAYS HUNGER IS A REALITY IN THE GAMBIA! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

Gambia’s Ombudsman has ruled on an employment dispute between the fired former Deputy Director of the National Drug Enforcement Agency Pateh Jallow and the new Barrow administration. The Ombudsman has rejected Pateh Jallow’s request to be reinstated back to the NDEA, where he rose to the rank of Deputy Director during dictator Jammeh’s rule. Jallow first enrolled into the defunct Gambian National Gendarmerie in 1989. He was later transferred to The Gambia police force in the wake of the 1994 military takeover led by Yahya Jammeh. He worked at the police until 1995, when he was again transferred, this time to the Drug Squad, a unit that was within the police force. An Act of Parliament was formulated in 2005, that made the Drug Squad, now called the NDEA, an autonomous security outfit of its own.  

Mr. Jallow was instrumental in busting the South American drug dealers, who were arrested in The Gambia, in June of 2010, with more one billion dollars street value of cocaine. He was elevated to the rank of NDEA Deputy Director, but he never stayed long on that position. He was later fired and has his travel documents seized.

It was after the change of regime in December of 2016, that Jallow’s documents were returned to him. He has been unemployed for years.

When President Adama Barrow constituted a panel to look into the cases of former security and public officials illegally fired by the exiled dictator Yahya Jammeh, Pateh applied to be reinstated. He contends in a letter addressed to the Permanent Secretary at the Personnel Management office (PMO) that he was a victim of unlawful dismissal. Jallow also contends that he has never attained the retirement age to warrant his retirement from the force.

In a letter dated January 4^th, 2018, addressed to Pateh Jallow, his namesake Pateh Jah, the former PMO Perm Sec said: “Following the review of your case, the Public Service Commission has concurred with the Executive Decision to rescind your dismissal. Consequently, the Commission has further concurred with the decision to reinstate your service with The Gambia Government with effect from the date you were dismissed, and as well to retire you from the services of The Gambian Government with effect from August 7, 2017. Please note the period from the date you were dismissed to the retirement date will not attract payment of salary. However, your service will be connected for the computation at your retirement benefits.”

Pateh Jallow in a counter letter to the former PMO PS, maintains that he hasn’t attained the age of 55 years and his dismissal was unlawful. He demanded to be reinstated to the NDEA.

Dissatisfied with the way and manner he was treated by the Barrow government by prematurely retiring him from the service, Mr. Jallow filed a complaint with the Ombudsman. Among his demands include for the Ombudsman to overrule the government’s decision to prematurely retire him from the force. But Jallow’s hope of getting his job back has been dashed away.

Ombudsman Fatoumatta Jallow Njie, in a letter dated July 16^th 2018, informed Mr. Jallow that “ after a careful review of all the documents submitted in your complaint lodged in the office, it was observed that the decision to reinstate and retire your service from the Drug Squad Law Enforcement Agency Gambia(DLEAG) was made by a panel set up at the Personnel Management Office. In light of the above, the investigation is hereby discontinued as further enquiries will be unnecessary, improper or fruitless.”

It would be recalled that Pateh Jallow joined the opposition Gambia Democratic Congress Party (GDC) years after he was fired by Jammeh. Both him and Abdoulie Jatta, a former exiled Jammeh ADC joined the party. Jatta was reinstated together with other dismissed officers, but Jallow had his request for reinstatement rejected.

The current DG of the NDEA Bakary Gassama and the former Secretary General Dawda Fadera allegedly connived by claiming that Jallow has lost what they called “institutional memory” and his reinstatement would amount to a disservice to the agency.

Mr. Jallow also visited Mr. Fadera at his home prior to his redeployment to the Foreign Service, where Fadera reportedly told him that unless he resigns his membership with the opposition GDC and pledge his support for the United Democratic Party (UDP) his chances of getting reinstated will be next to nil.

Jallow has repeatedly argued that it is unfair for the regime to deny him reinstatement because of his political affiliation with the GDC. That he is not the only one affiliated to a political party in the government.

He joined the GDC, when The Gambia was in a dire need of political change amid decades of misrule by Yahya Jammeh. Jallow felt being discriminated by The Gambian state.

It was Pateh Jallow, who facilitated the appointment of his nemesis Bakary Gassama into the NDEA, when Gassama was fired from the discredited infamous National Intelligence Agency. When his late boss Ben Jammeh informed him that he was approached by one Mr. Suso, a former official of the NIA, now living in the United Kingdom, about his friend Bakary Gassama, being interested in working for the agency, Jallow told Ben that it would be great to hire Gassama to head the agency’s Finance Department.

Gassama got hired thanks to Mr. Jallow, but today he is claiming that his former boss has lost institutional memory. In other words, he said Jallow, has forgotten his anti-narcotic trade craft.

Below are correspondences between Pateh Jallow, the PMO and the Ombudsman.

………………………………………

The post GAMBIA: BREAKING NEWS: OMBUDSMAN REJECTS FORMER NDEA DEPUTY DIRECTOR’S REQUEST TO BE REINSTATED! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

ELECTION MANIFESTO

ADAMA BARROW, INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE

 SUPPORTED

BY COALITION 

1. INTRODUCTION

People Centered State administration requires appropriate Constitutional and institutional developments complemented by appropriate policies, strategic plans, programmes and projects aimed at improving the general well-being of the citizenry.

Disregard of Constitutional provisions aimed at protection of the citizenry and lack of financial discipline in state administration has transformed Gambia under the APRC into a Heavily Indebted Poor Country which is being increasingly isolated because of governance practices that are in contravention to Good Governance , Rule of Law , Democracy, Human Rights and Substantive Justice.

In this regard , I have offered my self  as an Independent Candidate  who will serve for only three years at the head of a broad based and inclusive  Coalition Government aimed at conducting Constitutional, institutional and administrative reforms that would establish the foundation of a democratic system of administration that would put an end to the culture of impunity and self-perpetuating rule and usher in an era for Gambians to enjoy liberty and prosperity  under a system of government that is sensitive and responsive to the needs and aspirations of its citizenry .

2. TOWARDS ECONOMIC STABILISATION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

The transitional Government will take note of the economic disequilibrium being experienced under the APRC.

The negative growth of 7.2 percent experienced by the Agricultural Sector in 2014; the insignificant positive growth of 2.7 percent of the Industrial Sector and the negative growth of 8.1 percent in the Service Sector confirm that the Economy is in decline.

The fluctuation of prices, exchange rate of the Dalasi and the sustained budget deficits and internal and external borrowing has resulted in a growing imbalance between revenue and expenditure and export and import thus resulting in poverty, joblessness and low income.

The transitional government will introduce financial discipline both in terms of fiscal policy and public spending. It will give emphasis to revenue generation while encouraging expenditure based on means so as to reduce dependence on debt to meet budgetary requirements.

It will strive to increase the income of low earners such as pensioners and those at the lower grades.

It would put in place programmes aimed at enhancing the growth of the agricultural, industrial and service sectors as well, as the informal sector of the economy

The aim of the transitional administration is to stabilize the fundamentals of the economy and then push towards sustainable growth so that any new administration would have a strong economic foundation which would serve as a spring board for more growth oriented policies.

3. SOCIAL SERVICES
4. I) Education

The Coalition Government would work towards delivering quality and relevant basic education that is free, accessible and compulsory

It will take major initiatives to make Secondary Education affordable and accessible to all those who have the qualification

It would make tertiary Education relatively accessible and affordable to all those who have the qualification.

Teachers and Learning materials would be given priority

1. ii) Health

Primary health care focusing on the basic health needs of the population will be the basis of the heath delivery system of the Coalition. Its preventive aspect will be given primary consideration. The Coalition Government will subsidize primary health care delivery system and strive to make it affordable and accessible to all.

Other health delivery services shall be made more accessible and more affordable

4. GOOD GOVERNANCE
5. The transitional government shall treat all Gambians equally regardless of

gender, political, religious and tribal affiliation;

1. The transitional government shall respect and protect the fundamental

principles of humans and people’s rights;

1. The transitional government shall exercise impartiality among all stakeholders;
2. The transitional government shall not engage in any form of revenge or witch hunt against its citizens;
3. The transitional government shall respect and honour all the international conventions and treaties that The Gambia is a signatory to;

5. Cabinet Composition
6. The Transitional Cabinet shall comprise the following Ministers:
7. Vice President and Minister for Good Governance and Gender Affairs
8. Minister of Finance & Economic Affairs
9. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration
10. Minister of Works and Infrastructure
11. Attorney General and Minister of Justice
12. Minister Defense
13. Minister of Interior
14. Minister of Higher Education & Technology
15. Minister of Basic & Secondary Education
16. Minister of Industry, Trade, Employment
17. Minister of Information & Information Technology
18. Minister of Regional Administration and Lands
19. Minister of Health
20. Minister of Agriculture; Forestry, Environment & Climate Change
21. Minister of Youth & Sports
22. Minister of Fisheries & Water Resources
23. Minister of Tourism & Culture
24. Minister of Energy
25. Minister of Social Welfare, the Physically Challenged and Children Affairs

All Presidential appointments and removals will be done in consultation with Coalition stakeholders.

6. ON DEMOCRACY AND RULE OF LAW

The Coalition Government will promote and entrench the sovereignty of the people;

eradicate vestiges of self-perpetuating rule;

empower citizens to defend their sovereignty and to have control over public authority as equal stakeholders;

undertake institutional reforms of the executive, legislature, judiciary, civil service and other oversight institutions such as the office of the Ombudsman and the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC);

establish a body Jurists and competent personalities to review the constitution with a view to cleansing it of all provisions which are inimical to democracy and the rule of law; review the Elections Act to remove provisions such as prohibitive deposits for Presidential, National Assembly, council and Mayoral elections which hinder citizens from exercising their right to be elected to elective positions.

In tune with section 39 of the 1997 constitution and also sections 11 and 141 of the Elections Act, enfranchise Gambians abroad to vote.

Establish a Constituency Boundaries Commission in compliance with section 50 of the 1997 constitution; Propagate Constitutional amendments to restore the provision of section 48 of the Constitution that makes it a requirement for a Presidential candidate to have more than 50 percent of the valid votes cast before assuming the office of president in the first ballot.

Section 63 (1) of the 1997 Constitution will be subjected to a referendum to introduce the two term limit.

