Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issues
Issue No. 144/2007, 7 - 9 December 2007
Editorial
Civic Rights And Duties
The sovereign people of The Gambia are the owners of the country. They have
a right and duty to determine her economic, political, social and cultural
status. This is the first point.
A sovereign Gambian people need schools, hospitals, roads and other social
services. All Gambians cannot meet everyday to contribute funds and agree on
what social services to provide. This task has to be performed by
representatives of the Gambian people.
It is the right and duty of the Gambian people to elect their
representatives and provide them with the funds to enable them t o provide social services.
It is the right and duty of the Gambian people to scrutinize the work of
their representatives and remove them from office if they misrepresent them.
This is the second point.
A sovereign Gambian people cannot determine their destiny without being
alive. Each Gambian, therefore, has the right to life. It is the duty of all to
protect the life of each. No one has a right to take the life of another. This
is the third point,
Each Gambian has equal right to determine the destiny of the country. Each
Gambian has a right to be free from any form of domination. Each Gambian is,
therefore, a free citizen. It is the duty of all Gambians to protect the
liberty of each. No one has a right to violate the liberty of another. This is the
fourth point.
If the Gambian people are to determine the economic, political, social and
cultural life of the Gambia, they must assemble and discuss. The Gambian
people have freedom of assembly and expression. It is the duty of all Gambians to
protect the freedom of assembly and expression of each. No one has the right
to violate the freedom of assembly and expression of the other. This is the
fifth point.
Each citizen of The Gambia has a duty to provide public funds to maintain
public services. Each citizen has equal rights to determine who is to be
entrusted with the public funds. Those elected should ensure equal access of all
citizens to public services. Each Gambian has a right to be free from
discrimination. It is the duty of all Gambians to protect each from discrimination. No
public officer or representative has a right to discriminate any Gambian.
This is the sixth point.
Each Gambian citizen is a free and dignified person. Each has a right to
justice. Each has a right to be free from arbitrary arrest, detention, inhumane
treatment or degrading punishment. Each Gambian has a right to fair hearing
before an impartial court when accused of a crime. This is the seventh point.
Each Gambian citizen has a right to have his or her rights protected by law
and a duty to respect the rights of others. Each has a right to redress for
violation of his or her rights, This is the eighth point.
A sovereign republic has a duty to safeguard these rights and thus guarantee
a sovereign people life and liberty in prosperity.
Groundnut Price Not Yet Determined
By Bubacarr K. Sowe
Farmers in the country have been anxious about this year’s groundnut price
but the Secretary of state for Trade, Industry and Employment on Tuesday said
the price has not been determined yet.
SOS Abdou Colley was answering a question from the National Assembly member
for Sami Lamin Ceesay who asked about the price of one metric tonne of
groundnut for the 2007/2008-trade season.
Mr.Colley said, “The price for groundnut is determined by Agri-business
Service Plan Association (ASPA) and not the Department of State for trade,
Industry and Employment. However, the groundnut price for 2007/2008 has not been
determined yet”.
However, the Secretary of State noted that the price of groundnut has
already been proposed pending the approval of the department of state for Trade,
Industry and Employment.
Trial of Casamance 9 Continues
By Bubacarr K. Sowe
The trial of the nine alleged Cassamance MFDC insurgents on Wednesday,
December 5 continued at the Banjul Magistrates Court with more examinations and
cross-examinations in mini trial (Voir Dire) involving Nuha Jammeh and Abdou
Salam Jammeh.
The court opened the mini trial in order to prove the voluntariness of the
statements obtained from Nuha and Abdou Salam while under interrogation at the
National Intelligence Agency. The nine men are charged with planning attacks
on Senegal, espionage and alleged possession of Gambian identification
documents.
In a cross-examination by Nuha Jammeh, Amadou Sanyang a police officer told
the court that he does not know when Nuha was arrested. When asked by Nuha
whether he knows that he was arrested ten months after the arrest of his
co-accused person, Mr. Sanyang said he was not part of the team that arrested them.
Sanyang also responded that he does not know anything about the statement
Nuha claimed to have made on May 20, 2007. He also disclaimed Nuha’s point that
his statements were recorded on two different papers, yellow and white
papers.
