Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issues
Issue No. 32/2008, 17 – 18 March 2008
Editorial
On The Allegation of Killings of Ghanaians
In The Gambia
Transparency Essential!
Since we are yet to get the reaction of the Gambia Government on the
allegation of mass killings of Ghanaians by Gambian security forces, there is little
one can say at this stage.
Needless to say, the allegation is serious and requires serious attention,
especially, given the number of persons alleged to have been killed. In our
opinion, simple denial of the statement would not suffice. When one’s hands are
clean transparency helps to clear him/her of wrong doing. A spokesperson for
the Ghanaian ministry of foreign affairs has indicated that an international
investigative committee under the auspices of the UN and ECOWAS has been
established to independently investigate the allegation. One would expect that
cooperation with such a committee to clear one’s name is the wisest thing to
do under the circumstance.
Furthermore, keeping quiet solves no problem. Making a clear statement on
the position of the government on the matter is essential.
Ghanaians Protest Over Purported Killings In Gambia
On Wednesday, 12 March, 2008, the families of 44 Ghanaians took to the
streets of Accra to demonstrate against what they regarded as their government’s
lack of communication to them on issues relating to reports of the murder of 44
Ghanaians in The Gambia.
A Ghanaian who claimed to have escaped from The Gambia has alleged that 50
nationals of Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal and Togo were murdered by Gambian
security forces in 2005. We regard this as an allegation until the facts emerge.
The demonstration was aimed at putting pressure on the Ghanaian government
to take urgent action on the matter. The Ghanaian protestors were not
satisfied with the manner in which their government has been handling the matter.
They feel their government has not done enough, nor have they informed them on
what actions are being taken.
The demonstration was led by the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative
(CHRI), an international NGO, and the Gambian Task Force, which was formed by
Ghanaians in Ghana to deal with this matter. It commenced at the CHRI office and
ended at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD,
where speeches were delivered.
According to news reports, a spokesperson of the Ministry told the families
that apart from the many local and international efforts made by the Ghanaian
Government, an investigative committee, comprising the United Nations,
African Union, Economic Community of West African States and International Red
Cross, has been established to independently investigate the allegation. This he
said was a result of a meeting held in Ouagadougou under the auspices of the
UN and ECOWAS. He expressed the conviction that with the investigative
committee now in place, the Gambia government is expected to sit down and talk
about the issue. The demonstrators are said to have worn T-shirts with
inscription: “Seeking Justice” and to have held placards some of which read: “Justice
Delayed Is Justice Denied”, “Killers Must Be Brought To Justice”.
This reporter visited the Secretary of State for the Interior on Friday to
get him to react to these press reports but he was then at the airport.
Foroyaa will continue its effort to get the reaction of the government.
Exiled Gambian Journalist Alleges Attempted Kidnapping
Yaya Dampha, a former Foroyaa reporter, who is in exile in Senegal, has
alleged that on Monday, 10 March, 2008 he escaped an attempt by three men to
kidnap him. He told Foroyaa that on that Monday afternoon, two men entered his
residence and knocked on his door. When they asked the other residents of the
home for him the two men were told that they did not know his whereabouts. He
went on to say that when he came out he was approached by the two men who
invited him to go with them to discuss an urgent matter. He said when he refused
a third man came whom he claimed he recognized as a security agent. He
further alleged that they subsequently tried to force him into a pick up vehicle
but he shouted for help. Soon the other residents rushed out and as they did
the “kidnappers” quickly jumped into their vehicle and drove off.
Yaya Dampha was one of the witnesses who testified at the ECOWAS Community
Court in Abuja, Nigeria in the case of Chief Ebrima Manneh of Daily Observer,
who is said to have been arrested since July, 2006.
Dampha and several other witnesses who testified for the plaintiff, had
mentioned five state agents of The Gambia as having played various roles in the
arrest and detention of Manneh.
The alleged attempt to kidnap Dampha occurred the day before the agents were
expected to appear before the ECOWAS court.
Dampha told MFWA that prior to the attempt, he had been receiving
threatening phone calls and his neighbours were also being questioned by agents. Yaya
Dampha, has alleged harassment since being arrested along side Amnesty
International delegates during a research mission on 6 October 2007. He was released
without charge on 12 October, 2007 but repeated visits to his home and
harassment of his family members forced him to flee the country soon after.
