OP

          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 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

      By Sheriff Saidykhan Victims who have suffered under the ruthless hands of former President Yayha Jammeh has on Monday 13, February 2023 kick-off a three day photo exhibition of torture victims at the youth monument in Westfield.  The Open three day photo exhibition is aim at highlighting the multidimentional impact of torture on victims.  In an interview with The Outpost Media Muhammed Sandeng, the son of the late Solo Sandeng said the event is geared towards raising awareness of the anti-torture bill, and to ensure the 'Never Again Mantra'.  “The aim of our advocacy is to raise awareness and support for the passing of the anti-torture bill which is currently before parliament. It is also a continuation of the Truth telling process that was started by the TRRC, it also memorialized past events in order to ensure the never again mantra,” he said Never Again is a slogan that depicts the prevention of reoccurrence of the human rights violation of the past years of dictators

                                 By Sheriff Saidykhan  The Gambia Press Union (GPU) in partnership with the National Democratic Institute (NDI) has on Friday 10, February 2023 concluded a two day capacity building training for media practitioners on the use of Access to Information (ATI) law for news reporting and towards ensuring transperancy in governance. Access to Information refers to the right, which members of the society have to access information held by government officials and institutions. The information legislation was adopted through the National Assembly of The Gambia in July, 2021.  Speaking at the event held at Metzy hotel in Kotu, the President of the Gambia Press Union, Muhammed S Bah underscored the significance of the access to Information Act for journalists’.  “The Access to Information Act, 2021, provides an enforceable right for journalists to access official documents held by public officials. Under the Act, journalists have a right to request, process, and d

     By Sheriff Saidykhan Marr Nyang, the Executive Director of Gambia Participates (GP), a civil society organization set up to investigate corruption in the country has blamed the government of President Adama Barrow for its lack of inaction to fight corruption. According to Transparency International, Gambia is ranked 110 in the world corruption report 2022.        “It just shows the consistent inaction of the government (executive) and parliament in prioritizing anti-corruption efforts,” he said. In an interview with The Outpost Media, from Kenya, Nairobi he said the 66+ children that died due to the imported medical syrup from India were caused by blatant corruption and weak accountability mechanisms. “Corruption kills and it knows no age or gender. We’ve witnessed citizens dying because of the government's lack of efforts to procure life saving medical machines or mechanisms to test medications before allowing fake drugs to make it to the market. It just takes humans to do wh

     The late Vice President of The Gambia Dr. Alieu Badara Joof has been laid to rest at his residence in Banjulinding at 2pm.  Scores of mourners at the funeral convergence in Banjulinding equally spoke of his “generosity and dedication” to the country. The late Badara Joof died on Wednesday 18th January 2023 in New Dehli India, after battling with a brief illness.  The laying state ceremony marking the state funeral of the late Vice President at the National Assembly, President Adama Barrow, government dignitaries and members of the National Assembly paid their last respects to the late Badara Joof. The casket of the late Vice President at the NA In his eulogy to the late Vice President, President Barrow described him as the most “dedicated and competent” in the service of the nation. The late Alieu Badara Joof will be remembered by Gambians for his patriotism and immense contributions to the country.

        By Tunkang Kambano Former Kartong Ward councillor and current executive member of the National People's party Lamin Jamba Jammeh has expressed his interest to run under NPP ticket for the upcoming Brikama Area Council Chairmanship, slated to take place on May 20th 2023.  The Kartong born politician who once served as councillor for Kartong Ward for 8 years  has now shown his admiration to contest for the 2nd time for the Brikama Area Council (BAC)  Chairmanship role. Confirming his intention in running  for Brikama Area Council, Mr Jammeh took to his social media handle and wrote “West Coast I know your problem and I can solve it. Time for implementation,” he said. Lamin Jamba Jammeh may face stiff competition with the likes of Ahmed Gitteh, Sheriffo Sonko and Dr Ismaila Ceesay who may all be potential candidates for the National People's Party. Mr Jammeh, a phylantropist and seasoned community development activist, has for the past years supported numerous projects not