When shown the statements to identify which one is the yellow or white one,
Nuha identified yellow ink highlights on the statement. The prosecution
witness admitted that he was present when the accused made his statement, but
denied obtaining it on May 20 2007. “I recorded your statement on May 21, 2007,”
Sanyang said. Asked by Nuha, if he was at the investigating panel when he
(Nuha) was being questioned, Mr. Sanyang said he saw him on May 21 at the panel
when his statement was obtained.
The prosecution witness Sanyang, disagreed with the accused person that his
previous statement was written by another police officer. Nuha (the accused)
asked the prosecution witness if there was an independent witness when his
statement was being obtained, Mr. Sanyang said there was one Tijan Bah. In a
re-examination by the Director of public prosecutions, Emmanuel Fagbenle, Mr.
Sanyang said the investigating panel did not sit on May 20, 2007.
When Sanyang was also cross-examined by Abdou Salam Jammeh an accused person
who asked if the people who arrested him were part of the panel, Sanyang
said he does not know.
Abdou Salam then questioned Sanyang if he was at the Serious Crime Unit when
he was being interrogated, Sanyang answered in the positive. Sanyang added
that he was not present when Abdou Salam was being taken from the police to
the NIA. The prosecution witness said he couldn’t remember if Abdou Salam
accepted willingly to be a witness against his brother so that he would be given
bail, refugee status or political asylum. He also said he was not present when
Abdou Salam was paraded before journalists and made a declaration in
English, French and Jola. Mr. Sanyang added that he was not present when Musa
Kinteh, Idrissa Jobe and Lamin Darboe allegedly put a pistol on Abdou Salam’s head
threatening him to sign the statement.
Sanyang agreed with the accused person that he was present when Nuha’s
statement was obtained; that it was Nuha who first signed it, and the independent
witness and then he the police officer (Sanyang) also signed it the same day.
Testifying as a prosecution witness, Tijan Bah who acted as an independent
witness when the accused persons were giving their statements, said he knew
Nuha Jammeh at the NIA.
Mr. Bah said he was invited at the NIA on May 21 giving his statement to the
police. He said the statement was read to the accused person to his
satisfaction and he signed it. Mr. Bah said there was no threat or force on Nuha when
Nuha was giving his statement. Mr. Bah also said he knows Abdou Salam and he
was present when his statement was being obtained. He added that Abdou Salam
made statements on May 18 and 30, and on June 5. He also said the accused
person was never threatened and he was a neutral witness.
In a cross-examination by Nuha, Mr. Bah said the accused made his statement
in Jola and there was no interpreter when Sanyang was recording his
statement. Mr. Bah also said he was at the panel.
Also cross-examining Mr. Bah was Abdou Salam Jammeh who asked him how many
times he saw him, and he said three times. Quizzed if he knew that Abdou Salam
was taken to the Serious Crime Unit and forced to make a statement, Mr. Bah
said “no”. The independent witness admitted signing the same day as the
accused person. Abdou Salam put it to Mr. Bah that they never met, but Mr. Bah
disagreed. However, the court did not give Nuha and Abdou Salam the
opportunity to enter their defence on Wednesday. As the court was about to adjourn for
a ruling on the voir dire, Abdou Salam and his co-accused persons who have no
legal representation reminded the court that the procedure had not been fair
to them.
Consequently, the Presiding Magistrate Baboucarr Y. Camara said it was
unfortunately an “error”. The Magistrate then asked the prosecutor to withdraw
his address until the accused person gave their side of the story. The following
day, December 6, the court resumed for the accused person to enter their
defence.
To be continued
National Assembly Ratifies US $ 7.7
Million Loan For Westfield-Sukuta Road
By Bubacarr K. Sowe
National Assembly Members have ratified a loan agreement amounting to US$
7.705 (5.15 Islamic Dinar) million between the Gambia and Islamic Development
Bank for the Re-Construction of the Westfield-Sukuta Road.