Amnesty International delegates Tania Bernath and Ayodele Ameen, Foroyaa
Newspaper journalist Yaya Dampha, and their driver Lamin Barrow were arrested in
the eastern town of Basse on 6 October, 2007, whilst visiting detention
centres throughout The Gambia. The four were accused of being spies. After 48
hours in detention both Amnesty International delegates and Yaya Dampha were
released on bail but told to remain in the capital, Banjul. All three were
unconditionally released without charge on 12 October 2007.
The Independent Asked To Collect Properties
By Saikou Ceesay
Mr. Madi Ceesay, the Managing Director of the Independent Newspaper, has
informed this paper that the Independent Newspaper has been asked to collect its
properties at its head office at Kanifing South, along Radio Gambia Road.
This development came on the heels of a suit filed by the proprietor of the
property housing the Independent Newspaper asking the court to order the state
to leave the premises. However, the plaintiff and the defendant later settled
the matter out of court. A representative of the plaintiff informed this
paper that the state has handed over the keys of the premises to the plaintiff.
Speaking to this paper, the managing director of the Independent Newspaper,
Mr. Madi Ceesay, said he had received a telephone called from Amie Bensouda’s
chambers asking them to collect their properties from the premises.
Mr. Ceesay narrated that since the closure of the paper they have no proper
dialogue with the authorities. He indicated that he had fixed an appointment
with the former Inspector General of Police, Musa Mboob, as to how they can
create dialogue in a bid to reopen the Independent Newspaper. He noted that
their efforts failed to bear fruit as the authorities were not accommodative. “
If we have access to our materials, like the printing machine, computers,
printers and other stuffs in the market which are capable of printing a
newspaper, we will operate,” said Mr. Ceesay.
In the same vain, he stated that the paper was not closed by any court order
and that the license has not been revoked. He stated that technically the
paper is a registered Newspaper that can function. “We have no access to our
materials, if these materials are available the Independent Newspaper will come
back to press,” he added.
Mr. Ceesay reiterated that as far as the paper’s license is not revoked, it
is a legal entity that can practice in this country. He further complained
that the office of the Independent Newspaper is sealed off by the police who
barred them from access to their office.
To this end, he promised that one day Independent Newspaper would come back
to news stands.
ENHANCED AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION:
AN INEVITABLE NECESSITY FOR OUR SURVIVAL
THE 13TH ANNUAL W.A.E.C. ENDOWMENT FUND LECTURE
presented by THE RT. REV. DR. S. TILEWA JOHNSON
BISHOP OF GAMBIA on 10th March 2008, Banjul, The Gambia
Chairman of Council, Honourable Secretaries of State, Members of the
National Assembly, Members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps, Members of Council,
Registrar to Council, Staff of Council, Friends of Council, Venerable
Religious Leaders, Esteemed Award Winners, Members of the 4t” Estate, Students,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
INTRODUCTION
It is my great pleasure and high privilege to be presenting the 13th Annual
Endowment Fund Lecture of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).
We start by congratulating WAEC on more than 50 years of operation; during
which time they have become an integral part of the system that has guided
education in our country - The Gambia - as well as in Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra
Leone and Liberia. WAEC’s work in developing syllabuses for examination, and the
administering of examinations themselves, has been a key part of the process
of educational development in our nations. WAEC indeed “is West Africa’s
foremost examining board established by law to determine the examinations
required in the public interest in the English speaking West African countries, to
conduct examinations and to award certificates compare to those of
equivalent examining authorities internationally”. This is, and has been, the case for
over half of a century.
However, the approved wording of WAEC’s Corporate profile also makes this
pronouncement: “By this mandate, the Council is expected to: assist in the
development of sound education”, among other vital things, such as maintaining “
educational standards” and giving West Africans “a vision of great
potentials which lie beyond examinations”.
This Lecture aims at appealing to this “development of sound education”
aspect of the noble mandate of WAEC, as it touches on agricultural education.