An Act of the National Assembly should be enacted to determine the procedure of the referendum to be held after a vote of confidence against a president is cast under section 63(5) of the Constitution.

To strengthen parliamentary oversight under a coalition government, efforts shall be undertaken to amend Section 91 of the Constitution so that any member of parliament who is dismissed by a party would automatically be an Independent   candidate.

To make the member accountable to the electorate, an Act of the National Assembly shall be enacted to provide the procedure to enforce Section 92 of the Constitution which provides the right to recall representatives to the electorate.

To ensure judicial oversight the Independence of the Judiciary will be buttressed by undertaking constitutional amendments which would link any removal of a judge, magistrate or member of a district tribunal to be determined by judicial enquiry by a tribunal headed by competent judges.

To ensure security or tenure of the members of the IEC, Section 42 of the Constitution will be amended to make it impossible for any member of the Commission to be removed without judicial enquiry by competent judges.

A freedom of Information Act shall be enacted to strengthen media oversight.

An NGO Act shall be enacted to promote Civil Society oversight.

The law Reform Commission shall be restructured and revitalised to enable it to guide Constitutional and legal reform process to consolidate the rule of law.

Protect civil servants and disciplined forces from being use for partisan political objectives;

Ensure equal access to public facilities as required by section 26 of the 1997 constitution;

open the public media to divergent views and opinion as required by section 208 of the 1997 constitution;

Repeal the legal requirement of political parties having to apply for permits before using amplification facilities and instead introduce a consultative mechanism that enables the police to determine which party has the user right to a meeting place on a  first come first serve basis

Prevent leaders from encouraging self-perpetuating rule, the coalition administration shall put in place a term limit of two mandates of five years each;

repeal the maximum age limit for the presidency as stipulated in section 62(1b) of the 1997 Constitution;

empower the National Council for Civic Education both in terms of human and financial resources for them to become more apt to conduct civic education programs on a nation wide scale ;

put in place a mechanism of preventing fraudulent registration in compliance with sections 39 and 41 of the 1997 constitution.

7. ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND JUSTICE
8. i) The Coalition government and its agencies will respect and uphold human rights as provided in the Constitution, ECOWAS and AU protocols and International Conventions.

ii).      General Amnesty to Prisoners

All prisoners of conscience must be freed so that they can contribute their quota to the development of The Gambia.

The following categories of prisoners will be granted amnesty :

all those jailed in relation to charges of treason, false news, false publication, sedition, libel, Public Order Act offences, giving false information to a public servant.

iii). Withdrawal of Cases without Merit

Many cases are without substance. All cases without merit especially that of remanded prisoners that are stagnant will be reviewed without delay by a committee appointed by the Attorney General and all charges without merit will be dropped.

iv). Release of Detainees

A list of  detainees who have never been charged and put on trial  and are in custody for more than 72 hours in contravention to  Section 19  of the Constitution  will  be provided  to the Attorney General.

A committee will be set up by the Attorney General to review the case files, if any, of such detainees and make appropriate recommendations for immediate release and provide other remedies including the payment of compensation.

v). Addressing the Issue of Torture and Death in Custody

Many allegations of torture have been reported by the media and made by accused persons in their testimonies in court. Reports of disappearances without trace are common. There are also cases of death under detention without the institution of any proceedings by the Coroner.

The Coalition Government shall set up a truth and reconciliation commission to enhance the healing of wounds that have caused pain and trauma through a cycle of confession, repentance, forgiveness and reconciliation. The commission will be empowered to recommend remedies for injustice including payment of compensation by the state, as it deems fit.

vi).     Gambians in the Diaspora

Many Gambians are abroad because of inadequate political environment conducive for the free expression of divergent views in the media and free exercise of dissent;

The coalition government will reconstruct a new Gambia free from persecution and impunity where democracy and the rule of law thrive and where dissent and  free expression of divergent views are tolerated.  The Coalition government will extend an olive branch to all Gambians in exile to return unconditionally without fear of being prosecuted for any allegations against them.

vii). REPEAL OF LAWS THAT ARE IN CONTRAVENTION OF BEST PRACTICE IN UPHOLDING HUMAN RIGHTS

The provisions of Chapter Four of the Constitution protect our fundamental rights and freedoms, but certain laws some of which were enacted since the colonial period contravene the best practice in safeguarding these rights. It is as if the Constitution is giving rights to its citizens and other laws are  ousting  those rights.

1. a) The Coalition Government endeavours to propagate legislation  to revoke all provisions of law criminalising speech including libel, sedition, false news and false publication within six months of assuming political office .
2. b) Laws on official secrets will be amended to promote public accountability and transparency in public office
3. c) Public Order Act, Laws of The Gambia 2009 gives too much power to the Inspector General of Police and does fetter freedom of association and assembly. The Coalition government will repeal any provision in the Public Order Act which is not reasonable and justifiable in a democratic society such as those which hinder peaceful procession to highlight public grievances which is the min tool for exercising civil society oversight over the governance process.
4. d) Criminal Code Act, Laws of The Gambia 2009 – section 114 which relates to giving false information to a public servant. Quite often persons who petition the president are prosecuted in violation of section 25 paragraph (f) which protects the right of every person to freedom to petition the Executive for redress of grievances.

viii).   Enlargement of Protection of Human Rights

Apart from revoking or amending laws which hinder human rights there will be need for the enactment of laws, the establishment of institutions and law enforcement practices which will enlarge and protect rights and freedoms. We propose the following laws, policies and practices:

1. a) The Coalition government will enact a Freedom of Information law in consultation with the GPU and the media fraternity to enhance access to official information and strengthen media oversight of governance. This will facilitate transparency and accountability.

A new Freedom of Information law will repeal the Newspaper Act and incorporate part of the Information and Communication Act to facilitate easy avenues to establish media houses, the issuing of broadcasting licences which does not encroach into media freedom and the establishment of an independent broadcasting regulatory body.

The law will seek to provide alternative dispute resolution measures and peer pressure to address any abuse of professionalism and civil suit in case of libel rather than criminalising speech.

1. b) Invoke section 18 of the Constitution to facilitate a referendum on the abolition of the death penalty within a year to make life imprisonment the maximum penalty.

Imprisonments leave much to be desired. There is need for prison reform.

Within a month from assuming office the Coalition Government will set up a Commission of Inquiry into the places and conditions of detention before and after conviction with the objective of putting an end to torture, rape, inhuman and degrading punishment or treatment and poor conditions of imprisonment. The findings will provide ingredients for prison reform, upgrading of police cells and amenities such as food, sanitation, access to legal counsels and next of kin.  The Commission will enquire into disappearances without trace and long detention without bail to ensure that bail is accessible and affordable.

1. d) The Coalition government will set up a Commission of Inquiry to look into any claim of seizure or damage of any legally acquired property without just compensation to protect the right not to be deprived of one’s property.
2. e) Even though the Constitution makes provision for fundamental rights and freedoms the state treats those rights with disregard and the rights of citizens are not protected. Hence many are unlawfully detained for more than 72 hours and the detainees and their families appear helpless in protecting their rights especially since court orders are treated with disregard.

The Coalition government shall promote the right to fair hearing and speedy trial. It will respect and protect the Independence and Impartiality of courts and judges.

It shall oversee the establishment of a Judicial Service Commission that would enable the judiciary to carry out judicial oversight in protecting and enforcing respect of rights.

It will also establish an independent National Human Rights Institution as an oversight institution empowered to order the release of persons detained unlawfully and having unlimited access to all places of detention. The institution will also have power to stop unlawful practices at detention centres such as torture.

1. f) The Coalition Government will protect freedom of religion, belief and worship.

ix).     International Conventions

More than a dozen international conventions on human rights have been ratified. Three of them have been domesticated. The UN Convention against all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol) now form part of the Women’s Act 2010. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is part of the Children’s Act 2005.

The conventions that have been ratified will be reviewed for the purpose of domesticating them.

About half a dozen other conventions are yet to be ratified. Efforts will be made to ratify them.

8. ON NATIONAL RECONCILIATION

The Coalition stakeholders will assume the task of educating coalition supporters, in particular, and the nation, at large, on the election rules and promote exemplary display of mature citizenship during the 2016 electoral process and beyond.

We will promote national reconciliation so that the sovereign Gambian people, irrespective of ethno-linguistic (tribe), religion, gender or other sectionalist considerations, would be united to prove our common bond of citizenship.

The coalition leaders would be encouraged to buttress this point in all their messages to the electorate.

The Coalition Government will conduct civic education on print, electronic i.e. radio and television, social media and any other outlets, singly or in collaboration with other stakeholders, to promote tolerance of diversity and national reconciliation.

The Coalition government will propagate laws, institutions and programmes on national reconciliation to build trust, confidence and positive perception towards the coalition by presenting it as a unifying rather than a dividing force. It will convince the electorate that the coalition is on the path of national reconciliation rather preparing for revenge.

The committee shall educate and sensitise the electorate about the need for national reconciliation in safeguarding our peaceful co-existence as a people. This will give more legitimacy to and support for the coalition during the transitional phase.

CONCLUSION

The Independent Ticket supported by Coalition 20`16 aims to create a transitional Coalition Government that would promote tolerance of ethno-linguistic, religious, gender and other diversities in promotion of national unity

We have agreed to put all differences aside to put a transitional government in place that would initiate constitutional, electoral, institutional, administrative and managerial reforms that would make justice guide our action towards the common good and further unify our diverse people to create a democratic system which enables each party to have equal access to the media and seek the mandate of the people in a free, fair and genuine election after a three year transition.

The End

The post GAMBIA: ELECTION MANIFESTO-ADAMA BARROW, INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

Issuance of Identity Cards will resume on the first week of October, the Freedom Newspaper can reveal. Immigration DG Zil Sanyang and Interior Minister Ebrima Mballow today visited the State House where ID Cards were issued to the First Lady’s family. Also, issued ID Card was Vice President Ousainou Darboe, including some staff of the President’s office.

The Syrian affiliated Belgian Company Semlex has finally received clearance to start operations in The Gambia. Passport and ID Card applicants will notice an increase on the fee of our national documents when they showed up to the Immigration Department to apply for one of these documents.

Our State House sources said they witnessed the issuance of the ID Cards to the First Lady’s family. They said both DG Sanyang and Interior Minister Mballow were present at the time of the cards being issued.