The agreement, tabled before the deputies on Wednesday, December 5, by the
Secretary of State for Finance and Economic Affairs Musa Gibril Balla Gaye was
seconded by the member for Basse, Sellu Bah. Mr. Bah said the reconstruction
of the road had been lamented by morotists, pedestrians and cyclists who ply
the road.
Sidia Jatta, the representative for Wuli West said road infrastructure is
indispensable in development. Mr. Jatta added that the reconstruction of the
road is crucial and would have a tremendous economic value to its users. The
Wuli West NAM expressed concern over the short life Gambian roads have noting
that people have began doubting the longevity of the Kerewan-Farafrnni
road-which is less than a year old.
He said sound engineering is necessary in order for the country to have
guaranteed and long lasting roads, stressing that The Gambia should be able to
mobilise funds locally for projects like this one.
Sulayman Joof, the member for Serrekunda West, said the road should have
been a dual carriage instead of the proposed single carriage. He also said the
National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) should avoid cutting across the
road when connecting people to water pipes.
Adama Cham the NAM for Kombo North said the road reconstruction will
increase the earning capacity of the people using it, which he said will reduce
poverty. The minority leader and member for Kiang West said the project has come
at a good time and the right moment.
Boat Owner Disappears Following
November Sea Disaster
By Bubacarr K. Sowe
The man who purportedly owns the boat that caught fire whilst trying to
transport young men to Spain sometime in November that resulted to many deaths is
said to have disappeared, according to the police.
At least eleven corpses were found in Banjul at a tributary linked to the
River Gambia where the boat waiting to carry about fifty youths to Spain caught
fire.
At the time of the accident sources said about thirty people escaped and
twenty others were reported missing. So far only eleven have been recovered from
sea.
The spokesman of the Gambia Police Force told Foroyaa that the boat owner is
a Senegalese national who suddenly disappeared after the disaster.
The name of the purported boat owner is not known and little is known about
him.
FOCUS ON POLITICS
PDOIS CALLS ON PRESIDENT JAWARA TO APOLOGIZE OR RESIGN; WOULD HE ACT?
With Suwaibou Touray
We have been focusing on politics in general and Gambian politics in
particular.
This is what motivates us to follow the narration of events from
pre-colonial to the post-independence era. We have successfully followed events up to
1989 and are dealing with the aftermath of the famous libel case against Editor
Sanna Manneh.
We have stopped where we said the Nation dubbed the phenomena of using
public resources as a ‘fankung fankung syndrome’ meaning each for oneself and no
one for the nation; that ‘the ego-centric attitude must stop if the Gambia is
to March forward,’ the Nation warned.
Let us follow from where we have stopped.
The PDOIS THROUGH their mouthpiece wrote an open letter to President Jawara
to resign or apologize to the Gambian people for his inaction after the
judgment of Hon. Wallace Grante, which went against his two cabinet ministers.
Foroyaa maintained that the justification given by President Jawara for his
inaction was ridiculous and baseless making them to honour his pronouncement
with laughter.
In the final analysis they said the PDOIS is working to bring about change
in the Gambia.
They said they are aware that total change is not brought about by the
removal of this minister or that minister from the cabinet. That as far as they
are concerned, regardless of which minister is changed; the P.P.P regime
remains the same. They said to them, what fosters change is the attitude of the
people towards a regime, i.e. their lack of confidence in and their level of
dissatisfaction with the regime. They said they have been going from Banjul to
Koina just to prove to the people that the P.P.P regime is not competent to
address their needs and aspirations for life and liberty, freedom and happiness,
dignity and prosperity, justice and fair play.
The PDOIS maintained that if the president decides to defy common sense and
take a course of action which does not respond effectively to the
expectations of the people; if he prefers for the credibility of his regime to be
further eroded by giving justification for his action which is not convincing to
even a person without an elementary understanding of the ABC of the present
constitution or judicial procedure; if a regime prefers to commit political
suicide by alienating the people, why should they be dissatisfied with its
action? They asked. They felt that the lack of action was to their political
advantage for the president to take the decision he took.
Foroyaa opined that the trial of Sanna Manneh has opened up a chapter in
Gambian history.