  By Tunkang Kambano Kombo Yiriwa Kafo (KYK), a charity organisation together with West Coast Region and the Kanifing Municipality Village Development Committees (VDC) have launched an ambitious partnership toward the path to enforced community service delivery.  During the recent inception meeting at the Region Education Directorate in Brikama, various stakeholders expressed optimism that the partnership will forge a more corporation and experience sharing between the local government structures for robust community development. Famara Buli Sanyang, Secretary General of Kombo Yiriwa Kafo encouraged VDC members to show strong commitment to the partnership. He said bringing together all the VDCs within Kombo will provide the much needed collaboration towards the development transformation of communities.  Establishment of Village Development Committees is sanction by the Local Government Act 2002. Members of the committee are unanimously elected by community members to lead their develo

     By Tunkang Kambano Amid the increasing land grabbing for gardening, cash cropping, which is threatening the traditional livestock production system. It is against this backdrop that the Gambian Environmentalist Modou Sowe, has urged the Department of Livestock Services (DLS) to gazette the demarcated stock routes and grazelands in the country.   In an interview with The Outpost Media, Sowe, pointed out that the protection of livestock routes and grazing lands is highly necessary, however, he also said that it is equally significant for herdsmen to start modernizing production.  “We need to shift from extensive to intensive, from subsistence to commercialized livestock production, and from ageing farmers to youth farmers. Since independence,  the Gambia government and its development partners like FAO, IFAD, and Action Aid International have mapped, marked and demarcated numerous lands for stock routes and grazelands throughout the country and are still demarcating more lands for s

      By Sheriff Saidykhan Teachers across the country have for the past years decried the low income wages, blaming the government for its lack of support to help mitigate their growing challenges. It is against this backdrop that teachers have today embarked on a nationwide sit-down strike demanding better wages. Lamin Jammeh, a senior teacher at Biriwama Upper Basic school said teachers are facing numerous challenges, chief among which is the poor working conditions. This, he added, has been the government's lack of responsibility to help motivate teachers. “Teachers in the country are struggling for decades without any consideration from the government, especially the provincial teachers who are working under serious weather conditions. All that we hear from the government is that the work they are doing is part of the national development plan. Looking at the recent strike by the teachers which is the responsibility of the government, how can they promise to increase the sala

    By Lamin Gibba  The assistant head coach of Serrekunda East zonal team Ebrima Sarjo has said that, securing the third place of the GFF zonal competition, is a great victory for Serrekunda East and the entire community of Serrekunda East.  “This is what we wanted even though we were out but we also know that third position is a very good position if we end up taken it. So it’s a very good finish for our campaign. So that is why we did not take the game lightly. We took the game very seriously.” He said.  Coach Sarjo made these remarks shortly after his side 3-0 victory against Sanyang zonal team during the third-place race of the 2022 Gambia Football Federation (GFF) Super nawetan championship game played at the Serrekunda East Mini Staduim on Friday 30, December 2022. Alagie Wally, Assan Jallow better called ‘Saas’ and Balla Lowe were on target for Serekunda East in 61st, 72 and 90 minutes respectively.  He further thanked the management, the board, the players and the fans saying

  Image: Domestic workers being illegally advertised for sale or rent |Times Newspapers reports how “ Maids are trafficked and sold to wealthy Saudis on black market ”| By Shayma Bakht, Riyadh She will work day and night and does not need rest, boasts Noura, a housewife in Riyadh. Gesturing to the cowering Ugandan maid next to her, who is 23 according to Noura, she adds: “If she does something wrong, you just send her to her room and do not let her out.” Noura, who clutches gold Gucci sunglasses as she bargains for a price of £3,500 for the maid, is eager for a quick deal when she talks to an undercover Times reporter. “I can take her to your home tonight,” she says. “If you are still unsure, no problem, you can rent her instead . . . But tell me now, because by tomorrow someone else will buy her.” Noura advertised the domestic worker   on Haraj.sa, Saudi Arabia’s largest online marketplace, through which a Times investigation shows that hundreds of domestic workers are being   illegal