The post GAMBIA: BREAKING NEWS: ID CARDS ISSUED TO FIRST FAMILY; VP, AND PRESIDENT’S STAFF; AS ID CARD ISSUANCE WILL OFFICIALLY START IN THE FIRST WEEK OF OCTOBER! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

Former Gambian Agriculture Minister Omar Amadou Jallow (OJ) has vehemently denied taking loan or owing money to The Gambian government.  ” I did not owe or taken any loan from The Gambian Government. I can state categorically clear that throughout my ten months employment with The Gambian government, I have never borrowed any butut from the government—talk less of taking a loan from the government,” OJ clarified.

Mr. Jallow was reacting to a Freedom Newspaper story, in which the paper reported that some Coalition government officials had loaned themselves money during the course of the employment with the state. The paper also reported that one or two sacked officials had left unpaid loans behind.

“It is wrong for anyone to suggest that I owe the government money. That is inaccurate. I have never taken a loan since I was hired as a Minister. That I can tell you,” OJ further clarified.

The GMC Leader Mai Fatty has also issued a rebuttal few days ago, denying owing the regime money.

The post GAMBIA: OJ DENIES OWING MONEY TO THE GAMBIAN GOVERNMENT! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

The United States based Gambia Democracy Fund (GDF), funded all the Parliamentary candidates affiliated with the Coalition government in the past National Assembly elections, Omar Amadou Jallow, (OJ) told Freedom Radio Gambia in an interview on Thursday. Mr. Jallow, who phoned in to clear his name amid reports that some Coalition government officials, had secretly loaned themselves money immediately after taking over power from the exiled Gambian dictator Yahya Jammeh, further clarified that he has never borrowed money from the regime. Jallow recalled President Adama Barrow convening a meeting prior to the legislative elections, in which Coalition leaders were in attendance. He said Barrow mentioned the issue of the newly elected government using the diaspora funds that were donated by GDF to help fund candidates vying for the National Assembly elections.

“ At the said meeting, it was agreed that we should use the diaspora funds to sponsor our candidates. If my memory serves me right, my party, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) was allocated 30,000 dalasis for the thirteen candidates we sponsored for the NAM elections. I think each party was given D30,000 for each candidate or more than that,” OJ remarked.

The United Democratic Party (UDP) sponsored over thirty candidates in the past election and all the UDP candidates were funded by the diaspora funds, OJ added. The opposition PDOIS, NRP, NCP, GMC, and Gomez’s GPDP party, also benefited from the GDF funds, OJ said.

The GDF has spent close to one million dalasis on Ousainou Darboe’s UDP party. The PPP was allocated close to one hundred thousand dalasi.

According to OJ, the former Vice President Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang was present when President Barrow floated the idea of using GDF funds to sponsor candidates affiliated with the Coalition government. He said a consensus was reached that the GDF funds should be used to finance the NAM candidates.

GDF was able to raise over D4 million dalasis to help bankroll the then opposition to put up an electoral fight against Yahya Jammeh in the 2016 Presidential elections. The opposition emerged victorious.

OJ also said his party was allocated two pickup vehicles. He added that other parties also benefited from the vehicles that were distributed during the NAM elections. Though, the veteran politician doesn’t know the source of the vehicles. He said he was merely told that the vehicles came from the supporters of the Coalition.

PDOIS ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARY REACTS

Mr. Edrissa Jallow, the administrative Secretary of the opposition PDOIS party also phoned in to set the record straight. Jallow said to the best of his recollection, he recalled his party benefiting from the diapora funds to sponsor the PDOIS NAM candidates in the past elections. Jallow also said the funds in question were received on behalf of the then Coalition by the sacked VP Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang and Alahgie Darboe of the UDP.

The Coalition as an institution at the time, he said, had received funds from well-wishers and supporters. He said the PDOIS party itself, had contributed D3 million dalasis to the Coalition Fund, while the UDP had contributed D300, 000 dalasi. The PPP contributed D50,000 dalasis, while Mai Fatty’s GMC Party had contributed D25,000 dalasis.

Jallow is said he was not aware of any financial contribution made by Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang, Henry Gomez, Hamat Bah Isatou Touray and Dr. Bojang of the NCP. Jallow has maintained financial records of Coalition parties, which contributed in the past election.

Mr. Jallow also pointed out that there were instances in which the Coalition convey will experience fuel shortages and drivers not paid for their services. He recalled buying fuel for the stranded Coalition vehicles and settling the drivers unpaid wages.

Mr. Jallow told Freedom Radio Gambia that the PDOIS accepted to receive vehicles during the NAM elections on the basis that it came from the Coalition as an institution. He pointed out that PDOIS’ integrity is in tack and its efforts to galvanize the opposition to come together form an alliance to defeat Jammeh cannot be erased.

Mr. Jallow also said there is no functional Coalition government as far as he is concerned. The MOU that brought the parties together is not being executed as envisaged, he said. He said since the election of Adama Barrow into office, no meeting has been convened by the Coalition to discuss some of the substantive matters contained in the MOU. He spoke about Barrow’s desire to prolong his rule beyond the three year agreement the Coalition agreed upon.

He also cited the firing the former Chairperson of Coalition EX VP Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang, Mai Fatty and OJ Jallow. He said parties that constituted the Coalition were never consulted and the replacement of the fired officials never came from the GMC, PPP, or the GPDP parties.

“One can say that there is no coalition as it stands. What we have today in The Gambia, is an Executive President and not a Coalition Government President,” Jallow remarked.

Jallow noted that the euphoria that greeted the birth of the Coalition government has diminished adding that public confidence into the regime is at its lowest ebb.

OJ Jallow also contends that the disintegration of the Coalition government can be partly blamed on Ousainou Darboe. He said all was working fine until Darboe was released from jail. He said Darboe came up with the idea of parties adopting what he (Darboe) called “tactical alliance” in the past NAM elections. He said Darboe’s proposal for tactical alliance led to the demise of the Coalition. He said President Barrow also floated Darboe’s proposal for tactical alliance at a meeting, which he (OJ) voted against. He said almost all the officials who attended the meeting agreed to the President’s proposal except him.

Edrissa Jallow also contends that there was no tactical alliance, as parties sponsored candidates in constituencies, where their fellow Coalition partners had candidates.

Written By Pa Nderry M’Bai

Email: panderrymbai@gmail.com

Tel: 919-749-6319

The post GAMBIA: BREAKING NEWS: OJ DROPS A BOMBSHELL; AS HE EXPLAINS HOW THE GDF FUNDS WERE USED TO FUND COALITION NAM MEMBERS! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

Two circumcised Bijilo babies narrowly escaped death on Sunday after a police officer attached to the anti-crime unit of The Gambia police force, reportedly sprayed them with a pepper spray—leaving the babies to be unconscious (passed out), the Freedom Newspaper has been reliably informed. The incident happened around the “Kawsumai” junction, where the babies—age 2, and 5, respectively came under attack during an unprovoked altercation between the police officer and the babies’ parents.

THIS TWO YEAR OLD CIRCUMCISED BABY WAS SPRAYED BY ANTI-CRIME OFFICER

The circumcised kids were earlier in the day taken to the beach side by their parents to take shower, as ordained by Gambian culture. There was also a local “ Kankurang” age 11, escorting the circumcised kids.

It was during the course of escorting the babies to their home in Bijilo, that they got into contact with the anti-crime unit officer. The officer, who was ridding a motorbike, was in mufti at the time of the incident. He was accompanied by another officer wearing a t-shirt bearing the inscription of The Gambia police force.

The officer then disembarked from his motorbike and confronted the parents of the circumcised kids. He accused them of obstructing the traffic. A charge the kids’ parents vehemently denied.

Ebrima Joof, a father to one of the circumcised kids, who was sprayed said, passing motorists even had to give them way to cross the road. He said they never obstructed traffic as claimed by the officer. Instead, he said, the anti-crime unit officer, took it upon himself to harass and violently attack them under the disguised that they obstructed the traffic.

“The officer suddenly descended on us and started harassing us. He falsely accused us of obstructing the traffic. He was in mufti. He then ordered his colleague to arrest “the Kankurang”, who is eleven year old. He did not stop at doing that; he also sprayed us. My son suffocated due to the spray the officer used on us; the two-year-old baby also passed out. I was also sprayed. My eyes are still hurting me. The circumcised kids cried for hours,” Joof told Freedom Newspaper.

The anti-crime unit of The Gambia police force is headed by Superintendent Gorgi Mboob. Mboob was indicted by the Lartey Commission during dictator Jammeh’s rule for his own admission for having killed one of the student protesters in April of 2000. He was indemnified by the exiled dictator together with his colleagues implicated in the students killings.

Mr. Mboob was also named in the alleged theft of Jammeh’s cement and other properties at the State House in Banjul, in the aftermath of the dictator’s ousting in 2017, amid a month-long political impasse. He was briefly interdicted from the force. His case was dropped, following revelations that some senior officers of the force, including security chiefs close to President Adama Barrow at the State House, were complicit in the alleged theft case. He was redeployed to head the newly created anti-crime unit, whose offices are situated in Bijilo. The unit is occupying the headquarters of the former Ruling APRC Green, Green Boys.

A criminal complaint was filed at the Brusibi police station by the parents of the circumcised kids. The officers on duty recorded the complaint on the station diary. They also advised the complainants to take the kids  to the Sukuta Health Center for medical attention, which they did.

The anti-crime officers have been accused of assaulting the two babies. The officers have also been accused of assaulting the escorts attached to the circumcised kids.

MEDICAL REPORT ISSUED TO THE KIDS’S PARENTS BY NURSES AT THE SUKUTA HEALTH CENTER 

The kids were seen on arrival at the Heath Center. They were treated and discharged the same day. The kids’ parents were told to closely observe the kids and report to the hospital if any signs of worsening condition are noticed on the kids.

THE SECOND MEDICAL REPORT ISSUED TO THE KIDS’ PARENTS 

The former Councillor of the Bijilo Ward Mr. Faal visited the police station to check on the Kankurang, who was detained there, but he was ejected from the station. He was asked to leave. The Kankurang has since been released from police custody. No charges have been filed against him yet.

The police spokesperson could not be reached for comment during the weekend.