They said one would not be guilty of exaggeration if it were referred to as
the most interesting and dramatic trial in Gambian history.
ON INDECISIVENESS
PDOIS said the president is guilty of indecisiveness.
The PDOIS explained that a court has said that Sanna Manneh has acted within
the law but the decision of the court did not seem to be perfectly
acceptable to the president.
They said it must be said that the press is free to investigate any matter
of importance not because of president Jawara’s permission but because it is
their constitutional right to do so. They maintained that the same
constitution that makes the president’s government lawful is the same that guarantees
Gambians their freedom of expression. They however said government may ofcourse
decide to impose tyranny on a people and seize their freedoms but
however asserted that sooner of later the people must rise up to abolish
such tyranny.
This they asserted is a fundamental law of history and it is inviolable.
The article concluded by calling on the president among many other things
that he was perfectly free to act according to the rule of law; that is, in
accordance with the decision of the magistrate or by the rule of imagination,
i.e. the intention of the Attorney General. They however reminded the president
that what history teaches is that the unpopular and unjustifiable action of
a political head serves as fertilizer to nurture the seed of change; that a
political head therefore ignores the aspirations of the people at his or her
own peril.
IS THE PRESIDENT GUILTY OF INDECISIVENESS?
PDOIS said now that the legal foundation upon which the president erected
his justification for not taking action has been destroyed, one might now
wonder what other defence he has to justify his inaction. Obviously they said
anybody who is faithful to truth and common sense would not be able to see any
other defence the president can rely on to justify his inaction. Hence, it is
now the duty of the president to act in accordance with the decision of the
court. If he fails to act, they advised, then it should be clear to all that he
was hiding behind legal justification to cover up his indecisiveness.
“Infact, if the matter is given a closer look one would tend to see that the
president is indeed guilty of indecisiveness. In short, he has tried to give
the impression that he is waiting for the decision of a higher court to act,
but there is a minister who has been accused of corruption and no step has
been taken by the state to defend his innocence.” PDOIS posited.
They said since the minister has not taken any action and does not seem to
want to be a subject of much discussion, they have decided not to mention his
name. Notwithstanding, the failure of the president to take action against
such a minister even though no appeal is pending in respect of his case
confirms that the president’s inaction is due to indecisiveness.
Needless to say, PDOIS pushed, a president who cannot be decisive on a
matter of public interest cannot be said to be fully prepared to shoulder the
burden of leading a nation. They further opined that it is therefore important
for the president to become decisive. If he fails to act,PDOIS said, then it
should become apparent that he cannot be decisive on a matter of public
interest. In that case, they said he should resign and leave the nation to be guided
by someone who would not hesitate to take decision that is in line with
justice and common sense. That they said is their third point.
IS THE PRESIDENT COMMITTED TO THE PRINICLPLE OF EQUITY?
Foroyaa quoted section 36, sub-section (1) of the constitution and said the
president has sworn that he ‘will do right to all manner of people according
to law, without fear of favour, affection or ill-ill.’ These are the
underlying principles of equity under the Gambian constitution that posited.
In his interview with Mr. Baboucarr Gaye, they wrote that the president
said; “the legal authorities feel that the judgment should be appealed against, I
think the matter should be pursued in the interest of equity and justice.”
In short, they said the president is implying that it is in accordance with
the principles of equity for him to wait for the decision of a higher court.
The PDOIS then examined how the president behaved in the past towards ministers
and public servants who have been accused of corruption and how he is
behaving towards the two ministers concerned in this case. This they said will
determine whether the president can be said to be adhering to the principle of
equity for not acting.
They then asked the President, how did you behave towards Alhajie Musa
Darboe in the 1960s when he was accused of corruption?and then asked, did he lose
his ministerial post before he was taken before a court for trial? What about
Mr. K.C.A. Kah, a former minister of Health? Didn’t he suffer the same fate?