Agricultural education is an area of study which is arguably most relevant to
the felt needs of our sub-region which, by and large, depends on an
agrarian-based economy, yet we are neither food sufficient, nor food secure. By the end
of this Lecture, it is my ardent hope and prayer that syllabus developers,
educators, researchers and examiners alike, will be convinced of the need do
everything possible to lift, to elevate agriculturerelated subjects taught in
our schools and examined by WAEC, from the near bottom of the WAEC
examinations performance “league table” to a more respectable and deserving position
among the first six on the said “league table”. I shall also be giving
indications that Agricultural education should be among the core subjects we teach
and examine, if the clarion call contained in the ECOWAS Common Agricultural
Policy (ECOWAP) should be taken seriously. This will be one of the greatest
direct contributions of WAEC in the actualisation of the ECOWAP, I believe.
Having hit the sub-regional cord with such verve, it would be prudent of me
to retreat to the safe confines of my own backyard, so to speak.
Mr Chairman, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,
The subject of this lecture is:
“Enhanced Agricultural Education:
An Inevitable Necessity For Our Survival”
We aim to look at the following:
• the status of agriculture in our nation;
• the nature of agricultural education and examination in the prevailing
socio-economic climate;
• the environment required for agricultural education to be relevant;
• the presentation of agricultural education in a way that will equip
students for fruitful living;
• inclusive agricultural education and examination; and
• our need for agriculture.
GAMBIA PRESS UNION
78 Mosque Road, Serekunda, P. O. Box 1440, Banjul, The Gambia
Tel/Fax: (220) 4377020. email: [log in to unmask]
VOTER REGISTRATION LIST
The Gambia Press Union wishes to announce that the Voter’s List will be open
for inspection from Tuesday, March 18th 2008 to Thursday, March 20th 4.00pm
2008.
Fully paid up members interested in participating in The Congress are
invited to inspect the list at the GPU premises.
Signed
The GPU Executive
FOCUS ON POLITICS
REBEL FORCES SEIZE AND TAKE PRESIDENT DOE AWAY FROM ECOMOG HEADQUARTERS ;
Was There A Complicity?
With Suwaibou Touray
We have been focusing on politics, in general, and Gambian politics,in
particular. In the last two editions, we have covered the narration of events that
culminated in the Liberian civil war.
We have stopped where we wrote that President Jawara who was the Chairman of
the Mediation Committee had to cut short his trip to Zimbabwe and arrived on
Sunday 16 September 1990, in a sort of confused state. He was interviewed by
Malick Jeng of Radio Gambia.
Let us continue from where we stopped.
Mr. Jeng: May I ask you, sir why you’ve decided to cut short your visit, you
were expected to proceed to New York from Zimbabwe?
President Jawara: Well, well, I’ve come because at this juncture in the
situation in Liberia, it is necessary to have consultation with a lot of people
involved and this is why I have come back at this time.
Mr. Jeng: The Ghanaians were reported to be calling for a rethink of ECOMOG’
s mandate, saying in effect that ECOMOG should either decide to fight or get
out. What’s your reaction to that?
President Jawara: Well, as I have said, we’ve got to a, a, a, stage in the
whole operation when we should really consult and see how we carry the whole
operation forward and I, I believe that ah, ah the result of our consultations
would be to really ah, do the job ah, to achieve the objective of bringing
peace to Liberia. Not, Not, Not to pull out but to do the job that, and
achieve the objectives which we set in the first place.
Malick Jeng: What’s The Job Sir?
President Jawara: Well, that is to bring about, to help bring about peace in
Liberia, I mean at the moment ah, there is a lot of confusion, there’s a lot
of fighting, there is a lot of violence, ah, after we consult and decide
what to do next ah, this, the operation would bring greater stability and more
peace and safety and order in the, in the situation in Liberia.
Malick Jeng: And finally Mr. President, the Ghanaians have over the past two
days bombarded rebel positions; Charles Taylor’s rebel positions. Is this
not going to make your job a bit more difficult?
President Jawara: Well, am, am, am not in possession of the full details of
what you’re referring to now but ah, this all depends, I mean this is a very
complex operation and we’ve got to a stage where really we have to think
deeply on what to do to bring a very bad and very confused and violent situation
ah, to, to, to a halt. So am the, ah, part of an operation which is very
complex, and which, which we have to, to look at closely and see how to proceed
in this difficult situation from now on.”