The post GAMBIA: BREAKING NEWS: CIRCUMCISED KIDS NARROWLY ESCAPED DEATH, AS ANTI-CRIME UNIT OFFICER SPRAYED THEM WITH PEPPER SPRAY DURING AN ALTERCATION WITH THE BABIES PARENTS! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

Hours after exposing the assault case that was allegedly meted out to his two-year-old circumcised son, by a police officer attached to the anti-crime unit of The Gambia police force, Ebrima Joof, who was also assaulted by the same police officer, has been arrested after exposing the story to the Freedom Newspaper.  Joof received a phone call from the anti-crime unit in Bijilo, earlier on Monday, and was asked to report to the station. The officer, who phoned, told him, that he was needed at the station to discuss some issues of concern.

This followed, a criminal complaint Joof filed at the Brusibi police station against two anti-crime unit officers.

While under police custody, Joof was also confronted by the police for exposing the assault story to the Freedom Newspaper. He was briefly detained and released on bail. He has been charged with threatening violence. He has been asked to report to the station on Tuesday.

Joof being the complainant against the police, has now turned as an accused person. Both him and his son, together with the eleven year old “Kakurang” were allegedly assaulted by two officers of the anti-crime unit.

Joof and the two assaulted babies were referred to the Sukuta Health Center after filing the criminal complaint against the accused officers. The babies were treated and discharged.

It would be recalled that the circumcised Bijilo babies narrowly escaped death on Sunday after a police officer attached to the anti-crime unit of The Gambia police force, reportedly sprayed them with a pepper spray—leaving the babies to be unconscious (passed out), the Freedom Newspaper has been reliably informed. The incident happened around the “Kawsumai” junction, where the babies—age 2, and 5, respectively came under attack during an unprovoked altercation between the police officer and the babies’ parents.

The circumcised kids were earlier in the day taken to the beach side by their parents to take shower, as ordained by Gambian culture. There was also a local “ Kankurang” age 11, escorting the circumcised kids.

It was during the course of escorting the babies to their home in Bijilo, that they got into contact with the anti-crime unit officer. The officer, who was riding a motorbike, was in mufti at the time of the incident. He was accompanied by another officer wearing a t-shirt bearing the inscription of The Gambia police force.

The officer then disembarked from his motorbike and confronted the parents of the circumcised kids. He accused them of obstructing the traffic. A charge the kids’ parents vehemently denied.

STORY BACKGROUND

Two circumcised Bijilo babies narrowly escaped death on Sunday after a police officer attached to the anti-crime unit of The Gambia police force, reportedly sprayed them with a pepper spray—leaving the babies to be unconscious (passed out), the Freedom Newspaper has been reliably informed. The incident happened around the “Kawsumai” junction, where the babies—age 2, and 5, respectively came under attack during an unprovoked altercation between the police officer and the babies’ parents.

THIS TWO YEAR OLD CIRCUMCISED BABY WAS SPRAYED BY ANTI-CRIME OFFICER

The circumcised kids were earlier in the day taken to the beach side by their parents to take shower, as ordained by Gambian culture. There was also a local “ Kankurang” age 11, escorting the circumcised kids.

It was during the course of escorting the babies to their home in Bijilo, that they got into contact with the anti-crime unit officer. The officer, who was ridding a motorbike, was in mufti at the time of the incident. He was accompanied by another officer wearing a t-shirt bearing the inscription of The Gambia police force.

The officer then disembarked from his motorbike and confronted the parents of the circumcised kids. He accused them of obstructing the traffic. A charge the kids’ parents vehemently denied.

Ebrima Joof, a father to one of the circumcised kids, who was sprayed said, passing motorists even had to give them way to cross the road. He said they never obstructed traffic as claimed by the officer. Instead, he said, the anti-crime unit officer, took it upon himself to harass and violently attack them under the disguised that they obstructed the traffic.

“The officer suddenly descended on us and started harassing us. He falsely accused us of obstructing the traffic. He was in mufti. He then ordered his colleague to arrest “the Kankurang”, who is eleven year old. He did not stop at doing that; he also sprayed us. My son suffocated due to the spray the officer used on us; the two-year-old baby also passed out. I was also sprayed. My eyes are still hurting me. The circumcised kids cried for hours,” Joof told Freedom Newspaper.

The anti-crime unit of The Gambia police force is headed by Superintendent Gorgi Mboob. Mboob was indicted by the Lartey Commission during dictator Jammeh’s rule for his own admission for having killed one of the student protesters in April of 2000. He was indemnified by the exiled dictator together with his colleagues implicated in the students killings.

Mr. Mboob was also named in the alleged theft of Jammeh’s cement and other properties at the State House in Banjul, in the aftermath of the dictator’s ousting in 2017, amid a month-long political impasse. He was briefly interdicted from the force. His case was dropped, following revelations that some senior officers of the force, including security chiefs close to President Adama Barrow at the State House, were complicit in the alleged theft case. He was redeployed to head the newly created anti-crime unit, whose offices are situated in Bijilo. The unit is occupying the headquarters of the former Ruling APRC Green, Green Boys.

A criminal complaint was filed at the Brusibi police station by the parents of the circumcised kids. The officers on duty recorded the complaint on the station diary. They also advised the complainants to take the kids  to the Sukuta Health Center for medical attention, which they did.

The anti-crime officers have been accused of assaulting the two babies. The officers have also been accused of assaulting the escorts attached to the circumcised kids.

MEDICAL REPORT ISSUED TO THE KIDS’S PARENTS BY NURSES AT THE SUKUTA HEALTH CENTER 

The kids were seen on arrival at the Heath Center. They were treated and discharged the same day. The kids’ parents were told to closely observe the kids and report to the hospital if any signs of worsening condition are noticed on the kids.

THE SECOND MEDICAL REPORT ISSUED TO THE KIDS’ PARENTS 

The former Councillor of the Bijilo Ward Mr. Faal visited the police station to check on the Kankurang, who was detained there, but he was ejected from the station. He was asked to leave. The Kankurang has since been released from police custody. No charges have been filed against him yet.

The police spokesperson could not be reached for comment during the weekend.

The post GAMBIA: BREAKING NEWS: GAMBIAN POLICE ARREST AND RELEASED EBRIMA JOOF ON BAIL AFTER EXPOSING THE ASSAULT STORY ON HIS TWO YEAR OLD CIRCUMCISED BABY BY AN ANTI-CRIME OFFICERS! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

The Gambian police have charged Ebrima Joof, whose two-year-old circumcised kid, was assaulted by a police officer over the weekend. Both Joof and his son were assaulted by the officer, who sprayed them with a pepper spray—leaving Joof’s son to be unconscious. Joof has been charged with assaulting a police officer. He was earlier today arraigned in court.

This followed, an altercation between two personnel of the police anti-crime unit and the parents of the circumcised kids. One of the officers descended from his motorbike and confronted Ebrima Joof and his peers, and accused them of obstructing traffic.

At the time, Joof and co were from the beach escorting the circumcised kids to their Bijilo home. There was also a local “Kankurang” escorting the kids.

The Kankurang was taken into custody, but was later released. Joof was called the next day to report to the anti-crime unit offices in Bijilo, where he was greeted by senior officials of The Gambia police force headquarters in Banjul. He was chastised for reporting the incident to the US based Freedom Newspaper. He was also accused of smearing the image of the police by circulating information on “social media.” He was asked to leave and report to the station today Tuesday, after several hours of interrogation.

When Joof showed up at the station on Tuesday morning, he was charged and taken to court. The accuser has now turned to be the accused person. He has been charged with assaulting a police officer. A charge he denied.

The incident was unprovoked. The officers took the law into their own hands by accosting the parents of the circumcised kids. An altercation later emerged and one of the officers fired a pepper spray at the kids and their parents. The kids age 2 and 5, became unconscious. Ebou Joof and the “ Kankurang” were also affected by the pepper spray, as Joof said his eyes hurts him for the entire day.

Joof and his peers reported the assault case to the Brusibi police, where they were referred to the Sukuta Health Center for medical treatment. Both kids were treated and released the same day.

The Inspector General of Police Mamour Jobe, has decided to side with the criminal officers in uniform by falsely charging Ebou Joof. The babies, who were assaulted by the officers have been denied justice. Their parents too have also been denied justice.

STORY BACKGROUND

Two circumcised Bijilo babies narrowly escaped death on Sunday after a police officer attached to the anti-crime unit of The Gambia police force, reportedly sprayed them with a pepper spray—leaving the babies to be unconscious (passed out), the Freedom Newspaper has been reliably informed. The incident happened around the “Kawsumai” junction, where the babies—age 2, and 5, respectively came under attack during an unprovoked altercation between the police officer and the babies’ parents.

THIS TWO YEAR OLD CIRCUMCISED BABY WAS SPRAYED BY ANTI-CRIME OFFICER

The circumcised kids were earlier in the day taken to the beach side by their parents to take shower, as ordained by Gambian culture. There was also a local “ Kankurang” age 11, escorting the circumcised kids.

It was during the course of escorting the babies to their home in Bijilo, that they got into contact with the anti-crime unit officer. The officer, who was ridding a motorbike, was in mufti at the time of the incident. He was accompanied by another officer wearing a t-shirt bearing the inscription of The Gambia police force.

The officer then disembarked from his motorbike and confronted the parents of the circumcised kids. He accused them of obstructing the traffic. A charge the kids’ parents vehemently denied.

Ebrima Joof, a father to one of the circumcised kids, who was sprayed said, passing motorists even had to give them way to cross the road. He said they never obstructed traffic as claimed by the officer. Instead, he said, the anti-crime unit officer, took it upon himself to harass and violently attack them under the disguised that they obstructed the traffic.

“The officer suddenly descended on us and started harassing us. He falsely accused us of obstructing the traffic. He was in mufti. He then ordered his colleague to arrest “the Kankurang”, who is eleven year old. He did not stop at doing that; he also sprayed us. My son suffocated due to the spray the officer used on us; the two-year-old baby also passed out. I was also sprayed. My eyes are still hurting me. The circumcised kids cried for hours,” Joof told Freedom Newspaper.

The anti-crime unit of The Gambia police force is headed by Superintendent Gorgi Mboob. Mboob was indicted by the Lartey Commission during dictator Jammeh’s rule for his own admission for having killed one of the student protesters in April of 2000. He was indemnified by the exiled dictator together with his colleagues implicated in the students killings.

