We Have an Open Door Policy – SSHFC MD

The Social Security and Housing Finance Corporation (SSHFC) Thursday 27 January2011 held a one day sensitisation workshop on SSHFC schemes for the media at the corporation’s headquarters. This is the beginning of a series of workshops to be embarked upon by the corporation to keep the general public better informed of the various schemes on offer.
Declaring the workshop open, the newly reinstated managing director, Mr. Tumbul Danso, epitomised the relationship between his institution and the media as symbiotic in nature. “If anything we need the press in our information dissemination campaigns. Currently we are engaged in three housing projects, the Tujereng, Jabang and Brikama Jamisa projects. We have an open door policy and so the public is always encouraged to meet us and raise their concerns,” Mr. Danso told the gathering.
According to the managing director, SSHFC was established in 1982 by an Act of Parliament with housing and social security fund components. The social security fund comprises three schemes, the National Provident Fund (NPF), the Federated Pension Scheme (FPS) and the Industrial Injuries Compensation Fund (IICF).
Deliberating on the success story of the corporation since its inception, Mr. Danso said that going by the  past budget speeches, the institution has made over Ninety-seven dalasis surplus qualifying them for a three month bonus payment as this is paid based on good performance. As a result the corporation was promoted from a third to a first class institution. “People from other countries have been coming here to learn from our experience. If other countries can do it, we can do it too,” Mr. Danso concluded.
The Federated Pension Scheme, according to Raymond Njie, senior public relations manager, took off the ground in 1983.  He  said this scheme until recently is only meant for Parastatals institutions such as the Gambia Ports Authority(GPA) and Gambia Telecommunications Company(GAMTEL) whereas the National Provident Fund(NPF) only affects private institutions. Sonko Jileng, a private business institution has however now opted for the latter. The main differences between the two are that employers are the only contributors of 15 percent of the employee’s salary to the scheme as opposed to the National Provident Fund where both the employer and employee make a monthly contribution of 15 and 5 percent respectively of the employee’s salary. 
The public relations manager of SSHFC, Mr Ebrima Dampha in giving an overview of the significance of the IICF expressed his disappointment with employers who fail to register with the fund. “It is as simple as coming to our office, pick up a form and fill and send it back to us. We go and meet employers in their offices only to tell us that they would get back to us, a promise they would invariably not keep,” Daphna said.  He said the timely reporting of accidents cannot be overemphasized.  He said such accidents do not only include those that happen during working hours but also any accident that occurs two hours before or two hours after work.
Presenting a paper on the housing fund, the estate manager, Alhagie Fatty, traced the origin of the fund to the coming into being of the Bakoteh Housing Estate. “Contrary to public perception we are what we are today thanks to the funds we were able to accrue from the Bakoteh project and our partnership with Shelter Afric based in Kenya.” He said the Kanifing Estate was the first project conceived by the housing fund but unlike the Bakoteh project the Kanifing, Brusubi and subsequent projects are site and service infrastructural development oriented.
The occasion was chaired by Mr. Sulayman Nyass, assistant public relations manager, who also gave the closing remarks while Momodou Edrissa Njie from the News and Report Magazine gave the vote of thanks.

Ezzedeen Absent in Court Again

The continuous absence of Yusuf, a Gambian-Lebanese in court has become the talk of town as rumour spread that he has fled the country.
Yusuf, a businessman has appealed against the death sentence slapped on him for treason in July last year alongside former defense chief Lang Tombong Tamba and co.
His appeal trial underway at the Appeal Court in Banjul could not proceed for four consecutive sittings as the Lebanese Gambian has not been appearing in court.
On the previous sittings the president of the Court of Appeal Justice Wowo asked about Yusuf’s whereabouts, but neither the state counsel nor the defense commented on his continuous absence in court.
And when the case resumed Wednesday, Justice Wowo did not even ask about Yusuf’s whereabouts.
His defense lawyer, Awa Sisay Sabally told the court that records are still not ready and it was subsequently adjourned till February 11.
Meanwhile, Lang Tombong and co appeal application of additional grounds for appeal was granted by the court as the state counsel raised no objection.
The defense was ordered by the chair judge to file their brief on point of law after receiving the respondent brief within 7 days.
The case resumes February 25.

