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By Sheriff Saidykhan

Yahya Sonko, rights activist of Gambian migrants based in Baden wüttenberg, Germany has called African Union (AU) leaders to intervene into the growing  plight of African migrants in Tunisia. 

Speaking to Outpost in a telephone interview on Tuesday, Yahya Sonko said there is need for African leaders to address the growing worsening conditions of African migrants in Tunisia. 

“African leaders need to come together and fight this. It should not be Gambia or Nigeria, it should be African leaders coming together to find a solution to track down this human trafficking networks within Africa. To try and look for possible solutions,” he said. 

The push factors he said, has greatly contributed to the illegal migration crisis in Africa.

“I think what has contributed to the worsening conditions of African migrants is the push factors. In Africa we start complaining about migrants when something happen to them in Tunisia or Libya, or other countries. 

Usually as citizens we forget about the push factors. Classical example is Gambia and Nigeria when you follow the trend of irregular migration in Gambia and Nigeria, you will definitely know that the push factors are too high in these countries that causes the youths to come in their huge numbers through Tunisia and other countries to try to get into Italy.

When governments don\

The National Coordinating Organization for Farmers Associations in the Gambia NACOFAG in collaboration with the ROOTS Project recently supported the National Association of Food Processors (NAFP) for the conduct of Regional Consultations for the 6 Agricultural Regions and the Greater Banjul Area.

According to the National Coordinator of NACOFAG, Alieu Sowe, the objective of the consultation is to reorganize the membership of the Association, its Regional committees, Governance structure in terms of roles and responsibilities, access to information, markets and stakeholders partnership building at the Regional levels.

“The consultation will also pave the way for the preparation of the Association Regional and National Congresses through a decentralization approach. Before its Congresses, the event will also highlight the mapping and identification of the addresses, contacts, gender, and the three main products of each of the Processors. The establishment of Regional and National WhatsApp groups, emails, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook accounts are central to the Consultation. The consultation will also feature Regional Radio talk shows regarding the roles and responsibilities of the Association towards household food, nutrition, income, and employment security as well as stressing contract negotiations with the producers, especially for those in rice, vegetables, poultry, and cereal production. Make visibility of the Association. Therefore, NACOFAG and the ROOTS Project under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture and IFAD solicit the mobilization and consolidation of the Food Processors fraternity into  a National Association of Food Processors” he said.

Mr. Sowe added that the  project is expected to support the institutional strengthening of the Association by supporting the establishment of the Secretariat of the Association, Processing center, and capacity building along the value chain, especially on the packaging, labeling branding, quality, safety, standards, and certification

“The consultation is planned to end August 3rd, 2023. Once again thanks to IFAD, the ROOTS project team, and the Ministry of Agriculture for the collaboration and support with the Farmers and Farmers Organizations,” he concluded. 

By Sheriff Saidykhan

Seedy Cham, the Chairman of Coalition for Progressive Gambia (COPG) has cautioned lawmakers  to limit their exorbitant spending of the tax payers money, amid the cost of living conditions in the country.

He made these remarks in an online interview with The Outpost Media on Tuesday 18th July 2023.

“There are lot of discussions about the vehicles for National Assembly members.  Also the vehicles are very expensive. I am not saying they should not have vehicles, but they need to sacrifice their time on the current difficult times of the country,” he said.

He said many of the lawmakers are only focusing on travelling benefits, clothing allowances among others.

“There only focus is on salary increments, clothing allowances and travelling. Plus their travelling has no impact and benefits for the country,” he remarked. 

Taxation without representation he said, has visibly appeared in our mainstream politics.  

 “National Assembly members are elected by the people to serve.  Now what have they done to the people who elected them,”? he quizzed. 

He added: “Some of these lawmakers have put shame on us. Overlooking the agricultural sector, the agrarian communities are still struggling without farming tools and implements,” he concluded.