Mr. Mboob was also named in the alleged theft of Jammeh’s cement and other properties at the State House in Banjul, in the aftermath of the dictator’s ousting in 2017, amid a month-long political impasse. He was briefly interdicted from the force. His case was dropped, following revelations that some senior officers of the force, including security chiefs close to President Adama Barrow at the State House, were complicit in the alleged theft case. He was redeployed to head the newly created anti-crime unit, whose offices are situated in Bijilo. The unit is occupying the headquarters of the former Ruling APRC Green, Green Boys.

A criminal complaint was filed at the Brusibi police station by the parents of the circumcised kids. The officers on duty recorded the complaint on the station diary. They also advised the complainants to take the kids  to the Sukuta Health Center for medical attention, which they did.

The anti-crime officers have been accused of assaulting the two babies. The officers have also been accused of assaulting the escorts attached to the circumcised kids.

MEDICAL REPORT ISSUED TO THE KIDS’S PARENTS BY NURSES AT THE SUKUTA HEALTH CENTER 

The kids were seen on arrival at the Heath Center. They were treated and discharged the same day. The kids’ parents were told to closely observe the kids and report to the hospital if any signs of worsening condition are noticed on the kids.

THE SECOND MEDICAL REPORT ISSUED TO THE KIDS’ PARENTS 

The former Councillor of the Bijilo Ward Mr. Faal visited the police station to check on the Kankurang, who was detained there, but he was ejected from the station. He was asked to leave. The Kankurang has since been released from police custody. No charges have been filed against him yet.

The post GAMBIA: BREAKING NEWS: GAMBIAN DAD, WHO WAS ASSAULTED BY COPS TOGETHER WITH HIS TWO BABIES; NOW FACES ASSAULT CHARGES AGAINST A POLICE OFFICER! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

Gambia’s rookie President Adama Barrow recently sent a delegation to VP Ousainou Darboe, who happens to be the leader of the United Democratic Party (UDP) to find out if the UDP will select him to be the party’s flag bearer after his terms ends in 2021, the Freedom Newspaper can reveal. The delegation was shocked by Mr. Darboe’s response to the President. He told the delegation unequivocally that the decision to select a flag bearer rests entirely in the hands of the party’s membership. Mr. Darboe also told the delegation that Barrow’s prospects to represent the UDP in any future elections would be determined by a party Congress and not he (Ousainou Darboe).

The United Democratic Party (UDP) forms the majority in Barrow’s Coalition government. The party has over thirty MPS in the National Assembly, while its surrogates have been hired in the Foreign Service, including the Central Government.

According to sources familiar with the in house talks between Mr. Darboe and Barrow’s delegation, The Gambian leader wanted to know his fate as the UDP prepares for its upcoming Congress. Mr. Barrow is not sure as to whether the UDP will sponsor him to lead the party in future elections.

“Mr. Darboe was categorical in his response to Barrow’s delegation. He told them unequivocally that it is not within his purview as a party leader to decide who should represent the party in future elections. His advice was for Barrow to express his intent to lead through the party’s membership should there be any congress in the future,” our source said.

Mr. Barrow is treading on an uncertain political territory. His newly formed Youth Movement alone cannot win him a reelection should he decides to run again. He will need the UDP, including the fragmented opposition particularly the former ruling APRC to be able consolidate his base.

Within the UDP base, there is a bad blood between Barrow’s Youth Movement and the UDP supporters loyal to Ousainou Darboe. This was manifested during Barrow’s trip to the UN General Assembly Summit, where his welcome was nearly disrupted by pockets of yellow UDP followers, who wore the party’s  yellow t shirt to counter the New York based Barrow Youth Movement.

For now, Barrow is not happy that his political Godfather Ousainou Darboe, hasn’t thrown his weight behind him to promote his agenda for reelection post the transition period. Mr. Darboe politely told Barrow’s delegation that the UDP grassroots membership are going to decide who should represent them in future elections and not any single individual.

Mr. Barrow’s approval ratings has dwindled in recent months. He is increasingly unpopular within and outside the country. This is largely due to his lack of leadership vision to steer the affairs of the West African nation.

The turnout for his UN General Assembly Summit was all time low this year. Few Gambians showed up to welcome their rookie President. There is no information as to whether he is going to address any town-hall this year in New York.

The post Gambia: Breaking News: IT IS ONLY THE UDP MEMBERSHIP, WHO CAN DECIDE IF BARROW WILL BE SELECTED AS A FLAG BEARER IN FUTURE ELECTIONS AND NOT ME-DARBOE REPORTEDLY TOLD BARROW’S DELEGATION! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

The Gambian government has imposed a travel ban on all public officials, except for what Finance Minister Mamburay Njie calls “essential statutory meetings” with effect from October 1, 2018, the Freedom  Newspaper can report. Njie, in a press release issued September 26th, said that the travel ban is necessitated by the overall fiscal slippages on travels and to ensure to expenses are within the overall travel expenditure ceiling of the 2018 budget as approved by the National Assembly.

“The measure is needed to free up spending for social services such as Education, Health to engender economic growth and microeconomic stability,” Finance Minister Njie stated.

According to Finance Minister Njie, the travel ban also applies to all Non-Subvented Agencies, State Owned Enterprises and Central Bank of The Gambia. This he said, is part of the broader government efforts at fiscal consolidation across all levels of government.

“This expanded scope will improve the financial position of all relevant institutions to enable them to pay statutory tax payments and potential dividends to government, where applicable,” Njie remarked.

The travel ban imposed on public officials follows criticism heaped on President Adama Barrow and his delegation to the UN General Assembly Summit for chattering a private jet to attend the Summit. Mr. Barrow has been shuttling in and out of the country with private jet services since he was voted into office back in December of 2016.

Meanwhile, national developmental sectors such as education, health, infrastructure, and agriculture have collapsed. The country is on the brink of facing a major economic recession, in view of the government’s lack of fiscal discipline, according to one economic analyst.

Written By Pa Nderry M’Bai

The post GAMBIA: BREAKING NEWS: GAMBIA GOV’T IMPOSES TRAVEL BAN ON PUBLIC OFFICIALS IN AN ATTEMPT TO CUT DOWN ON EXPENDITURE appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

The one hundred and sixty-seven (167) police intervention unit (PIU) officers stationed at the State House in Banjul, were today withdrawn from the President’s office and transferred to their respective bases across the country, the Freedom Newspaper can report. The Gambian army is now in charge of security at the State House.

A senior law enforcement officer, who contacted the Freedom Newspaper said: “There is confusion in this country. We woke up today, only to be told that the 167 PIU officers , who were stationed at the State House, have been transferred. They have been replaced by personnel of The Gambia Armed Forces.  Based on what I was told, even the PIU officers and the Coalition supporters, who were recently trained in Senegal, have been replaced by the soldiers. Everyone is confused here.”

“The Gambian army has also taken over Denton Bridge. The PIU officers have been withdrawn from Denton Bridge. The soldiers are back in full swing. Some of the PIU officers have been redeployed to their respective bases in Kanifing, Brikama, and elsewhere across the country,” our law enforcement source added.

In another development, 16 senior police officers have been lined up to be sent on retirement next month. Insiders at the police headquarters in Banjul said information about the officers lined up to be retired, would be published soon.

The post GAMBIA: BREAKING NEWS: 167 PIU OFFICERS WITHDRAWN FROM THE STATE HOUSE; AS GAMBIAN ARMY TAKES OVER STATE HOUSE AND DENTON BRIDGE GUARD DUTIES TODAY! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

OMVG-Project Management Unit-Dakar plans to embezzle Compensation Monies for Gambian Citizens

The OMVG-Project Management Unit-Dakar plans to embezzle Compensation Monies for Gambia Citizens. To ensure that the requirements of technical and financial partners are respected in the implementation of the project, the Project Affected People (PAPs) or project beneficiaries are to be sensitized about the positive impact of the OMVG project and to receive compensation for the loss of their agricultural land and perennials crops. However, the Project Management Unit in Dakar has hijacked the project component: Compensation, Awareness Raising and Communication and therefore intends to rob the Gambian project beneficiaries of their compensation monies estimated to 5 Million dollars.

The Project beneficiaries have still not been paid their compensation monies unlike their counterparts in other member countries. The development of interconnection and hydroelectric development (HAE) Sambangalou is part of the implementation of an energy policy conducted jointly by the Republics of the Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Guinea and Senegal. These members States have defined in the framework of the Organisation for the Development of the Gambia River (OMVG) an energy project including the AHS Sambangalou on the Gambia River in Senegal and the interconnection of the electricity networks between the four member states. The line corridor has been identified mapping the precise route to be defined at the stage of design studies that should prevent priority dwellings. The impact will mainly concern the timely requisition of agricultural land for the establishment of towers and access roads and the destruction of tall perennials. The number of Project Affected People (PAPs) in Gambia are to received a compensation scheme estimated to be 2.7 billion FCFA for the loss of annual crops and temporary loss of income for perennials crops at 41.7 million CFA either in cash or kind including support for income generation activities to improve livelihoods.

The OMVG Project Management Unit, Dakar blatantly violated the World Bank procurement rules for not subjecting this project component to public tender for Gambia NGOs. Despite, recruiting EFANet as an organisation to conduct the sensitization and payment of compensation, the project Management Unit ultimately diverted the project to a proxy organisation in Senegal called Enda with the purpose of embezzling and siphoning off the compensation funds of people in the Gambia. How can Enda a non registered organisation in Gambia which does do not have socio-cultural knowledge nor the constitutional mandate operates in the Gambia? The fact of the matter is that staff of project management unit in Dakar are about to enrich themselves at the expense of the poor citizens of the Gambia. This is not only corruption, but an attempt and a ploy to rob project beneficiaries of their due compensation.

To execute their wicked plan, they wanted to lure me to be part of their gang by offering me to work with their team or Enda of Senegal. As a social justice advocate and human right activist, I found this morally wrong to be part of a sinister scheme to steal monies from those whom I swear to defend. Therefore, we are calling on the Government to protect its citizens by ensuring that they received their full compensation.