The Struggle in Liberia was a military one. This was why it was seriously
followed by observers. However the politics of the West African leaders fueled
the whole thing and complicated the war. The final communiqué of the first
session of the ECOWAS standing mediation committee stated that “An ECOWAS
cease-fire monitoring group (ECOMOG) was to be established in Liberia for the
purpose of keeping the peace, restore law and order and ensure that a cease-fire
is respected.
However, the ministerial meeting of the standing committee held in Banjul
from the 21st to 22nd August, 1990 asserted that “The ministerial committee
reaffirms the basic principles and component of the ECOWAS Peace Package which
they claimed had received the consent of all the warring parties with the
exception of the NPFL of Charles Taylor. They also further asserted that this
confirmation of acceptance by President Doe and Mr. Prince Johnson was conveyed
to the NPFL.
However, the situation turned ugly when President Doe left his fortified
mansion for the first time since July and turned up at the Headquarters of the
Peace-Keeping Force with a substantial entourage to pay an unscheduled call on
the force commander, General Quainoo.
Interestingly enough, Prince Johnson and several jeep loads of his young
fighters also arrived only ten minutes after the arrival of Samuel Doe and
immediately picked up a quarrel with Doe’s men.
According to Elizabeth Blunt of the BBC, who was covering the situation,
during the quarrel between the soldiers of Doe and the rebel forces of Prince
Johnson, rifles, machine guns and grenade fire were blazing round the
Headquarters building. The rebel fighters, she said, hunted down the presidents’
soldiers from room to room and, as she said, slaughtered them and then grabbed
the president, who was wounded in both legs, and carried him off to their base
camp outside the city.
According to Blunt, members of the Peace-Keeping Force made repeated appeals
to the two sides but were unable to stop what she described as the carnage.
She also said by the end of the carnage, the bodies were all strewn round the
headquarters building. She said the initial dead count was 64, who were
mostly President Doe’s men, including some of his senior aids.
The Questions and Doubts
Foroyaa analyzed that the fact that Does’ soldiers were running from one
room to another, showed that they were unarmed and disarmed by ECOMOG. Foroyaa
asked why Johnson’s group were not stopped before they got to the headquarters
so that confrontation could have been avoided; that people also wondered why
none of Doe’s men lived to be able to tell what actually happened from their
own point of view; that it was also puzzling why the injured Doe was allowed
to be taken away by Prince Johnson’s group in the name of putting him on
trial when the Mediation Committee knew very well that Prince Johnson has not
established any state with a judiciary to try accused persons.
Foroyaa also asked whether ECOMOG had been impotent or has it been directed
by its political masters to help get rid of Doe. Foroyaa concluded that no
matter what answer was given, the carnage at the Headquarters of ECOMOG had
already discredited it as a cease-fire monitoring group.
President Doe Killed What Next?
Initially, all that was known was the fact that Mr. Samuel Doe was
eliminated. And in an interview with Elizabeth Blunt, she was asked that since this
façade happened at the headquarters of the West African Peace Keeping Force,
doesn’t it make that force look rather ridiculous. She responded “Oh! Yes, and
certainly the Commanding General, General Quainoo, said to me afterwards
that this does complicate their task even further which seems quite an under
statement but certainly true and he said in his long career when the port was
shelled by Talyors’ force in the far side round the offices; that it was quite
the worst experience of being under fire that he himself has ever had.”
However, the BBC also interviewed Dr. Abbas Bundu, the Secretary General of
ECOWAS, after the carnage about his reaction to Samuel Does death. “What has
happened falls within the purview of the ECOWAS Peace Plan and we do hope now
that President Doe is no longer in office, Mr. Charles Taylor will now see
the need to lay down his arms within the context of the interim Government
Framework” Bundu said. He was again asked whether in his view he was quite happy
that Prince Johnson has taken President Doe? Answer, “Well what I am saying
is that it was within the purview of the ECOWAS peace plan that President Doe
should withdraw from office”.
