VP Darboe, Minister Gomez urged to tackle Senegal’s blockage of vital water stream

By Mafugi Ceesay

The National Assembly Member for Kantora, Billay Tunkara, has accused VP Ousainu Darboe and water resources minister James Gomez of “doing nothing” about Senegal’s blockage of a vital stream that flows into The Gambia despite promises to tackle the issue.
He said during an election campaign meeting at Sare Alpha village, Mr Darboe who was then the minister of Foreign Affairs, promised to address the issue “as soon as possible.”
He said when he raised the issue with Minister Gomez, he was told that he was not aware of the matter and that he would take it up with Darboe.

“Now it is coming to two years, and nothing is being done as the blockage remains”, he contended.
Tunkara told The Standard at his National Assembly office midweek that communities in his area depend on the stream for their nourishment and that of their livestock.
He said The Gambia Government should engage the Senegalese authorities to urgently remove their blockage of the stream.

He said the stream flows from Niandouba in Senegal down to The Gambia but the authorities dammed the waterway and stopped the waters from flowing through Kantora and Jimara.
“We normally have lots of water from which we fish and get potable water for ourselves and our animals. It is a grave concern for the people of the entire Upper River Region,” he said.
He said the blockage was effected during the Jammeh era following a souring of bilateral relations. He said even though the Barrow government inherited the problem, it should expeditiously try to get the blockage removed as the people are facing an existentialist problem.

standard newspaper,  november 9th, 2018

10 gov’t entities spent D3.5 billion in 4 months

A total of ten government entities have cumulatively spent over three billion dalasis from January to April 2018.
The staggering figures were contained in the 2018 total expenditure report by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs.According to the report, the ten largest spending budget entities (BEs) are as follows:
Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE), Ministry of Finance and Economics Affairs (MoFEA), Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MoHSW), Ministry of the Interior (MOI) and Office of the President (OP).

 The report added that MoBSE, PEs paid to teachers, School Improvement Grant (SIG) and subvention to schools were the highest expenditure line items. MoHSW expenditure pattern was mainly driven by PEs and subvention to hospitals, whereas the subvention to various agencies like GRA, GPPA, SDF, GBoS and FLU and contribution to international organizations were the determining factors on the MoFEA budget.
The report further stated that Ministry of Interior expenditure was dominated by PEs, whilst travel expenses were one of the key drivers on the expenditure incurred by Office of The President.

Meanwhile, expenditure towards the security sector mainly ministry of Interior and ministry of Defense collectively reached D434.6 million during the period under review representing 10.8% of total expenditure of which 70.5% was towards PE.

In terms of absorption rates, five entities have surpassed the 40% mark namely: Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) with 109.47%, ministry of Youth and Sports with 52.34%, Ministry of Finance with 44.27%, pension and gratuities with 41.88%, ministry of Basic and Secondary Education with 41.32% whilst the ministry of Environment Climate Change and Wildlife (MoECCNAR) consumer just 9.24% of its budget.

By Kaddy Jawo, Standard.gm,  October 29th, 2018

GAMBIA: BREAKING NEWS: MANJANG INDICTED-AS OMBUDSMAN ORDERED MD MANJANG TO RETURN THE D103,040 PER DIEM ALLOWANCE HE RECEIVED WITHOUT ATTENDING A MEETING IN SIERRA LEONE; SHE ALSO ORDERED MANJANG TO RETURN THE D29,869,85 ENTERTAINMENT BUDGET HE USED TO FEED HIS FAMILY AT COCO OCEAN!

Freedom Newspaper: October 31st, 2018

In a damning and indicting investigative report dated October 29th 2018, Gambia’s Ombudsman Fatou Njie Jallow, has ordered the embattled Social Security, Housing and Finance Corporation Managing Director Muhammed Manjang to return the seven days per diem allowances that was paid to him amounting to D103,040 to attend a meeting in Sierra Leone, which he never attended in the first place. “The 7 days per diem paid to the Managing Director amounting to D103,040 to attend a meeting in Sierra Leone which he never attended should be refunded to the corporation without delay,” Ombudsman Jallow wrote in a report addressed to the Secretary General and Head of the Civil Service Ebrima Camara. The report entitled: “SOCIAL SECURITY AND HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION MEMBERS OF STAFF PETITION AGAINST THE MANAGING DIRECTOR MUHAMMED MANJANG” has cited Manjang for ethical misconduct, abuse of the corporation’s entertainment budget, gross violation of the service rules, discrimination, favoritism, among others