Written By Siyat Gaye

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

The post Gambia: OMVG-Project Management Unit-Dakar plans to embezzle Compensation Monies for Gambian Citizens appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

Faraba Banta wounded victims are being denied treatment in some health facilities in The Gambia, Binta Jatta, a native of Faraba told Freedom Newspaper in an interview. Jatta, who lives in Atlanta, Georgia, said some of the health professionals approached by family members to help attend to the Faraba victims, have went as far as branding the Faraba patients as “President Adama Barrow’s patients”; hence making it difficult for the wounded victims to get treatment at this hour in The Gambia. This follows, the gunning down of three Faraba Banta residents by personnel of Gambia’s police intervention unit (PIU) amid a land dispute case between the residents of Faraba and the Julakay Engineering Company. Three environmentalists were killed, and dozens of others critically injured.

Julakay Engineering is owned by Ansumana Marena. Mr. Marena was among the witnesses, who appeared before the Faraba Commission, headed by human rights lawyer Emmanuel Joof. The Commission submitted its report to President Barrow about a month ago. Though, the President is yet to release the Commission’s findings to the public.

According to Binta Jatta, President Barrow visited the wounded victims at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital shortly after they were hospitalized. The President made a promised during his visit to the hospital that he was going to take care of the treatment cost of the victims. But Jatta said the patients are medically stranded, as families couldn’t afford to pay for their medical expenses.

To insult to injury, she said, families are frustrated by doctors refusal to see the wounded Faraba victims. She said some of the medical facilities they approached for treatment have made it unequivocally clear that they will not treat patients, who were injured during the Faraba incident. Families members were told that Barrow’s government, should care for the wounded victims, she said.

Binta Jatta has launched an appeal through Freedom Radio Gambia, for President Barrow to come to the rescue of some of the injured Faraba victims.  She said Faraba families relied largely on farming to take care of their homes, and that their rice fields have been destroyed by the illegal sand mining spearheaded by the Julakay Engineering Company.

Julakay has since suspended mining at the site. The company claimed that it was granted license by The Gambian state to mine sand in Faraba. But the village’s Development Committee (VDC) said it was never consulted about the said mining license that was purportedly issued to Ansumana Marena.

Meanwhile, the people of Faraba Banta, have launched a Gofundme page to help sponsor the medical expenses of the wounded victims. Binta Jatta said every penny donated will help the wounded victims.

Mrs. Jatta has called on President Barrow to help release the Faraba Commission report in the interest of accountability and transparency. She said families deserve justice.

She also lamented about the light treatment detention meted out to the accused PIU officers linked to the killing of the three Faraba residents. She said she was told that the officers accused of killing the three Faraba environmentalists, were not detained in remand prison, but at one of their bases.

The post GAMBIA: BREAKING NEWS: FARABA BANTA WOUNDED VICTIMS DENIED MEDICAL TREATMENT IN THE GAMBIA; MEDICAL FACILITIES BRANDED THE VICTIMS AS ” PRESIDENT BARROW PATIENTS.” appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

A rising young Gambian youth activist Awa Sisay has called for the closure of the Fatoumatta Bah Barrow Foundation (FABB), alleging that the First Lady’s Foundation is not serving its desired purpose, as allegations of money laundering, and corruption are rife in town against the Foundation. A substantial amount of thirty-five million dalasis, was deposited into the Foundation’s bank account by an undisclosed donor, and the money was cashed out hours after it was deposited. The FABB Foundation Board of Directors have since announced that it was conducting what they called an internal investigation into the mysterious deposit that was made to the account by a so-called philanthropist. Two Board Members of the Foundation Alpha Barry and Fatim Badjie have since resigned.

Ms. Sisay is a former member of President Barrow’s media team at the State House. She was sacked from her job, following a posting she made on social media, thanking Mama Kandeh of the opposition GDC, for coming to the rescue of the Kuntaur flood victims.  Kandeh is the leader of The Gambia Democratic Congress Party (GDC). He donated food and other relief supplies to the Kuntaur flood victims.

President Barrow and almost three quarter of his cabinet had travelled to Mecca to perform Hajj, when the flood occurred. Sisay felt that Kandeh’s response towards the flood victims deserves commendation; not knowing that the “BIG MAN” President Barrow wasn’t happy with her comments on Facebook, according to what Ambassador at large Fatou Ceesay, told her upon their return to the country from Mecca. She was also reprimanded on the phone by her boss Amie Bojang Sissoho, for praising Mama Kandeh on social media, she said.

What followed later, was a termination letter, she received from the Personnel Management Office (PMO) informing her that her services with The Gambian government has been terminated. No reason was given for her firing.

Ms. Sisay also recalled being confronted by Tourism Minister Hamat Bah, when she visited Hamat at his home, shortly after he returned from performing Hajj. She said Bah is a family friend. Bah reportedly told her that he will no longer be able to protect her, as far as her employment with The Gambian government was concerned.

Hamat, she said, was not happy when she wrote on Facebook promoting Fatou Jaw Manneh, as her favorite candidate for Vice President. Her statement coincided with VP Tambajang’s age controversy.

Hamat told her that he was very close to VP Tambajang , and he (Hamat Bah) will no longer be able to protect her. Awa Sisay stood her ground. She said, she hasn’t done anything wrong to warrant such a statement coming from Hamat.

Ms. Sisay played a key role during Gambia’s 2016 Presidential campaign. She toured the country with Adama Barrow and other Coalition leaders, such as Omar Amadou Jallow (OJ) Halifa Sallah, and Dr. Isatou Touray. She was also among the youths, who stood in solidarity with the Coalition, when dictator Jammeh refused to step down.

A native of Kabada, in Kiang, Awa Sisay has earned herself as the new kid in the block—openly picking on the Barrows, particularly the First Lady’s Foundation. She has printed t shirts bearing writing inscription in the Mandinka diallect: FATOUMTTA KODOO LAY? D35 MILLION?” Meaning in English: FATOUMATTA, WHERE IS THE MONEY? WHERE IS THE 35 MILLION DALASIS?

Appearing on the Freedom Radio Gambia’s, prime time Sunday Leral show, Ms. Sisay said the alleged financial scandal occurred at the FABB Foundation in 2017, but it took about a year before the news of the alleged transaction hits the newsstand. She contends that there was no need for such a Foundation to be opened in the first place and that it is dishonest for the First Lady and her cohorts to hide in the name of bailing out impoverished Gambians, in pursuance of their own sheer financial needs.

She told Freedom Radio that the government that promised her people of correcting dictator Jammeh’s past power excesses and wanton corruption, and never repeating such a national cancer, is sadly following the footsteps of the former regime. She contends that despite the public outcry over former First Lady Zeinab Souma Jammeh’s Foundation, which was used to launder money for the Jammehs, Barrow’s wife is also operating a similar Foundation without any accountability to the public.

She further contends that it is not only laughable for Fatoumatta Bah Barrow’s Aunty Aminatta Jallow to sit on the FABB Foundation as a Treasurer, but it is also dead wrong for the accused Foundation to probe itself. She called on the Inspector General of police to take over the investigations of the FABB Foundation and pursue what she called “those behind this money laundering.”

Awa Sisay notes that the unaccounted D35 million dalasi at the FABB Foundation, could have been used to help buy medicines for our collapsed health sector; revamp Gambia’s failing education sector; provide food for starving kids; and other failing sectors of national development.

Ms. Sisay said she intends to print more t shirts so that her anticorruption campaign against the First Lady’s Foundation can reach the length and breadth of The Gambia. She opines that the Barrows have shattered the hopes and aspirations of Gambians especially when it comes to people’s expectations of ending official graft in the country. She said corruption has reached an embarrassing proportion in The Gambia.

“I want my message to get to the provinces, where people are finding it difficult to enjoy quality life. I am originally from the provinces. I know what my people are going through in the present-day Gambia. Folks in the provinces do not have access to clean drinking water, balanced diet, and electricity. If the First Lady is soliciting funds in the name of helping the poor and the needy in The Gambia, we expect her to be true to her statement. So far, she hasn’t done anything that we are proud of. The FABB Foundation is a disservice to the nation and her people. It should be closed,” she posits.

Ms. Sisay said she has received financial support of over D6,000 dalasi from Sulayman Ben Suwareh of the United Kingdom to print an additional twenty t shirts. She said she will welcome any form of support from the community to help expose the alleged corruption that occurred at the FABB Foundation.

The FABB Foundation could not be reached for comment.

In a recent interview with Freedom Newspaper, Fatou Ceesay, the Vice Chairperson of the Foundation said: “The Board of Directors for the Foundation are looking into the said transfer. We have set up a task force to investigate it. The Board is looking into the matter. You have to be patient. Once we finalize our findings, we will get back to you.”

“I cannot tell you whether it is a normal transaction or not. As far as I know, there is an investigation to probe into the matter. I don’t know where the money is coming from. That is why we set up the investigations. I don’t know whether that is the exact amount or not. I never sat down to do any cost calculation about the dollar or dalasi amount. I don’t remember the exact amount. There is an investigation going on,” Ms. Ceesay added.

Fatou Ceesay FABB’S Vice Chairperson 

The FABB Foundation has been registered as a non-profit organization in The Gambia. The Foundation’s banking information is not accessible to the public.

The Foundation has been engaged in charity work since its formation according to Ms. Ceesay. Though, she doesn’t know the person(s) who must have transferred the $752,544.42 dollars into the account.

The post GAMBIA: BREAKING NEWS: EX STATE HOUSE MEDIA STAFFER CALLS FOR THE CLOSURE OF THE FABB FOUNDATION AS SHE LAUNCHES A CAMPAIGN TO EXPOSE THE UNACCOUNTED D35 M FUNDS AT FABB! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

A prominent Gambian American political activist Dr. Amadou Scattred Janneh has characterized his Tuesday arrest as “inhumane” and vowed that no amount of intimidation will scare him to abandon his activism to fight environmental pollution and injustices. Janneh was arrested by the police at the Gunjur cemetery, while paying respect to his demised uncle. He was part of a congregation, who took part in the burial of his deceased uncle. Police said Janneh was on their raider for some time, as he was wanted in connection with the vandalization of the Golden Lead pipes. Golden Lead, is a Chinese Fishing mill firm, which had its Factory in Gunjur.

“I am not particularly angry being arrested, but the fact that I was picked up at the Gunjur cemetery, where we buried my uncle, and that is something that I cannot understand. I have been around. This case happened way back in March. My colleagues were charged and according to the documents filed in the court, that I was at large. But I returned here, and I have been going back and forth from The Gambia to the US. I have been attending public events. I even interacted with the President, with the First Lady, with religious events, soccer events. To say that they could not find me, from March till now, and they had to resort to picking me, up at the cemetery is very unfortunate,” Janneh tells Eye Africa online TV.

