It is unfortunate that those 53 people (44 Ghanaians’) had to lose their lives in the hands of the mindless Jammeh murderers. I hope that the president of Ghana know that the people of the Gambia has been and are still going through major peace and security setbacks with our government. It is poignant that only when Ghanaian lives are lost in the Gambia then it is an issue to involve the sub-region. This is what the president of Ghana said: “He said Ghana had an obligation to help resolve any strife that might erupt in sister African nations and therefore it was not out of place to express concern when things were perceived to be going out of hand in that country”.
“This, he opined, could be done within the framework of ECOWAS to hold the Gambian authorities accountable for all such deviations so as to prevent a possible spill-over effect on peace and security in the sub-region”.
If indeed this guy is clueless as to what is going on in the sub-region that is terrible but it is an insult to talk like that only when you feel a pinch talking to those who have been slapped repeatedly. I call on those governments in the sub-region who truly care about peace, security and stabilization of the sub-region to engage each other to recognize human rights and dignity, freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom of assembly without torture as well as address the blatant corruption some of these leaders are engaged in. It makes one look bad to address an issue only when it provokes your territory and then talk like you care about the sub-region. We understand if you turn a blind eye to our people and our problems but we ask you to just be real about it.
We the Gambia people have experienced much trauma, degradation, humiliation and bitter sorrow from our president since he stopped leading our nation that is if he ever had, only to highjack our democracy and the rule of law in the Gambia.
He has proven that by owning everything in the Gambia. I mean everything. He feel that anything he does in that country is a favour to us, people are mindful of expressing themselves for fear of getting killed or some serious reprisals from his gang. I believe that Yahya is holding on to power because that’s his last ditch. He can bribe those few Gambians and buy their morals, conscience, personal courage and integrity to form a shield around him. That shield will crack, for those few Gambians there is nothing more illogical and idiotic than selling your soul to the devil. We are very religious people who believe that even when faced with death we should speak of nothing but the truth. So I wonder what happen to those few Gambians.
There is no place in our society for people like Yahya and he knows that. Think about it what is that man really going to do when he is no longer the president? Where will he go? Mauritania I guess, anywhere else he goes he will be sought after and brought to justice. Everything he believe he own belongs to the people of the Gambia. For those of you who know please let me know how much is the president of the Gambia makes monthly. I don't think he can afford a jet and all this luxury he is enjoying from his salary. And let’s face it 15 years ago when he took over power he didn't even own a decent car. The man didn’t even have a good watch on his wrist. So please allow me to quote myself "everything Yahya owns belongs to the Gambian people”. Like the saying goes “good things comes to those who wait”. We are patiently waiting and I am confident our day will come. On that day I hope those few Gambians who think they are Yahya’s sidekicks are ready for what’s coming to them.
Faye
Thanks for sharing. Jammeh's administration think the case over. Ghaniaian will not rest, 15 years of Jammeh's rule is stained a documented accounts of extrajudicial killings.
Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2009 23:19:30 +0200
From: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Government says "Gambia killings" not over
To: [log in to unmask]Government says "Gambia killings" not overAugust 22, 2009Accra, Aug. 22, GNA - Vice President John Mahama has expressed reservations about portions of a report on the chilling death of Ghanaians in the Gambia assuring that all was not over in government's pursuit to seek justice for the victims and their families.
"As far as government is concerned, the matter is not closed. We will use all the legitimate means and the available diplomatic forum to ensure that justice is done and is manifestly seen to be done," he said.
Interacting with the leadership of the Network of Human Rights Organisations, an amalgamation of human right advocates at the Castle, Osu on Friday, Vice President Mahama assured them that the issue would not be put to rest until the remaining gray areas were investigated and determined.
Some members of various human rights groups were at the Castle to express their indignation about the joint United Nations and ECOWAS Commission fact finding report into the circumstances surrounding the alleged deaths and to demand that the Gambian authorities were made to punish the security officers said to be responsible for the heinous conduct.
The network also wanted the Mills' administration to exercise some influence on their Gambian counterpart so as to make the leadership of that country refrain from human rights infractions and persistent cases of "acts of impunity".
The network, which comprises the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), the Ghanaian chapter of Amnesty International, and Africa Legal Aid, also enjoined the support of government in their advocacy for respect for human rights in that country.
Responding, Vice President admitted that government was not fully satisfied with the report, as did the generality of Ghanaians, calling for further probe into the outstanding issues as they might provide clues that might lead to the apprehension of the perpetrators.
One of the areas that could be opened up for further investigation is the fact that individuals who took the victims to that country were yet to be interrogated.
Vice President said the completion of further investigations could determine whether government would exercise the option of seeking reparations for the affected families or otherwise.
Commenting on the network's claim of a growing culture of state-instigated acts of lawlessness in the Gambia, Vice President agreed to the need to flag the issues for action to be taken since remaining mute could invariably come and haunt the entire sub-region.
He said Ghana had an obligation to help resolve any strife that might erupt in sister African nations and therefore it was not out of place to express concern when things were perceived to be going out of hand in that country.
Mr Akoto Ampaw, a legal practitioner underscored the need for the government to show more commitment in pursuing the incidence of abuse in the sub-region and to ensure that perpetrators were made to account of their deeds.
This, he opined, could be done within the framework of ECOWAS to hold the Gambian authorities accountable for all such deviations so as to prevent a possible a spill-over effect on peace and security in the sub-region.
Mr Ampaw said the Gambian government should be held liable accountable for the deaths of the Ghanaians in question.
He also wanted the Ghanaian government to open a dialogue with the families of the victims on outstanding issues such as the payment of compensations.
Professor Kwame Karikari, Executive Director of MFWA, said Ghana must provide leadership with regard to good governance and reverence for human rights in the sub-region within the context of Pan-Africanism.
A Legal Officer with the CHRI, Nana Oye Lithur, corroborated the views of Professor Karikari and urged the Ghanaian government to come out and strongly condemn prevailing acts of impunity in the Gambia.
It would be recalled that 44 Ghanaians and nine other nations were allegedly killed in the Gambian on July 23, 2007, culminating in a national furore over the treatment of Ghanaians in a sister West African country.
This generated into a diplomatic spat between the two countries and the ECOWAS Commission intervened with the setting up of a joint UN/ECOWAS Commission fact finding mission.
The resultant report noted that the Gambian government was not directly or otherwise responsible for the deaths and disappearances of the Ghanaians.
Albeit, it accepted that some contributions be made to the families of the deceased in line with African traditional values.
The Ghanaian government subsequently signed of a Memorandum of Understanding with their Gambian counterparts during a ministerial meeting on the issue in Libyan city of Sirte on July 2, 2009.
GNA
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