OP

  Beware of The Sinister Thief: Social Media Social media has transformed our way of life. While social media may offer some  benefits, research has shown that regular use of social media causes mental health  problems, addictions, lower attention spans, physical health problems, poor sleep  quality, relationship problems and more. However, the most harmful effect of social  media is on our hearts and our relationship with Allah _سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالٰى‎ Today, one of the biggest obstacles in our journey to Allah is social media and the  entertainment industry. Thus, before the month of Ramaḍān begins, it is vital that we  reassess our relationship with social media and reflect on its harms. Ramaḍān is the  month in which we should undertake a much needed ‘detox’. Psychologists are now  advocating ‘fasting from social media’. If we could do the same in this month for our  spiritual health, our Ramaḍān would truly be transformative. The following are some of the key harms of social media

                                     Photo Credit (CAF) By Sheriff Saidykhan The Young Lions of Teranga have won their first-ever Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON)  final, after beating Gambia in what is dubbed as the ‘Senegambia final’ in Cairo on Saturday 11, March 2023. The Young Scorpions were playing their first AFCON U20 final, whilst the Young Lions of Teranga playing their fourth  final of the AFCON U20 Championship. Sulaymane Faye netted an early lead in the seven  minutes of the first half. The Senegalese U20 dominated the ball possession, causing many troubles in the Gambia's defence.  The Young Scorpions hope was short lived, as Mamadou Camara doubled the lead from a header in the 55 minutes of the second half. The Young Lions of Teranga solidified their defence, making it uneasy for the Young Scorpions to breakthrough. During the build up, and after the final, the Twitter-war between the two neighbouring countries intensifies, with both fans unleashing mockery ima

          By Sheriff Saidykhan The Women Journalist Association of The Gambia (WOJAG)  joins the rest of the world to mark this year's International Women's Day yesterday under the THEME “DigitAll. Innovation and Technology for Gender equality”. While the theme is putting spotlight on women and girls who are championing the advancement of transformative technology and digital education, WoJAG believes it’s important to highlight the gender inequalities that exist in the Gambian media. The media in The Gambia is operating in a patriarchal society with unequal power relations between men and women which put women at the lowest rungs of the socioeconomic ladder and render them vulnerable to different forms of rights violation.  While women journalist play pivotal roles in the development of the Gambian media, working as reporters, presenters, editors, producers, technicians, managers and media proprietors, they continue to face challenges such as; gender inequality, sexual harassm

  By Sheriff Saidykhan Marr Nyang, the Executive Director of Gambia Participates (GP) a civil society organization established to fight corruption, has said that corruption has become widespread and endemic at the Ministry of Health. The mismanagement of public funds, he said, has become a commonplace at the Ministry of Health. He made these remarks recently with The Outpost Media at his office in Kanifing.  “The Ministry of Health is becoming well known for the theft of public wealth and emergency funds. We have witnessed it with the mismanagement of the Ebola funds and the recent Covid-19 funds. Graft is systemic and endemic in this ministry because the leadership sits and watch things happen without doing something about it,” he queried.  He added: “where corruption is widespread, there is no future for economic growth. The only future for economic growth is for the individuals who plunder the public wealth,” he said.  His remarks came in the wake of the massive corruption scandal w

By Sheriff Saidykhan  The Super Eagles of Nigeria are out of the AFCON U20 after Gambia scored a decisive 1-0 victory yesterday.  Nigeria, seven times champions of the AFCON  U20 championship were humiliated by the Scorpions of The Gambia at the Cairo international stadium in Egypt.  Adama Bojang, netted in the 7minutes during the first half, seeing Nigeria out of the tournament. The semi final match saw a huge atmosphere inside the Cairo Stadium, with both fans exchanging chants.  The Scorpions defended solidly during the second half, whilst the Super Eagles dominated the entire ball possession of the match.   Nigeria secured a penalty in the 85 minutes of the second half.  Super Eagles Ahmed Abdullahi missed the spot kick, seeing Nigerian fans holding their heads, as they watched their side knock out of the tournament.  President Adama Barrow congratulated the team in his Twitter message saying “It’s not the size that matter but the determination to win. Congratulations to our Young

By Pa Louis Sambou   D uring the same week in which the subject of reintroduction of the death penalty in the UK held mainstream media bandwidth hostage, for those in opposition to such ineffective penal measure, it must have been a breath of fresh air to learn of  The Gambia NHRC’s publication headed: “ Advisory note on the abolition of the death penalty in The Gambia ”. This view is certainly consistent with the arguments advanced in making the case for abolition, but less so, for aspects of the publication which are so detached from the subject matter, I regret to say they give relevance to the phrase: ‘never judge a book by its cover’.   The death penalty, like a few other sticky areas of our legal order, is an adverse relic of colonialism which serves absolutely no useful purpose and for which there are much more effective alternatives. I cannot conceive of any situation in which State-sanctioned killing as a means of punishment would make society a better place; as a matter of fa

     By Sheriff Saidykhan Adama Barrow, the President of The Gambia said the young generation will appreciate them if they mapout the future of comfort, peace and happiness.  He made these remarks yesterday at the 58th Independence day anniversary, with the Theme “Democracy- A Recipe For Peace and Development. The event held at the McCarthy Square in Banjul, was attended by government officials,  foreign diplomats, regional governor's and different political party leaders. “The younger generation will appreciate us better if we construct a future of comfort, peace, and happiness for them. This is what democracy offers,” he said. He further urged Gambians to unite their social and political differences through democracy saying “Fortunately, our differences can be harmonised by democracy as a political system and a social process in our family systems, communities, institutions, organisations and the nation at large” he remarked.  He said his government has committed itself to unite