“Whatever the reasons may be, it is very inhumane because I was in a mourning; I am still in mourning. And they have every opportunity to wait until after the burial to contact me. They have my phone numbers and I travelled back and forth to Gunjur, almost on a daily basis. Almost, any officer, you ask to find me, would be able to locate me. I have a public profile on Facebook. I show places I visited; the bridge; Gunjur beach, etc,” he added.

Mr. Janneh was released on bail late Tuesday. He had to post a D500,000 dalasis bail bond and surrender his United States passport before he was allowed to leave the police station. He was also asked to report to the Brikama police station on Wednesday.

Mr. Janneh was the first among the accused Gunjur environmentalists to be questioned by the police when the alleged incident occurred. His co accused persons were arrested and charged while Janneh was away from the country. At the time, he had visited his family in the US, to attend his son’s high school graduation.

Months after his return from his US trip, Janneh was never arrested. He drove around town and interacted with Gambian government officials. Janneh said he was never on the run. He also condemned the way and manner he was treated by the police.

“On a regularly basis, I will show my location. So, to say that they could not find me, for several months and then decide to pick me up at a funeral; at a burial site, it is very inhumane indeed,” he said.

“If they contend that what we did was illegal, which we don’t accept. They can follow the legal process, but this is not the way to arrest a suspect. You have every opportunity to contact me; even to arrest me elsewhere; you wait until I am done burying my uncle,” he added.

Janneh also maintained that they have not broken any Gambian laws. He said there was nothing illegal about the action in removing the Golden Lead pipes.

“As far as the pipe is concerned, the pipes were removed in the public domain; on the public beach; at the time both the NEA and other government agencies had required for the Chinese Company to remove those pipes. They were there illegally,” he remarked.

“And then, we, after consulting, engaging in meetings, everything failed, we decided to remove a section of the pipe that is in the public domain. We never, ever, got close to the Chinese compound. We never, ever, went into Golden Lead Factory. So, the charges are bogus, and we are willing to go through the legal process to proof that. But even when you are accused, you ought to be treated humanely and arrest needs to be done properly. You don’t let somebody to hang around town for several months; you see me, on a regular basis. I interacted with the President during his meeting here. The First Lady was at the beach, when we had the tree planting. Almost every checkpoint here, folks know me very well. So, I cannot understand what they mean by they could not find me and had to go to the Gunjur cemetery to find me,” he lamented.

Janneh accused Golden Lead of overfishing and polluting the environment. He also accused the Chinese company is engaged in bribing Gambian officials to stay in business.

“Golden Lead Factory is involved in overfishing. It is involved in dumping in untreated waste into our seas. And since its inception, they thump their noises at government authorities. They did not comply with requirements to remove their pipes and for some reasons, they perfected the art of bribery. They have managed to survive, but people like us are determined to protect our community, and we will continue to speak out. We will continue to point to transgressions such as we are seeing now. There is no amount of intimidation that can silence us,” he posited.

“If you know our history, I was charged with treason and sedition, under Jammeh and it did not shake me, and I don’t think being charged with removal of pipes that were illegally installed would scare me enough to run. And to say that there is a D500,000 bond and the fact that they took my passport; all of it is a waste because there is no way I am going to flee this country,” Janneh added.

Mr. Janneh is optimistic that The Gambian judiciary will avail them justice.

“We believe judges and magistrates in this country now are independent. They would be able to determine for themselves whether we did anything that violated the laws,” he remarked.

The post GAMBIA: BREAKING NEWS: GAMBIAN AMERICAN ACTIVIST ACCUSES GAMBIAN POLICE OF BEING ” INHUMANE” FOLLOWING HIS ARREST AT HIS UNCLE’S BURIAL AT THE GUNJUR CEMETERY! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

A Tennessee Gambian truck driver Bubacarr Jallow, who worked for long hours to raise money to buy a home in The Gambia, was among those whose properties were demolished to the ground in Tawto, a village next to Jabang, Kombo North on Wednesday, the Freedom Newspaper can report. Close to one hundred landed properties were demolished—rendering families to be homeless in Tawto. A family clan, who goes with the last name “Jobes of Serre-Kunda” were linked to the alleged demolition.

THE DEMOLISHED HOMES IN TAWTO

Helpless and distraught families watched by seeing their homes being bulldozed to the ground. Bubacarr Jallow and one of his cousins Essa Jallow, also a resident of Kansas City, in the United States, were both affected by the massive demolition of properties in Tawto.

“I just got a call this morning from a family member, who informed me, that some people went to our area around Jabang and started demolishing our properties over there. They even sent me videos and pictures of all the properties demolished on the ground. I was told that one Kayjobe of the Joben family of Serre-Kunda, was behind the demolition. They claimed that they owned the land. The village is called Tawto,” a ragging Bubacarr Jallow told me during a phone interview.

TENNESSEE TRUCK DRIVER BUBACARR JALLOW  

The Njoben family could not be reached for their own side of the story. But Jallow insists that those behind the demolition acted outside the purview of the law. He said he worked so hard to buy that property and couldn’t understand why should anyone resort to such an illegal demolition of people’s properties.

“I was in the Gambia, not long ago and I was never told about the demolition. They just descended to the village and started demolishing people’s properties. They claimed that they owned the land. We have our land papers and everything. They feel like they have the law in their hands,” Jallow alleged.

“I got my property three years ago. It cost me D250,000 dalasis to get the land; just the empty land; and I have fenced it. I also constructed some single rooms over there. Pretty much, I can say that I spent close to D500,000 dalasis on my property,” he added.

Land dispute is becoming a common re-occurrence in The Gambia. So far, three people have lost their lives as a result of land related dispute cases this year.

Personnel of the police intervention unit (PIU) have been charged with the murder of three Faraba Banta environmentalists. This follows, a sand mining dispute between the Julakay Engineering Firm and the villagers of Faraba. Faraba, is situated on the West Coast region of The Gambia.

Similar land dispute cases have been reported in Darsilami village, where villages have accused Muhammed Jah’s Qcell of illegally occupying their land. The village’s VDC Committee recently met with Qcell representatives in a bid to resolve the simmering land dispute tension.

Truck driver Bubacarr Jallow describes the actions of those behind the demolitions as reprehensible. He called on the government to swiftly intervene before affected citizens will retaliate against what he called the lawbreakers.

“ I think these people are trying to create a war. You can’t just go to somebody’s property and start demolishing it. You have to go through due process before resorting to such an action. They don’t know how we struggled to get our properties. We are all here hustling; sweeting to make money and sorry for my language, these MF back homes are demolishing people’s homes. It can’t happen. Something needs to be done because I don’t mind losing my life for this shit,” Jallow remarked.

“We are all struggling; okay. Somebody cannot sit back home, claiming that they owned something and just taking the law on their hands and destroying people’s properties; it can’t work like that. If I have chance to go home, I will go. I will go to The Gambia and I will fight for my rights. That’s what it is. It is either the government has to do something, or we will have to take the law on our own hands; because they have the machines to destroy someone’s property; fine, but we will see. It is not gonna go like that. Something needs to be done,” he added.

A frustrated Jallow said he contacted the Department of Physical Planning to report about the “vandalism” that took place at his Tawto home. He wasn’t the least satisfied by the response he received from the official he spoken to.

“ I called this morning and I spoke to a lady that works there and told me that she wasn’t aware of it. I explained to her that I had a property over there and some people went over there and destroyed our property. And she told me, that she wasn’t aware of it. She asked me to take my land papers to the Physical Planning Department; to the jurisdiction in Banjul; I don’t know their offices; I don’t know those people. She asked me to take my papers there and report it. I said look, I am far away; I can’t do that, and you guys should be the ones to take care of it,” he said.

LANDS MINISTER MUSA DRAMMEH

Jallow said both him and his cousin Essa Jallow bought their lands at the same time during their visit to The Gambia in 2015. He told Freedom Newspaper that he purchased his land from a credible homeowner.

“ My land was sold to me, by Momodou Bobo Jallow. I have all the papers in my hands. I have gone to the last office in Brikama to make sure that I got the right paperwork. I went to the Area Council in Brikama, myself, when I visited The Gambia in December. That was not long ago. I was there in December. I paid money to process all the paperwork to make sure that the land is safe on my hands. That is what I did,” he said.

“The Gambia is on the path to lawlessness because people felt that they can do what they “wanna” do. Look at what happened; someone woke up in the morning and started demolishing people’s properties. That’s ridiculous,” he added.

Jallow said he deemed it imperative to alert the Freedom Newspaper about what happened in Tawto on Wednesday. He said the Barrow government will be held liable if concrete actions are not taken to remedy the situation.

“ The reason of me calling you is because we want you to spread the news in case something happened, and the government didn’t take no action; they are the cause of it because they should have people responsible. You cannot just be giving out papers; approve it; somebody take the law into his own hands; it is crazy. They don’t know how we are struggling; they don’t know how we make our money. They don’t know,” Jallow contends.

Also speaking to the Freedom Newspaper was Essa Jallow, a US medical health worker. Jallow opines that if the government let the perpetrators of the Tawto property demolition to go scot free, it could lead to an unpredictable ramification.

“ The government is playing with fire. If they did not take care of this situation it will get out of hand. How can someone take the law in their hands and demolish someone hard earned property. Where is Gambia heading to? Lawlessness?,” he asked.

According to Jallow, he was informed by his brother in The Gambia that the village Alkalo of Tawto, has reported the incident to the Old Yundum police. He said Alkalo John, is supposed to meet with the Chief of Kombo North on Thursday so that he could discuss the issue with him.

“ I bought my land in 2015 for D230,000 dalasis. Overall, I have spent D500,000 dalasis to develop land. I have already started fencing the property. My property was demolished to the ground,” he lamented.