‘Why did you remove Mr. Kuti Sanyang from his post as minister of works and
communications? Isn’t it on the basis of unproven allegations? What happened
to Mr. Fafa Mbye, the former Minister of justice? Was he not removed from
office on the basis of allegations and subjected before an Asset evaluation
commission, which froze all his assets pending investigation? Why did Dr. Manneh
lose his ministerial post? Was it not on the basis of allegations? Why did
Mr. Sheriff Dibba gave up the vice presidency? Was it not because his brother
was found to use state vehicles to engage in alleged corrupt practices?”
“What about Mr. Janneh, former minister for Local Government? Was he not
removed on the basis of allegations? Let us now move away from the ministers to
the civil servants. We don’t have to go into detail to mention the countless
number of public servants who have been interdicted or removed from their
positions on the basis of allegations. Let us refer to very recent developments
to prove our point.”
PDOIS mentioned many employees of the Gambia Cooperative Union who they said
were still wandering about without jobs even though the courts have
acquitted and discharged them.They cited the former Manager Director of the
Agriculture Development Bank, GUC, GPMB, GCDB and the former Comptroller of Customs
end other staff who have all been removed from their posts on the basis of
allegations.
They told the President that, if his actions towards ministers and public
servants yesterday are weighed against his inaction today one would not
conclude that your present conduct constitutes an adherence to the principle of
equity. Infact, they advanced, all the people who contacted them were questioning
why you are treating the ministers in such a special way? Many people they
said do not seem to believe that you would risk losing public support and
confidence by your inaction simply out of love for your ministers. “Bear in mind
that some people were speculating that you removed Mr. Sabally from the
Ministry of Agriculture and placd him at the Ministry of Finance to show the court
that no matter what decision it took you had said that you are a respecter
of law and would not comment on a matter that was ‘subjudice. Now, Mr.
President, what can we tell the people to dispel such speculations?”
Hence, the letter summed up this point by emphasizing that adherence to the
principle of equity is one of the fundamental requirements of your office. “
It is by demonstrating in practice that your every conduct is done without
fear or favour, affection or ill-will that public trust in your government is
ensured. Hence, Mr. President, it is necessary to evaluate your past actions
and ensure that your present actions are in line with it. If you cannot do so
then it is better to resign, they told the president.
“However, before drawing our conclusion it is necessary to make certain
points clear. Some people are asking whether the attitude of the president
towards Mr. Manneh cannot be classified as witch-hunting. Well, we wish to make
this abundantly clear that Mr. Manneh cannot be a victim of witch-hunting. He is
a free citizen just like the president. He has been accused of a crime. He
had been given a hearing. He is now a free person. Mr. Manneh should therefore
walk with his shoulders high and breathe the air of liberty. The era when
Gambians could be intimidated has passed. Only a Gambia with the brain of a
sheep or donkey could fear another Gambian.
Meanwhile, apart from the legal arguments as to whether an appeal could be
struck out before it was heard, the Supreme Court judge, Justice Ayoola ruled
that he would hear the appeal. At this state, the questions that remained to
be answered were; will the appeal be dismissed after it is heard on the basis
of technicalities? Will the decision of the magistrate be set aside? What is
to be the outcome of Sanna’s case?
According to Foroyaa, anything is possible. The paper cautioned people to
wait for the appeal to be heard. They said since the case was covered
nationally and internationally, the court may not want to be seen to be dragging its
feet.
See next issue as we delve deeper into other issues of political
significance in 1989.
MARRIAGE AND FAMILY
Victim Of Circumstances ‘AiGaaf’
Part 1
Fatima is a victim of circumstances. 15th of March, 1980, she lost both
parents in a dastardly motor accident. Five years later, 15th of March 1985, she
lost her paternal Uncle in a plane crash. 10 years later 15th of March 1995,
her maternal aunt lost everything in an inferno. Her teenage brother died in
the fire accident. Both paternal and maternal families rejected her. She is
seen as being possessed. “How does she always survive the accidents?” They
argued. Her mother’s best pal aunty Bintou decided to brought her up against
all odds. Family and friends advised Aunty Bintou. “She will end up eating you
and your family. Throw this girl out! You are very stubborn!” They sternly
warned Aunty B. “I believe in Allah. He will protect me to take care of the
orphan.” She became steadfast.