Foroyaa analyzed that what was incredible was that Dr. Bundu did not condemn
the carnage nor did he express any regrets, on the contrary, he applauded
the developments and asserted that it fell within the purview of the ECOWAS
Peace Plan.
Foroyaa opined that Dr. Bundu had forgotten the role of ECOMOG as a
cease-fire monitoring group. It then asked how any one could trust ECOMOG as a
cease-fire Monitoring Group. It also said Dr. Bundu did not think of the pool of
blood which defiled the role of ECOMOG as a cease-fire monitoring group and did
not think of the violation of the protocol on non aggression signed by
ECOWAS states which is opposed to the very plan he referred to; that is, a plan
orchestrated by member states to over throw the government of a member state no
matter how weak.
PDOIS criticized the cold response given by Dr. Bundu after the carnage at
the ECOMOG headquarters and said it paints a very horrible picture of ECOWAS,
in particular, and Africa, in general.
What Did The ECOWAS Chairman Say?
According to the VOA on the 10th September, 1990, in an interview with the
HERALD of Zimbabwe, the chairman of ECOWAS, Gambia’s President Dawda Jawara,
said that he hoped President Doe’s departure might pave the way for Mr. Taylor
to accept an interim Government. He also said ECOWAS would renew its efforts
to install an interim government in the country.
According to Radio Gambia, on the 10th May, 1990, Mr. Jay Saidy, the Press
Attaché of the President, said the President said, “Now that President Doe has
been reported finally ousted and killed, Sir Dawda said he felt that while
the removal of Doe might expedite the process of National entente, the
leadership struggle would further aggravate this complex situation.”
At this point, according to Foroyaa, when one observed the scene very
closely, some Gambians were wondering how President Dawda Jawara could welcome the
manner of Mr. Doe’s death.
But Gambia’s External Affairs Minister was quick to call the BBC to assert
that it was not correct that President Jawara welcomed the overthrow of Mr.
Doe.
President Jawara himself in another interview with Mr. Marshall of the BBC
later refuted that he has welcomed the overthrow of Doe and said he was
shocked and saddened by that event because it would further complicate the whole
thing; that he was shocked by the circumstance under which it occurred and had
heard that Prince Johnson had said he would keep Doe and in fact put him on
trial. The PDOIS leaflet asked whether President Jawara thought Mr. Johnson
was a magistrate who could put Mr. Doe on trial.
Mr. Jawara also called on ECOMOG to protect the family and associates of Mr.
Doe. Foroyaa cajoled that if ECOMOG could not safeguard the security of Mr.
Doe and his entourage right in their headquarters, how could it safeguard the
family and associates of Mr. Doe who were based at the Executive Mansion
without being accused of complicity in the carnage. It said common sense should
have taught the mediation committee that once people were made to believe
that ECOMOG did not have the ability to secure Mr. Doe and his entourage right
at the headquarters, any attempt to show that it has the ability to protect
Mr. Does’ family and associates would make the mediation committee vulnerable
to accusation of complicity in Mr. Doe’s overthrow. PDOIS said Jawara ‘s call
was therefore a miscalculation. PDOIS opined that the appeal should have
been directed to the warring parties and ECOMOG’s final role should have been to
cooperate with them to grant safe passage to Mr. Doe’s associates and pull
out of Liberia immediately, since the carnage at its Headquarters constituted
a confirmation that it could not monitor a ceasefire in a war situation.
See next Edition as we follow closely political issues that occurred in the
1990s.
MARRIAGE AND FAMILY
Is She A Fortunate Woman
Part 5
With Amie Sillah
At The New Job
George has relocated to Dakar. He is excited about his new job and office.
As he settled down to the nitty gritty of his office environment, Mandy came
in. she congratulated him and enquired whether he was comfortable. “Yes! Yes!