The post GAMBIA: BREAKING NEWS: A FURIOUS US GAMBIAN TRUCK DRIVER AND HIS COUSIN WERE AMONG THOSE WHOSE HOMES WERE DEMOLISHED IN TAWTO VILLAGE, NEXT TO JABANG TODAY! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

General Sulayman Badjie, AKA Karafa Bojang, has spoken for the first time since his departure from The Gambia for exile in Equatorial Guinea back in 2017. In a whatsapp audio message, Badjie vehemently denied recent allegations leveled against him by one Omar Sanneh, a close relative of dictator Jammeh.  Sanneh, who is living in exile in neighboring Cassamance, Senegal, took a swipe at General Badjie, in a fifty-minutes whatsapp audio message. He branded Badjie as a villain, traitor, and a sellout, who collaborated with Adama Barrow’s coalition government to effect regime change.  Sanneh contends that thanks to General Badjie and Yankuba Badjie, Gambia’s former spy chief’s conspiracy with the opposition that the opposition was able to defeat Jammeh in Gambia’s December 2016 Presidential elections. He also accused the exiled General of collaborating with the December 3oth attackers to topple Jammeh from power. Badjie’s “betrayals schemes” and quest to relegate Jammeh from his family, and trusted aides, were also highlighted in the audio. Sanneh alleged that Badjie employed the services of spiritual leaders to separate Jammeh from his family, loyalists in the army, and trusted aides in the former government; all in the name of securing his position. 

In a counter rebuttal, Badjie, who was speaking in the local Jolla dialect, claimed that Sanneh’s objective was to sow seeds of discord between him and Yahya Jammeh. He accused Sanneh of impinging on his character and reputation. He denied being disloyal to Yahya Jammeh. He notes that given the support accorded to him by Jammeh over the years, he sees no reason why he should collaborate with Jammeh’s opponents to fight him.

Further debunking Omar Sanneh’s allegations, Badjie said, if he was indeed a friend of the Coalition government, how comes that his own wife was arrested by The Gambian police. He also said his name is a subject of discussion before the Janneh Commission and that he (Gen. Badjie) is on the verge of losing his properties in The Gambia.

Omar Sanneh charged that the majority of that withdrawals that were made at the Central Bank of The Gambia, in the name of Yahya Jammeh, was done by Badjie and his partners in economic crime without Jammeh’s knowledge. He claimed that Bah has used Jammeh’s name on numerous occasions to loot millions from the Central Bank.

Sanneh also alleged that General Badjie took part in the clearing of the arms that were shipped from the United States to The Gambia to facilitate the December 30^th attack, which left three of the attackers’ dead. Former US Army Captain Njaga Jagne, Ex Lt. Colonel Lamin Sanneh, and Jaja Nyass were killed during the failed mutiny.

Sanneh said when the arms arrived at the ports, Badjie told a colleague of his at the State House to transport the shipment to a safe location, because it belongs to Jammeh. He said Badjie switched off his phone on the night of the attack. He also allegedly suppressed the NIA investigations on the matter, and arrested NIA officer Borry Bojang, who is a close relative of Jammeh.

Sounding confused and panic stricken, Badjie took on whatapps to clear his name on Wednesday. He accused Sanneh of trying to jeopardize his relationship with Yahya Jammeh. Both Saul Badjie and Jammeh are staying together in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.

Badjie also denied being an obstacle against Jammeh’s quest to return to The Gambia. He said he has no powers to prevent Jammeh from returning to his native country.

Omar Sanneh has claimed in his whatsapp audio message that General Badjie had on numerous occasions tried to lure Jammeh’s cooks at the State House to mix spiritual charms into Jammeh’s coffee, but they refused. He said Badjie would lied to the cooks that Jammeh, has asked him to tell the cooks to add the charms into his coffee. But the cooks were not that gullible to buy Badjie’s lies. He later fabricated lies against the cooks and they were fired, he said.

The man making the accusations against Badjie Omar Sanneh, was arrested by The Gambian police for insulting President Adama Barrow. He was held for weeks before he was released. He has since left the jurisdiction of The Gambia for Casamance.

Sanneh, in another audio issued late Wednesday, claimed that General Badjie, was in talks with Fatoumatta Tambajang Jallow, during the political impasse. Tambajang is the former Chairperson of the Coalition 2016 campaign and also Gambia’s Vice President.

Sanneh also mentioned the name of Mamar Alieu Njie, the Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission in his audio. He alleged that Badjie was working with Njie and Fatoumatta Tambajang and other Coalition leaders to rig the elections. He further alleged that Badjie was paid millions to help aide the opposition to win the election. We are treating Sanneh’s claims as mere unsubstantiated allegations.

He said his own son was attached to the IEC Chairman as an orderly. He claimed that it was through his son that Jammeh’s mom was able to get hold of what he called the electoral discrepancies results that occurred during the election. Jammeh’s mum hand delivered the report to Jammeh. He claimed that General Badjie wanted to assassinate his son, but he had to flee the country.

Omar Sanneh alleged that the opposition had employed ritual and other spiritual sacrifices just to defeat Jammeh in the past election. He claimed that General Badjie aided them by stealing Jammeh’s cloth, which was used to facilitate Barrow’s victory. Such claims could not be independently verified by this medium.

Appearing worried about his fate with Jammeh, General Badjie, also denied insulting his Jolla ethnic group. He also denied mixing Jammeh with General Musa Savage, Gen. Momodou Njie, Solo Bojang, Kawsu Camara, AKA Bombardeh, Lang Tombong Tamba, among others.

Sanneh said Badjie was pretending to be protective of Jammeh, when in reality, his goal was to bury Jammeh. He alleged that Badjie even succeeded in separating Jammeh from his own late mum Asombi Bojang, Pa Bojang, and his brother Araba Jammeh. He claimed that Badjie has stolen millions from Jammeh. He also accused Badjie of falsely framing Jammeh’s relatives, aides, and loyalists for his own interest. He said many folks were tortured during Jammeh’s rule under the orders of Gen. Badjie.

Sanneh said Badjie wanted to leave the army at some point because he felt that he was not being promoted. It was the late Musa Jammeh, AKA “Malia Mongu”, who encouraged him to stay in the army. He said Badjie was promoted from Sergeant to Captain. He ended up eliminating the folks, who assisted him to rise through the ranks, he alleged.

Sanneh is a former soldier. He recalled when Badjie came to the Farafenni barracks to take part in an army recruitment. He said Badjie’s biological brother one Mr. Bojang, was at the time working at the barracks as a soldier. He said Saul Badjie used someone school papers to enroll into the army. His real name is Karafa Bojang.

He said Major Laurent Jarra, who was the head of SIGNALS at Farafenni, was even surprised when Saul Badjie announced at the gate that he was looking for his brother Bojang. He said Jarra was under the impression that Saul’s last name is Bojang, but he told Saul’s brother in Jolla to tell Jarra that Saul is his sister’s son.

Omar Sanneh’s audio message will no doubt cause bad blood between Jammeh and Badjie. Some of the issues he mentioned on the audio, could be confirmed by Jammeh himself. He has confronted Badjie on issues relating to the Central Bank withdrawals and the December 30^th attack, one security officer told this medium.

Both Omar Sanneh and Solo Bojang are living in Casamance. Some of the jungulars, who felt being used and abandoned by Jammeh and General Badjie, are also in Casamance at a MFDC base.

It is not clear if Sanneh’s audio is a propaganda to rally support from some of the exiled former Jammeh loyalists in Mauritania, Guinea Bissua, and Casamance to recommit their loyalty to the exiled dictator. Jammeh has either jailed or fired some of the soldiers and officers in exile today.

General Badjie has been reduced as Sanneh’s “punching bag” and is being blamed for every wrong perpetrated under Jammeh’s rule.

Sanneh claimed in his audio that Gen. Badjie and Yankuba Badjie both evacuated their families before the December 30th attack. He said Badjie’s wife was relocated to Senegal. He also accused the former Chief Defense Staff and General MA Bah of being traitors and enemies of Yahya Jammeh.

The post GAMBIA: BREAKING NEWS: GENERAL SAUL BADJIE BREAKS HIS SILENCE, AS BADJIE DEBUNKS OMAR SANNEH’S ALLEGATIONS-QUESTIONING HIS LOYALTY TO YAHYA JAMMEH! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.

President Adama Barrow’s political operatives and surrogates have embarked on a nationwide tour to canvass for support among United Democratic Party (UDP) Chairmen and Chairwomen ahead of the party’s Congress scheduled for December this year, the Freedom Newspaper can reveal. The Barrow delegation is led by veteran Sukuta born politician Yusupha Cham, Lamin Cham, Dodou Sano and Alkali Conteh. Money was being distributed during the tour in an attempt to canvass support for Adama Barrow, who is interested in heading the UDP. Barrow wants the UDP to elect him in the upcoming Congress, according to sources familiar with the story. 

Badibu, situated in the North Bank Region of The Gambia, was the first port of call for Yusupha Cham’s delegation. They proceeded to Farafenni, and Kaur, in the Central River Region of The Gambia. Villagers and party Chairmen and Chairwomen were informed about the upcoming Congress and President Barrow’s desire to be elected.

It has been gathered that the UDP constituency Chairmen, Chairwomen and NAM members are part of team covertly propagating Barrow’s desire to run for Congress. Some members of team Barrow within the UDP, have been placed on monthly allowances. Some are currently earning nothing less than D10,000 dalasis, sources said.

The UDP Leader Ousainou Darboe, who is also Gambia’s Vice President, is currently away from the country. He is in Norway together with Trade Minister Amadou Sanneh to attend a conference. Yusupha Sanneh and his delegation left for the provinces the very day Darboe and co departed for Norway.

During a recent political rally, making UDP’s 20 years in existence, Darboe claimed that there were some folks in his party, going around the provinces telling UDP Chairmen and Chairwomen that he (Darboe) was the one denying them to be paid monthly salary. Darboe said since the inception of the UDP, none of the party’s leadership receive remuneration for their services. Hence, he warned such folks, to desist from what he called such divisive dirty politics. He also admitted that there is division within his party.

Mr. Barrow and his team are targeting the UDP delegates, who are qualified to vote in the upcoming Congress. “All these guys are saying that they will take the money and then vote for Darboe in the Congress,” a source close to the UDP leadership told this medium.

“The National Assembly Member for Busumbala Constituency Hon. Saikouba Jarju, is one of the renegade NAMS, who is working with the Barrow Youth Movement. Barrow is trying to bribe his way to the party’s leadership,” our source alleged.

Barrow’s team could not be reached for their side of the story at the time of going to press.

The post GAMBIA: BREAKING NEWS: INTERNAL COUP AT UDP, AS BARROW’S SURROGATES ALLEGEDLY EMBARKS ON BUYING DELEGATES’ SUPPORT AHEAD OF PARTY CONGRESS! appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.