Patriots: Lately I became attached in engagement with Mr. Sidi Sanneh of The African Development Bank. My concern was his constant rhetoric about Economic issues in Africa, particularly some countries he constantly berated for failed economic policies. Since this site is dominated mostly by Gambians, it became incumbent on me to ask Mr. Sanneh about his stance on The Gambia. I want to make it clear to all subscribers that my constant questions to this gentleman were only in the interest of our country. I believe that if Mr. Sanneh can constantly write about issues of economics in reference to some African countries, he should take the initiative to mention our country. What is his stance on the slaughter of innocent Gambian students? His he independent of the Gambian dictator? Can the dictator fire him? What is his opinion on the rape of Ms. Camara and the torture and death of Ebrima Barry? Can The Gambia achieve meaningful economic growth with constant assault on our inherent political rights and responsibilities? Would the African Development Bank approve a loan of $11 million for the Gambian dictator to buy a plane? What are the conditions that the bank sets for its customers? What is the mission statement of the African Development Bank? Why would the Gambia encumber unfavorable budget variance to transfer administrative duties to Kaninlai at the expense of the Gambian people? What is wrong with Banjul? At these crossroads when the dictator is distracting us, admirers of the presidency should abandon their initiatives and throw their support to the opposition back home. Though we all want to be presidents, there can only be one presidential candidate that can rescue us from the sins of dictator yahya jamus. Patience and a constant desire for a free Gambia should be our preamble. Our purpose is a yahyaless Gambia. To my distracters, may I adamantly say this is not the appropriate time for me to seek higher office. If I love the Gambia, I must sail with the opposition. A house divided will never stand. For those of us who are in this endeavor together, we took this giant step because of our love for The Gambia. We hold no prisoners in our desire for a free and democratic Gambia. Our monumental responsibility is to engage Gambians on substantive dialogue which might be beneficial to our cause. We thus, are responsible in defining moments of political concern. The African Development Bank is an institution that can play a vital role in the economic development of the African continent. This great institution has been in existence for quite some time, but what economic prosperity as it brought to our continent? It is consumed with political rhetoric through the financing of many African dictators, including our own shameless, dictator yahya jamus. This illustration warrants notice to all personnel at the African Development Bank that it needs to come up with another Mission Statement. What is the purpose of a Bank? What can the African Development Bank do to entice multinational companies to set up plants and industries in the African continent? Can you name a single Fortune 500 company that is currently in operation in an African country, excluding South Africa? Why are major multinational companies moving to Central, South and Latin America, Asia, the Far East and newly independent states of the former Soviet Union? In a business strategy, top management should express its great concern of ascertaining in a consistent way a meaningful mission statement. The affected institution should pinpoint its vision that should purposely challenge and motivate numerous stakeholders. As time continues the vision of capturing the attention of affected people will entail contribution that is beneficial. The African Development Bank has failed in defining the domain of its primary purpose. This in effect has limited its definition on broad bounds, and the authority of the managers to operate without the distraction of African dictators, including dictator yahya jamus. What can we pinpoint in reference to its goals and objectives? Is the African Development Bank unaware of its strategy which in many years has remained stagnant? When will it initiate a strategy for major goals and objectives in aggressively recruiting major companies to set up plants and industries in our continent? Economic issues alone, with the absence of political stability and qualified employees and technical staff cannot sustain us economic growth. Human resources are the critical building blocks of strategy. The reference for this is because they determine not what a bank wants to do, but what it can do. Both human and materials are the durable stocks that determine competitive advantage at the business unit. May I categorically add that resources determine the range of market opportunities that are appropriate for a country to have a major impact on its scope? The African Development with all due respect will not be able to identify its mission statement because it lacks a meaningful strategy for proper implementation of a coherent one. I hold no animosity against Mr. Sanneh. I have the absolute right to assert my disagreement on his economic rhetoric with his inability of substantiating the main core of the problems. The banking industry in African, particularly headed by the African Development Bank will be unable to recruit companies to our great continent if it refuses to fine-tune its mission statement. Comrade, Muhammad Lamine Jassey-Conteh Greensboro, NC/Eastern Kombo Constituency ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------------