SSHFC MD Manjang, left

“Sending Mrs Isha Bayo and Mr. Pa Yusupha Gaye for overseas training instead of allowing them to pursue the ACCA in the country, purchasing two mobiles for the Managing Director costing D119,435,50 within a period of one year and the Managing Director’s failure to retire the 7 days per diem amounting to D103,040 to the corporation contradicts the Managing Director’s austerity measures,” the nineteen page indicting Ombudsman report against MD Manjang stated

The Ombudsman also noted that “Isha Bayo’s selection for overseas training was unprecedented in the history of the corporation.  She was not confirmed in her appointment as cashier at the time she was sent on training. This is a clear sign that there was favoritism and preferential treatment regarding her award of scholarship for the simple fact that there were members of staff that served the corporation for more than 3 years with a similar qualification but were not given the opportunity to be trained overseas. One can deduce that the awarding of scholarship to Pa Yusupha Gaye was a cover up to conceal the favoritism and preferential treatment given to Mrs Isha Bayo. As our findings revealed that only Isha was initially selected.”

The Ombudsman recommends that the shortlisting and interviewing process of the current vacant position be quickened so that the vacant positions can be filled. The Ombudsman also said the management of the SSHFC should ensure that there is a training policy in place to guide the training needs of the institution.

” Promotion and training should depend on appraisal of staff and institutional needs. It is important that staff are appraised and their training needs, weakness identified for building their capacity and that of the institute rather than giving staff the choice to accept or decline training offer,” she said.

“For effective measure SSHFC should train members of staff locally where preferable before training them overseas such as in the case of Mrs Isha Bayo and Pa Yusupha Gaye. ACCA programs are available locally. There should be equal treatment of members of staff. Aji Yamoundow Jagne should equally be refunded her health insurance premium as was done for Sirra Begay Foon,” the Ombudsman added.

Competent members of staff of SSHFC the report went on, should be nominated to fill the existing vacant board seats to represent the SSHFC interest on the various boards such as Trust Bank Home Finance and Gam-Petroleum without delay. Our investigations revealed that the board seats are vacant, the report said.

MD Manjang has also been cited by the Ombudsman for discriminating at old age staffers at the SSHFC. The Ombudsman found that Manjang was not keen at availing training opportunities to staffers at the age 40 and above. His reason was that older staffers were likely not going to stay long on the job compared to the younger ones.

“The Managing Director’s statement that his priority is not to train staff in their 40’s but to train young staff that are more likely to serve the institution longer is discriminatory and contravenes section 33(3) of the 1997 Constitution of the Republic of The Gambia, which states “….no person shall be treated in a discriminatory manner by any person acting by virtue of ant law or in the performance of the functions of any public authority.”

Mr. Manjang is a former banker. His handling of the SSHFC’s entertainment budget was also queried by the Ombudsman. He has been cited for abusing the corporation’s entertainment budget. He was using the funds to feed his family at a high end hotel in The Gambia called Coco Ocean.

“The Ombudsman recommends that the Managing Director should refund to SSHFC the sum of D29,869,85 being money spent on dinners at Coco Ocean Resort Spa and KORI d’OR with his family members without delay. This is because the entertainment vote is not meant for his family but for office and official guests. Misusing of Public funds must be discouraged,” the report stated.

“The Managing Director’s claim that he spent D27,000 on the entertainment vote is incorrect. Investigation revealed that he spent D29,869.85 on dinners at Coco Ocean Resort Spa and KORI d’OR,” Ombudsman Jallow remarked.

The Managing Director, said the Ombudsman, should be guided by the relevant laws, service rules and policies in taking and making administrative and management decisions. She also said the Managing Director should use the institution’s funds judiciously

Written By Pa Nderry M’Bai

Below is the Ombudsman investigative report on the SSHFC saga.