Ebrima came along. After a brief courtship he married Fatima against all
odds. His mother and sister opposed the marriage. They called Fatima a witch who
have come to destroy their family. What happen to Fatima? What happen to
Ebrima; E’?
Read to find out.
Taboo, Doom
Fatima had a painful childhood life. She lost her parents in a dastardly
motor accident. Five years later, she lost her paternal uncle who was sponsoring
her education, Uncle Matarr in a plane crash. Ten years later, her maternal
aunt Aunty Rose lost every possession in an infernor including Fatima’s only
surviving brother, Ous. Society rejected Fatima. She was described as ‘Aigaaf’
(bad-lucked) both her paternal and maternal relatives rejected her. Finally,
her mom’s best pal, Aunty Bintou adopted her against all odds. She have
faith. She argued, “Allah will see me through”. She succeeded.
Suitor’s Parent
Rejected Her
Ebrima is the brave suitor who asked Fatima’s hand in marriage. Aja Mariama,
his mother rejected the marriage proposal, as well as his sister Horejah,
who became Ebou’s bitterest critic. “She will destroy our family. Have you
check her family background? They are cursed. The girl is possessed, ‘Aigaaf’.
She will bring disaster into our unified prosperous family.” Aja Mariam
argued backed by her daughter Horejah. “She is the love of my life. I’ll marry
her mom with or without your blessing.” Ebou was adamant. He had made up his
mind.
Three Years On
Baby Mariam is born. Ebou named her after his mom just to appease her. The
situation worsen. She hated Fatima with a passion. Horejah’s attitude worsened
the situation. Fatima is a nice lady. She bore the pain in silence. Ebou
verbally fought his family all the time because of their ill treatment of
Fatima. They called her names and taunted her all the time.
“We have to relocate. Let us relocate to the family’s suburb house. My dad
have a lot of houses all over the place. Let us leave this hell. They hate
you, will always hate you. Don’t waste your time in building a positive
relationship with them. It will never work until something drastic happen.” Ebou
warned his wife. She remained adamant. “Peace at all cost. You cannot leave your
family home because of me? What would they say? That I have finally broken
your family. No! I can’t. Let us stick it out here. They’ll change in time. I’
ll bear the inconvenience for your sake.
“Nonsense! You want them to kill us or one of us before we react? I am not
convince. My mom is mean and Hor is evil and a devil advocate. I can’t trust
any of them. How can they claim to love me when they hate part of my soul, you?”
Ebou argued. “We have to move out for peace and for the good of all of us.
I need space. You and baby Mariam also need space.” ‘E’ argued. Fatima
remained adamant. This frustrated Ebrima all the more.
Refuse Her Back To Work
Fatima is a trained SRN and SCM (State Registered Nurse and State Certified
Midwife) but she retired on marital grounds when she married Ebrima and was
pregnant with baby Mariam. She worked for her mother in law in the family
business. After Baby Mariam’s birth, Fatima showed interest to go back to work
but Aja Mariam refused to take her back giving flimsy excuses. Ebrima got
frustrated. He confronted his mum. “Are you taking her back or not?” “I’ll not
take her back! She is sluggish and inefficient. She is a house wife. Let her
manage your home. That’s why you married her.” Says Aja Mariam. “Nonsense
mom! Fatima is an SRN and SCM. She resigned because of me. You offered her the
job on that consideration.” Ebou argued. “My company is not a hospital. What
I did was wrong. I did it to please you. It was putting a round pin in a
square peg. Fatima is a nurse not an administrator.” “But she had been trained
in public administration. She had acquired a certificate. While she worked for
you you never querried her. Mom, you hate my wife, just say it. I’ll find
her another job or better still for her to go back into her nursing profession.”
Fatima heard everything. She came out and greeted Aja but she ignored her.
Fatima repeated her greetings and she rebuked her. “What is it? I’ve heard
you.” She threw the fish money at her. “I want pepper soup with a lot of
spices and ‘chereh’ (prepared coos) for dinner. I have fresh cold.” She
instructed. “I can’t stand the idiot!” She said when Fatima left.