I am very comfortable. It is excellent. I love it. You know I cannot compare
it with my canteen”. Mandy laughed. “You are a funny man. I enjoy chatting
with you”. “I do not only enjoy chatting with you but I am always praying for
you. Just be saying amen not to make the angles angry”. Amanda laughed
heartily. Her motive and project is to snatch George and make him he own. The
naïve George is unassuming but Marie understands Amanda’s game. She is a smart
woman. She knows what Mandy wants. Amanda argued that George is spending a lot
of money on his Banjul weekends. “You are spending a lot of money to go to
Banjul every weekend. When will you able to finish your house project? You have
to save enough money to rent a big apartment to relocate your family but
with the space you are going can you reach your target?” “But what are you
suggesting? This is Maria’s favourite spot. That is the bargain. If I cannot make
it at weekends she will be very disappointed with me”. Amanda thought hard
and said “That is excellent. You are a considerate husband but Marie has to
understand. You need to save to relocate your family, “You are right but you
know women”. George felt helpless. “Okay! Can we go for lunch?” “Lunch?” “
Yes, lunch! It is on my head”. George caught up. “Okay! It is fine by me.
Later!”
Week End
George went to visit his family at the weekend. Maria took the children to
her man and prepared for her husband. She wore a seductive dress and decorate
the house seductively. George opened the door no one was around. He walked to
the bedroom. What did he see? A dazzling seductive wife who rushed into his
arms! “Waw! Who is this sweet sixteen? Am I in the correct house?” He
mocked. “You scared me”. Maria said. “Where are my kinds? What happened to them? I
want to know before I relax”. “They are at Mom. I am ready for my husband.
I want no disturbance. The two of us. Only us. We need a lot of fun”. “Are
you sure? Are you kidding me? Don’t blame me for whatever comes out of it. “
George teased. “Poor Reuben! I put all my frustrations on him for missing you.
Let us enjoy for now, everything behind us”. They have a good time and enjoy
themselves.
Back At Work
George came back very excited. He was able to least calm down Maria’s
nerves. Mandy came into the office. “Mr. Banjul! You are back? How is Maria and the
children?” “They are fine. Infact, my children went to Grandma. We have more
time for ourselves. Maria is very happy and contented after a week long of
frustration”. “You are a good husband. I am jealous of Maria. You talk of her
all the time. You are different from other men. You are a responsible family
man. Your family, always first”. “You’ll get a man better than me. Take
your time and search well”. George advised. “I don’t know”. Amanda said. “Let
us go for lunch”. Left. Amanda followed him admiring him all the time. She
hatched her evil plan.
At The Chinese Restaurant
George and Mandy enjoyed their meal at the Chinese Restaurant. They chatted
as the ate their meal. She tried to convince George and talked him out of the
regular weekends to Banjul. George was still adamant. “It is hard but I have
to try. I cannot reason such an argument with Maria. She cannot understand.
She will be suspicious. She pretended”. Suspicious! Why? She knows you are a
good husband”. George changed the topic.
Manipulation
Mandy saw her Managing Director and told her that George is interested in
weekend over time jobs. “Are you sure. I understand he likes to spend the
weekends with his family in Banjul. How is it that he wants to change that
pattern? Are you sure you are not hoodwinking him to accept against his wish?” “No!
No! How can I? I don’t have that power”. Mandy was defensive. “You are a
naughty girl! I don’t trust you with George. Amanda! Give George a space. Let
him be. He is a happily married man. Weekend job will deny him access to his
Banjul family. Well! The offer is still there. He gets double bonus but let
him know that it is not a force. Let him not sacrifice his young family for
money”. “Okay Jami”. Then Amadam left. Jamila is suspicious of Mandy. “She is
a devil incarnate. She is suffocating George. Since she helps him get this
job, she is hassling him. I don’t like that. Woman should not undermine each
other”. Jami soliloquies.
The Good News
Mandy convinced George to take the offer. “It is easy money. You can easily
relocate your family and ease yourself from your hectic weekends. Marie will
be able to relocate her canteen business and it is lucrative here in Dakar.
Think about it”. George remained silent. He was trying to figure out how Marie
will react.
George Speaks To Marie
George rang Marie and told her the plan. “What! You want to deny us our
weekends? That’s the only thing left between us. The family looks forward to the
weekends. Now you want to deny is our only source of joy. George! Tell me!
What is going on? Do you till care for us? I am scared. Something is definitely
wrong. “Marie charged. “Don’t say that. Don’t make me feel guilty. We need
the money I am doing it for our family”. George argued “Nonsense! Our
family was surviving before your Dakar job. The canteen satisfies our basic needs
and unified our family. I am not comfortable, register my point”.