  By Sheriff Saidykhan  Gambia Participates (GP) a civil society organization set up to investigate corruption in The Gambia has said in its statement marking the international Anti-corruption Day that anti-corruption efforts progressing at a snail's pace in The Gambia.  Gambia Participates  has join the rest of the world to commemorate the international Anti-corruption  Day held on Friday 9, December 2022.  The day is set aside to raise awareness against corruption, and to device measures geared towards combating it globally.  In its statements on Twitter Gambia Participates has observed that anti-corruption efforts still progressing at a snail's pace in The Gambia.  “We would like to reiterate the slow anti-corruption efforts in The Gambia. One of the key missing puzzles in the Gambia's transitional justice process is anti-corruption legislation and government-led action-oriented efforts to prevent, detect and sanction corruption acts” the statement said.  The 2018-2021 N

        By Sheriff Saidykhan The independent aspirant for the upcoming local government election in 2023 has unveiled his plans for the Chairmanship of Brikama Area Council (BAC). Ibrahim JS Sanneh, has urged his supporters to vote for him saying he is the only candidate with sound policies for the development of the West Coast Region. He made these remarks in an interview with The Outpost Media at his residence in Brikama. “I have plans to unite the members of the council in order to archive our collective goals, expand the markets and build store, provide storage facilities for women vendors, drill boreholes and empower women gardeners, build proper drainage systems, provide as many as possible trash bins and waste trucks to keep the environments clean and healthy, scholarships for the underprivileged, youths and women empowerment, promoting health, sports and musicians within the west coast region,” he posited. Poised to run under an independent ticket, this he believes will bring u

    By Sheriff Saidykhan    | Political Analysis of The Gambia and Senegal Country Risk Report 2022  | Fitch Solutions, a data analytical research centre  based in London has projected that Macky Sall, the President of Senegal’s coalition would likely lose power in the upcoming Presidential election in 2024.   The report, by projecting a stable policymaking trajectory for the next 10 years in The Gambia impliedly assumes that Adama Barrow, the President of The Gambia will remain in office for at least 2031.    The report indicated that the loss of the ruling party in Senegalese Parliament will constrain policymaking ahead stating that: " We at Fitch Solutions expect that the policymaking process in Senegal will slow, given that President Macky Sall's Benno Bokk Yaakaar coalition lost its  parliamentary majority in the July 2022 legislative elections…The declining popularity of Sall and his administration pose increased policy continuity risk following the 2024 presidential ele

                                 By Sheriff Saidykhan Fatoumatta Hydara, the mother of the two children that were killed in a flat fire incident in Nottingham, has died in hospital.  She was taken to the Queen's Medical Centre in Clifton after the fire incident on Sunday, but subsequently died on Tuesday 22, November 2022.  Both of her children, Neemah Drammeh, aged one and Fatimah Drammeh, aged three all of them died on Sunday.   A 31 year old man was arrested after the fire incident for suspicion of murder. This is a developing story...

         | UK Company directors, Wayne Hawkeswood and Graham Woodhouse found guilty of Health & Safety breaches linked to deaths of five Gambian men in 2016. | By Sheriff Saidykhan  Two company directors have been found guilty of safety failings after five Gambian agency workers at a metal recycling site were crushed to death when a 45-tonne wall collapsed in Nechells, Birmingham. A seven-week trial at Birmingham Crown Court was told the men died instantly while working in an area near the wall, which was holding back 263 tonnes of metal briquettes. Jurors were told the weight of metal, stored at a scrapyard in the Nechells area of the city, was equivalent to about six fully laden articulated lorries. Labourers Almamo Jammeh, 45, Ousmane Diaby, 39, Bangally Dukuray, 55, Saibo Sillah, 42, and Mahamadou Jagana, 49, were pronounced dead at the scene in July 2016. The Health and Safety Executive prosecuted Birmingham-based firms Ensco 10101 and Hawkeswood Metal Recycling, as well as di