High Commissioner Ramzia Diab addresses African students in Indonesia

The Point Newspaper, 
Monday, October 22, 2018

Her Excellency Ramzia Diab-Ghanim, The Gambia’s High Commissioner to Malaysia and the Southeast Asian countries (ASEAN) on Saturday 20th October, 2018 addressed members of the African Students Association (ASAY) in the special region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia on the occasion of the 1st African cultural day.

The first-ever African cultural day was organised by the African Students Association (ASAY) in the city of Yogyakarta in collaboration with the Postgraduate School of the State University of Yogyakarta (UNY) under the theme: Effective Multicultural collaboration in strengthening Africa-Indonesia Partnership.

In her keynote statement, H.E. Ramzia Diab extended her gratitude to the Director of the Postgraduate School of UNY and ASAY for inviting her to attend such a historic event.

She said the event is a laudable initiative underpinned by cultural understanding of peoples from different backgrounds who aspire to achieve a given goal of understanding and unity of diversity for the collective advancement in our relationships at academic insitutions, at work, in government, and in private organizations.

H.E Ramzia further called on ASAY to commit to undertaking an effective multicultural collaboration with an objective to strengthening Africa-Indonesia collaboration. She encouraged ASAY to continue to work as a team that will help to strengthen multilateral relationships between African countries and Indonesia that will go beyond university campuses.

In his welcoming remarks, Prof. Dr Marsigit, Director Postgraduate School of the State University of Yogyakarta expressed his delight in inviting the Ambassador to attend this historic event and reiterated the commitment of the Postgraduate towards a sustainable collaboration with the African Students Association. Professor Marsigit assured the Gambian High Commissioner of the resolve of the Postgraduate School to engage in constructive and meaningful initiatives with the Gambian High Commission.

In his remarks, Professor Dr. Sustrisna Wibawa, Rector of the State University of Yogyakarta spoke of his pleasure in hosting the Gambian High Commissioner as her presence to the event has underscored her exemplary leadership qualities. Professor Wibawa added that there is an increased number of African students pursuing various programs of study at UNY and reiterated the commitment of the State University of Yogyakarta to achieving academic excellence and assured ASAY for a fruitful collaboration.

Other speakers at the occasion included Mr. Kijambu John Baptist, Coordinator of ASAY, Tsshepiso Stanley Africa student from Botswana. The event was interspersed with a video streaming of participating countries and cultural performances about Africa to the delight of the audience.

The event was attended by Dr. Widyastuti Purbani, Vice rector of UNY, Dr. Sugito, deputy Director of the Postgraduate of UNY, representatives of  the Universitas Atma Jaya, SD Islam Al Azhar, Pelangi Indonesia, invited Indonesian guests and African students from other Indonesian universities. The event was chaired by Modou Jonga, Gambian student at Universitas Gadjah Mada and Dobrin Bugov.

Issued by the Communication Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad

Gambia joins International Organisation of Francophonie

The Point Newspaper, 
Monday, October 22, 2018

The Gambia has been admitted as an Observer to the International Organisation of the Francophonie-OIF at the 17th Session of the Francophone Summit recently held in Yerevan, Armenia.

On behalf of the President, the Vice President, His Excellency, Mr Ousainou Darboe, led a delegation to the Summit, where The Gambia along with Ireland, Malta and the State of Qatar were admitted as new members of the Francophonie. The Gambia’s membership to the Francophonie would provide opportunities for enhancing the country’s economic, socio-cultural and political transformation agenda.

The Francophonie Community embodies the values of good governance, democracy, human rights, the rights of the child, empowering women, and harnessing the youth dividend among other things. The 88 member organisation is principally composed of developing countries that are set to promote the ideals of fair play in the world of globalization, in pursuit of the national development agenda of its members. 

Members consist of French and non-French speaking countries, and in sub-Saharan Africa, Ghana, Cape Verde and Guinea Bissau are examples of the non-French speaking members.

At the Amenian Summit, the Rwandan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Louise Mushikiwabo, was elected as the Secretary General of the OIF for the next two years. She replaces the Haitian-born Canadian, Michaelle Jean. The next Summit will be held in Tunis in 2020.