To be contd.
As Women Celebrate International Women’s Day; Sukuta Women Gardeners Express
Views
By Annia Gaye
International women’s day was celebrated on the 8 March, 2008 with the theme
“the struggle for gender equality continues. The day was set aside to reflect
on the concerns and strategic interest of women all over the world. As it is
set aside for women to express their concerns, Sukuta women gardeners also
share their concerns and the problems facing them at their work and family.
In an interview with women at their garden, on Monday 10 March, the
president of Sukuta women’s garden, Ma Sirreh Jatta said the day is very important
to women, especially in the Gambia. She said women face lots of problems in
their homes and work places. She said she herself has a lot of problems to
solve and that the only place she earns money is from her garden. “The vegetables
I produce are sold in the market to pay my children’s school fees, feeding
and all other things to settle at the compound” she explained. Ma Sirreh said
that they face the problem of water, vegetable seeds and also fencing of
their garden because animals come to destroy vegetables every day. She said they
produce lots of vegetables like, carrot, onion, salad, cabbage and other
vegetables but said the problems she mentioned affects them a lot. The Women
Garden President calls on government, institutions and other NGOs to help them
solve these problems. She also said women should be given their rights at home,
work places and institutions to be among the decision makers. “Women also
need freedom to decide their own lives” she said.
Ya Fatou Cham, a gardener, also acknowledged the importance of the
International Women’s Day is important, noting that women are important elements in
the society. She also explained the problems she faces in her garden, which
she includes water, fencing and seeds which are needed to make her work easier.
“I also face lots of problems at home like paying the children’s school
fees, feeding and everything. I really need help to solve those problems” She
said.
Another garden member, Mbara Bojang, also expressed similar concerns and
noting that women are important and need respect and dignity in the society they
live. She thanked the government who she opined have given women a voice and
have included them in the government and decision making process. She
challenged government to help women in everything they are doing and also support
their work. “We need help from government” she said. Mbara congratulates all
Gambian women and urged them to work harder so as to achieve their goals,
even though, as she said, it is not easy for them.
For her part, Sara Drammeh congratulates all women throughout the country
and expressed her happiness to be part of the celebrations. She noted the lots
of problems that have been hindering their work as gardeners such as the lack
of water and fencing at the garden. “We feed ourselves through this garden,
therefore, we really need help from government and other NGOs,” she said.
Other women members, such as Isatou Cham, Penda Suwaneh, Jabal Jammeh and
Fatou Bojang also highlighted the similar concerns and problems that they face
as women and in the garden. They also reiterated the importance of the day
and asserted that women need to be given their rights to live happily in their
homes, the right to decision-making and also the right to be protected from
all forms of violence and harassment in the society.
12 Journalists Receive Certificates
By Amie Sanneh
Twelve journalists, from both the print and electronic media in the country,
were recently awarded certificates after successfully completing an
eight-day training program. The training which ended last week was organised by Media
Agenda with funding from the US and UK embassies and the Commonwealth
Secretariat. The aim of the training is to equip media practitioners on human
rights issues.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the President of The Gambia Press Union
and Director of Media Agenda, Madi Ceesay, said he is convinced that the
training has raised the standards of the journalists. He explained that during the
training, participants were exposed to so many sites; that the twelve
participants can now do their work effectively.
Mr. Ceesay added that Media agenda will like participants to move to another
level from where they were in terms of reporting. Mr. Ceesay noted that this
type of training would fill the gap in the level of professional journalism,
citing the lack of journalism school in the country.
He urged journalists to try and investigate their stories and make it to be
balanced before it is published. He thanked the partners for their valuable
support and also the participants for keenly participating in the two week
long training program.
Also speaking at the closing ceremony, the Deputy British High Commissioner,
who is also acting as the British High Commissioner, Graham Birse, called on
journalists to practice accurate and responsible journalism. He expressed
hope that the training will be of immense help to the participants. He also
told the participants that his doors are open and that they are free to contact
him anytime they need him.
The course facilitator, Alexandra, described the participants as the best
group he has ever met.
The vote of thanks was delivered by Abdoulie Sey.
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