Tuesday, August 28, 2012

WFP, EU Rescue Rural Children after 2011 Crop Failure

 
WFP’s country director

Rural women in the Upper Baddibu District on Wednesday 22 gathered at Ngeyen Sanjal, most of whose children were identified malnourished that needed referral for specialized treatment to receive food for their children.
As the world’s forefront organisation fighting hunger, the World Food Programme (WFP) and the European Union gave out vegetable oil and micronutrient fortified super cereal to save young children from malnutrition and death, especially in the hunger season.
The WFP, jointly with the National Nutrition Agency, targeted 25, 000 children under five for three months living in 14 districts with high rates of wasting which is above 10 percent and experiencing food stress in Ngeyen Sanjal.

Public Demand Explanation for The Closure of Taranga FM

Taranga FM boss, Mr Ceesay
 
Almost 12 solid days after Taranga FM was shut down, members of the public have demanded explanation from the Gambia government for shutting down the privately-owned community radio station at Sinchu Alagie.
Security officers reportedly from the National Intelligence Agency on Tuesday 14 August ordered the station to close down operation with immediate effect.
Taranga is the only radio station that reviews local newspapers both in English and local languages which attracted public attention, even though many attempts were made by the authorities to close it down.

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Mandory Women Decry Bad Roads, Markets Urge Government to Put Aside Symbolic Gesture

 
With solemn voices, Gambian women in the rural village of Mandory, Central Baddibu District, North Bank Region, have recently lamented the poor road and lack of good transportation to sell their goods after spending hours under the hot sun. Women’s Bantabaa agreed, owing to the deafening cries of these women, especially rural women.
During a discussion with these rural women, they raised concern over the bad state of some of the major roads in the district, fertilizers and fencing materials. They said bad roads and lack of markets were negatively affecting their business, on which they depend for their living.

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Kah’s Professorship Still an Issue

Prof. Kah

Mr Gumbo Touray
The controversy surrounding the professorship claims of the first Gambian-born vice chancellor of University of The Gambia, Mohammadou M.O. Kah, refuses to die down, weeks after it surfaced.
On Thursday August 9, Mr Gumbo Touray, a former UTG lecturer, insisted in court that Kah’s professorship claims were false, as he did not meet the requirements of a professor.
“For him to qualify as professor, he had to meet all the qualifications,” he said.

What’s up with ex-IGP Badjie?

former police chief, Ensa Badjie


For the fourth consecutive time on Wednesday the prison authorities could not bring former police chief, Ensa Badjie, to court.
During the previous sitting, the magistrates’ court in Banjul, Magistrate Ade Taiwo Alagbe, had ordered that the embattled former police chief be brought to court.
However, the case which was supposed to resume on Wednesday suffered yet another setback due to the absence of Ensa Badjie, who is being kept at Mile 2 since his dismissal in 2010.

Friday, August 10, 2012

What’s up with ex-IGP Badjie?

Ensa Badjie
 
For the fourth consecutive time on Wednesday the prison authorities could not bring former police chief, Ensa Badjie, to court.
During the previous sitting, the magistrates’ court in Banjul, Magistrate Ade Taiwo Alagbe, had ordered that the embattled former police chief be brought to court.
However, the case which was supposed to resume on Wednesday suffered yet another setback due to the absence of Ensa Badjie, who is being kept at Mile 2 since his dismissal in 2010.

‘No Micro Credit Contract between GAMCOTRAP and YALOCAMBA’

Omar Dibba
 
The programme coordinator of Gamcotrap, a women’s rights organisation, said the contract between Gamcotrap and Yalocamba Solidaridad, a Spanish charity, did not mention micro-credit.
Omar Dibba said GAMCOTRAP did not make any commitment to implement micro-credit as alleged. “That we sign a micro-credit contract with YALOCAMBA SOLIDARIDAD is out of context. We did not sign anything with the region of Madrid. It is YALOCAMBA SOLIDARIDAD who signed a contract with them,” he added.

“Prosecution Fabricated Charges to Annoy The President”

The Special Criminal Court in Banjul on Monday heard that the accusation that former police chief and two top military officers named President Yahya Jammeh in their alleged illicit drug trade, were fabricated.
Dismissed top army officer, Major Kuluteh, said the Gambia’s Nigerian-born former chief prosecutor, Richard Chenge, put the president’s name in the charge to invite President Jammeh’s wrath upon them.

Prisons: 4 Deaths in 6 Months; Cause of Scattred's Co-Convict’s Death Yet Known

Alarming death of prisoners has followed the release a few months ago of human rights reports that expose inhumane, degrading conditions of Gambian prisons.
In space of six months, four deaths of inmates at Mile 2, the country’s central prison, situated at the outskirts of Banjul, have been reported, though an ex-inmate had told this paper that what was reported ‘is the tip of the ice bag’.
“It is true that Micheal Uche Thomas has died,” the Commissioner of Prisons, Ansumana Manneh on Monday told The Daily News, confirming the death of yet another prisoner caged at Mile 2, on Sunday July 29.

Treason Suspect’s Torture Claim Dismissed

The accused coupist Alieu Lowe’s claim that state investigators tortured him to make his voluntary and cautionary statements which the prosecutors wished to tender in court as evidence against him had been rejected.
In a ruling that resets the stage for the trial proper, Emmanuel Nkea, the presiding judge at the Special Criminal Court in Banjul on Monday ruled that Mr Lowe voluntarily made his statements.
This decision marked the end of the legal battle over the admissibility of the statements, which were finally tendered in court.
Abdoulie Njie and Alieu Lowe, both civilians, are on trial in connection with the abortive 2006 attempted coup, allegedly led by the former defence chief, Ndure Cham, who has since fled.
Both Njie and Lowe, who have been in detention since 2006, however, denied charges of concealment of treason – an offence that attracts death penalty.
Moreover, Mr Lowe is also charged with perjury and subornation perjury, but denied any wrong doing.
Author: Binta A Bah