On the sidelines of the Summit, Vice President, Darboe was received by the Prime Minister of Armenia, His Excellency, Nikol Pashinyan, while the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, Dr. Mamadou Tangara signed an agreement formally establishing diplomatic ties between The Gambia and Armenia.

Members of His Excellency’s delegation comprised of the Ambassador of The Gambia to France and his Deputy Head of Mission, Dr Mamadou Sedat Jobe and Dr Mariama John respectively, and Mr Baboucar Dumbuya from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  Dr Cherno Omar Barry, Chair of the Board of Alliance Française de Banjul also attended the Summit.

Source: State House.

GAMBIA: BREAKING NEWS: HOSPITAL CHIEF MEDICAL DIRECTOR, WHO FACES “FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES” DURING A TRIP TO THE UNITED STATES WITH THE FIRST LADY, RECEIVES A BAILOUT OF $2,500 FROM EFTSH!

The Chief Medical Director at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital Dr. Samateh, received a financial bailout from the hospital in the sum of $2,500 dollars. This followed, a trip Samateh, had made to the United States, together with First Lady Fatoumatta Bah Barrow. He told his colleagues at the hospital management that he was experiencing financial problem during that trip; hence he wanted the hospital to wire him some money.

 An intercepted Memo from the EFTSH said Samateh accompanied the First Lady to the United States in a bid to represent the interest of the hospital. Though Dr. Samateh became “financially stranded” during that trip. 

 A request was  made for the hospital to make a Western Union money transfer of $2,500 to Dr. Samateh, who was said to be facing financial difficulties while living in Manhattan, New York. Manhattan is one of the most expensive residential areas in New York.

“The Chief Medical Director has traveled to the United States with the delegation of the First Lady to represent the interest of the hospital in the United States. From my conversation we had with the OMD on the telephone, it seems he is encountering some unforeseen financial difficulties the course of his travelling and stay in the United States. I am requesting for an impress of $2,500 dollars on behalf of the Chief Medical Director to be transferred by Western Union to the United States. He is staying in Manhattan in New York,” the hospital Public Relations Officer wrote.

 Dr. Samateh could not be reached for his own side of the story. It is not clear if Dr. Samateh has used the entire $2,500 dollars impress that was wired to him by the hospital via Western Union.

Freedom Newspaper   October 22nd, 2018

GAMBIA: BREAKING NEWS: EX NIA DEPUTY DIRECTOR LOUIS GOMEZ, WHO IS ACCUSED OF MURDERING SOLO SANDENG DIES IN PRISON TODAY!

A former Deputy Director of the infamous National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Louis Gomez, has died, the Freedom Newspaper can reveal. Mr. Gomez died in prison today. He was among the nine former NIA officers accused of killing the late Solo Sandeng. He has been in prison for over a year.  

Mr. Gomez is a former teacher. He later enlisted into the National Intelligence Agency (NIA). He rose to different positions at the Agency, before he was appointed Deputy Director by the exiled Gambian dictator Yahya Jammeh.

The circumstances surrounding Gomez’s death is unknown. He was held under solidarity confinement during his long stint in mile two custody.

Last month, a protest erupted at Mile Two, one of the country’s main correctional facilities, as some prisoners complained about being detained for years without trial.

Authorities dispatched a team to help restore calm in the detention center. However, reports emerged indicating that some inmates were subjected to degradation treatment and solitary confinement.

Justice Minister Abubcarr Tambadou said he heard about reports of the alleged torture allegations and made it clear that his office is looking into it. “So far, the initial response of prison’s authorities is a denial that it didn’t take place, and no one was tortured,” he added.

He further stated that they suggested to conduct a medical examination to prove that these detainees were not tortured. “So, it is an allegation at this point in time. It has not been proven,” he remarked during a press conference last week.

Meanwhile, Sheikh Omar Jeng, another accused person, named in Solo Sandeng death has been hospitalized. Jeng is a native of Kaur, in the Central River Region of The Gambia. He was the Operations Director at the NIA, during Sandeng’s arrest and subsequent killing. He is said to be admitted at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital.

Freedom Newspaper,  October 11th, 2018