To be cont’d
University Don Launches Book
By Yaya Bajo
A book entitled “Teaching Yourself Strategy Formation and Development “
authored by Mr. Muhammed E. Jammeh a lecturer at the Department of Economics and
Management Sciences in the University of The Gambia, was launched on
Wednesday 5 December,2007 at The Girl’s Guide Conference Hall in Kanifing.
The author, Mr. Jammeh has a BSc degree in General Agriculture from Njalla
university, college, university of Sierra Leone and, an MBA degree from
Dalhousie University in Canada. He has a wide and rich experience in adult
training and has conducted many consultancies, training on education, strategic
planning and development, income generating activities, marketing, micro finance
and credit service deliveries in The Gambia.
According to the chief launcher, professor Andreas Steigen Vice Chancellor
UTG, the author has done a scholarly job and should be congratulated. He
therefore called for patronization of the book as some of the proceeds will go to
the Department of Economics and Management Science. Professor Steigen argued
that academic writers need to be promoted, adding that the university will do
more to encourage book writing by providing funds, editors and further help
in the distribution and circulation of the book.
Also speaking at the occasion, professor Nicodemus Fru Awasom Chair of
Education and Exams in the University of The Gambia emphatically opined that in
the university system academics must publish or perish. He said all academic
staff must be on board to contribute to the production of knowledge. While
thanking the author for a job well done, he urged other academic families to join
the bandwagon.
Mr. Earnest Cole who reviewed the book expressed optimism that the book is
of high standard and it will serve its purpose.
For his part, Mr. Muhammed E. Jammeh the author, said it is not easy to
write a book. He enumerated the reasons for writing the book “Teaching Yourself
Strategy Formulation and Development.” “I want to leave a legacy and also I
want to contribute to the pool of knowledge and inspire others to develop the
habit of writing,” he pointed out. The author added that another reason for
writing the book was that he used to train a lot of institutions in the
country who always requested him to come back, but with the availability of this bo
ok they will be able to teach themselves in his absence.
Meanwhile, the occasion also featured a seminar presentation on the study
document of the process and content of the services sectors, liberalisation in
The Gambia with a special focus on domestic regulation. The study which was
conducted by Dr. Bukhari Sillah, Head of Department of Economics and
Management Sciences and Muhammed E. Jammeh also a lecturer at the same department
seeks to provide a review of service sectors in The Gambia, with respect to its
potential consequences of further opening up of sector, the state of domestic
education regulatory framework.
The programme was graced by the students from the university of The Gambia,
development partners and other interested community members.
Election Transparency In West Africa
By Fabakary B. Ceesay
The open society initiative for West Africa (Osiwa) organised a two-day
regional conference on elections in West Africa. The meeting which was held at
the Savana Hotel in Dakar, focused specifically on assessments and perspectives
of presidential elections held in West Africa in 2007
In her opening remarks on Monday 3 December, Dr. Nana Tanko, the Executive
Director of OSIWA, said OSIWA believes in open society where democracy and
accountability prevails. Dr. Tanko pointed out that OSIWA is a non-partisan
institute that is in support of critical assessments on how elections are being
held and organised in West Africa.
Honourable Usman Bugage, a deputy of the Action Congress from Nigeria,
highlighted the need for open societies within the sub region. He asserted that
there should be many open societies to help in enabling free democratic
electoral processes in Africa. He indicated that there has been several ways and
means on the electoral processes in Africa, which never works. He recommended
free and fair electoral processes as the only way for Democracy in Africa.
Honourable Mahama Ayariya, Deputy of the NDC party from Ghana, pointed out
the need to empower the people, stating that its success is crucial to the
progress of Africa. Mr. Ayariya asserted that it is a basic need for journalists
to stick to the ethics of their profession even though politicians may own
their media houses.
The Senegalese interior minister Maitre Ousman Ngom noted that during the
elections in Senegal journalists were allowed to vote wherever they went out to
do their coverage and further indicated that journalists were able to
participate fully in covering the electoral process. He pointed out that
journalists had access to the polling and counting centres; that they were able to
report directly from the stations to their respective media houses. Senior
journalists and politicians, electoral commissioners and election experts attended
the program from West Africa.
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