Military Officer Testifies in Alleged Casamance Rebels’ Case

Lieutenant Ousman Bojang, a military officer on Wednesday testified against the 17 suspected rebels from troubled-Casamance region of Senegal charged with illegal possession of firearms in The Gambia.
Yusuf Ceesay and co have alleged entered with arms into The Gambian territory without authority. They are being tried here in The Gambia. 
 Mr. Bojang who appeared as the 3rd prosecution witness told the court that in October last year, he and some officers went to Bajana where the villagers informed that there were armed men loitering around their rice fields.
He said they were unable to see any of them but his colleague who hid on the other side of rice field informed him that 12 suspects were caught in Gambian territory who later led them to where their weapons were hidden.
The officer further told the court that on the 3rd day he got the information that two suspected rebels staying in a compound called Colley Kunda in Besse Village were arrested. He said both admitted being part of the 17 rebels who entered with arms into Gambian territory. He added that no document was found on them, but some arms were recovered from them and the suspects were later transferred to the NIA Headquarters.
The following day, he explained, “I got information that one of the rebels was heading toward Serrekunda. We immediately rushed to the Bullock Check Point, where the suspect was arrested with a motor bike with registration No. MC WD 0210”.
He said a suspect Aziz Kujabi told him that he was among the rebels and that he handed-over his weapon to someone when he entered the Gambia.
The case resume February 10.

A Woman’s Short Joy and Long Suffering

Jongsaba was a widow who lost her husband eight years ago. She lived in a dilapidated house with her children.
Jongsaba as a woman and a mother had lived a joyous life with her husband before his untimely death. She later fell into the hands of his womanizer boss who was just interested in abusing her and left her to die a sympathetic death. Many a woman has died a similar death. Musoolula Bantaba narrates Jongsaba’s story.
Jongsaba has been a pride of her family when she got married to Baluta, a construction consultant who worked with an engineering company, immediately after the completion of her senior secondary school.
Her husband’s talent had saved the engineering company a fortune during his seven years of service. The young consultant enjoyed life with his wife. He always felt proud of her among her peers. He found Jongsaba as a virgin when they got married. This earned Jongsaba respect both in her family and that of Baluta.
No sooner was her husband elevated to the position of chief consultant than his services were terminated. Neighbours, relatives and friends attributed it to superstition.
As Baluta remained jobless, Jongsaba convinced him to move from the flat they were living to a less expensive house. They searched for a house, but the only house they could afford was a dilapidated house, where they moved to settle with their three children.
“Things started to tumble down only when my husband was making enough money and progressing professionally”, cried Jongsaba.
A year later, Baluta felt severely sick. When he visited the hospital, stroke was diagnosed. In a short while he died as a result.
“I am shocked by my darling’s death, the bringing up of my children is my biggest headache now. I feel as if my blood is draining out of me”, said the widow, screaming at the top of her voice.
She always looked at her children and shed tears. She decided to stay at home to mourn the death of Baluta for forty days as prescribed by tradition, before she could find any job.
After the forty days, she visited Baluta’s colleagues at the company to enquire whether he had any money there or an account elsewhere, only to realize that there were none. She then depended on the charity money given to her from sympathizers for the upkeep of her children in the meantime. She continued to manage with her children in their dilapidated house.
“With all what I enjoyed with my husband, we have no home of our own or an account that the family can depend on for survival. My children have nothing to inherit from their father in terms of wealth. This means that we were spending all what Baluta was earning. This is more than an incident”, she said to herself.
With the assistance of a former class mate, Jongsaba picked up a job at a petrol station in Kanifing. She started to pay the children’s school fees, rent and provide feeding from her meager salary.
She was unfortunate to meet a boss who was a womanizer that takes advantage of women’s situations. When he knew Jongsaba’s condition, he promised to move her to a new flat and pay the rent. The poor isolated widow accepted her boss’s proposal.
She has been feeling worthless, but persuaded by her boss to trust their relationship as she was promised that money was not going to be her problem.
The boss always spent most of her weekends with Jongsaba at the new rented flat.
Her best friend and former class mate who facilitated her getting a job visited her. When she realized that Jongsaba was in love with the womanizer, she gave her a good sisterly advice to be content with what she had. “This man will play with you like a toy and throw you away. Jongsaba you were proud and praised. You were married as a virgin. Do not allow your condition to be taken for granted by such men. If you continue struggling, one good gentleman would soon come across you by the grace of Allah”, her former class mate told her.
My friend, Jongsaba said, “You have told me a stark truth. But this new life of mine is just going to be a temporary one. If you have nothing people treat you as nothing”, she shyly responded.
But she could not change. She was thinking that the man would salvage her from her present situation.
Few months later, Jongsaba became pregnant and was given a leave by his boss. She was the talk of town in the neighbourhood. In a short while, she gave birth to bouncing twin baby boys.
When this news hit her employer, he gave a draconian warning to all his employees that if they mention Jongsaba and his issue they would lose their jobs. He went to Jongsaba and told her to continue with her indefinite leave.
As the matter became a scandal, Jongsaba’s boss left for the UK where his family is staying. He left Jongsaba without a job, with no means of survival and no one to help.
She could not explain this to anybody.
When the Imam in her area knew that she was suffering, he told his wives to be giving her food.
Jongsaba was so desperate that she had to join the ranks of sex workers. She started roaming between brothels for survival.
She became briefly ill and subsequently died.
Her children continued to suffer. They are now taken to an orphanage by an Afro-American philanthropist.
How many women are dying this way leaving their children in the worst situation a human being can face on the face of this earth?

Four Sittings, No Yusuf! Where is He?

Yusuf Ezzedeen’s unexplained absence in court for four sittings could be said to have add details to unconfirmed reports that the Lebanese Gambian is out of the jurisdiction.
Ezzedeen, a businessman, alongside the former chief of defense staff Lt Gen. Lang Tombong Tamba and six others, including top security officers, a businessman, and a Gambian diplomat were sentenced to death July 15 of last year for treason.
They have been found guilty of attempting to overthrow the incumbent government, despite denying the allegations.
Seven of the convicts have collectively appealed against the sentence, except for Yusuf Ezzedeen who appealed separately.
When the case was called Friday, the chair of Appeal Court asked why the accused was not in court but neither the prosecutor nor defense lawyer responded.
For the past one month, his appeal trial has stalled because Yusuf has not been coming to court. During the previous proceeding, a prisons officer was asked about the whereabout of Yusuf, but he refused to comment “for security reasons.”
Neither the state prosecutor nor Yusuf’s lawyer could explain to the court his whereabouts. And the three-member panel of appeal court judges has been accepting request for adjournment.
 The case has been adjourned again to Wednesday January 26, 2011.
In a related but separate development, the leading defense counsel in the in appeal of the Lang Tombong and Co Friday disclosed to the panel of judges at the Court of Appeal in Banjul that they have more additional grounds of appeal to submit.
Lawyer Pap Cheyassin Secka further told the panel of  judges that he has already discussed it with the Director of Special Litigation D.O Kolu, who is representing the state.
The state counsel admitted it.
Secka urged the court to adjourn the case for two weeks to enable the defense team to better prepare.
It could be recalled that the appeal of the Ex-CDS and six others could not be heard on the last sitting date because the lead defense Pap Cheyassin Secka said the records where not ready and they have no access to it.
Lang Tombong Tamba and Co have appealed  against the death sentence slapped on them by High Court Judge Emmanuel Amadi in July 2010, after found guilty of attempting to overthrow the government of the Gambia in 2009.
The rest of the appellant are Ex-Deputy of chief of Defense staff Omar Bun Mbaye, Ex-NIA BOSS Lamin BO Badjie, Ex-top Officer Lt Col. Kawsu Camara, Ex-deputy police chief, Modou Gaye, a business tycoon Abdoulie Joof, a Gambian diplomat,  Gibril Ngorr Secka

‘Gambian Women Have a Long Way To Go’

 

Despite the relatively enormous strides, Gambian women still have a long way to go, especially in the area of awareness in accessing funds, the Executive Director of Women’s Bureau, Madam Ida Faye Hydara has said.
“Women complain of high interest rates. We should try to advocate and sensitise them on that for them to understand the policies behind interest rates,” she said while delivering a key note address at the official launch of GAWFA Finance Company Limited last week Wednesday.
 According to Madam Hydara, lack of awareness is one of the major challenges hindering the advancement of Gambian women.
In this regard, she said, women are unable to exploit the benefit of micro-finance, which is capable of positively changing their economic status within a short period of time.
 She pointed at the need for capacity building of The Gambia’s womenfolk as a foremost solution to women’s economic problem. “Women are just as good as men if given the same opportunity to access funds,” she said.
Nonetheless, with the establishment of the women oriented micro-finance institution, GAWFA Finance Company Limited, women will have the opportunity to change their lives,” Oli Njie-Mbye, chief executive officer (CEO) of GAWFA has assured.
She said her company will provide a safety net for the poor, as well as empowering women at the socio-economic level.
“We have long-term goals, and are more committed to making positive changes in our lives progressively. We have effective leadership skills in managing scarce resources and can start something small and make it big for better economic conditions,” she said.
Jane Clement, secretary of GAWFA Board, said the concept of GAWFA is to help mainstream women, especially those in the formal sector to participate actively in the socio-economic development of the country. She recalled that GAWFA, which started with ten women, can now boast of more than forty thousand clients nationwide.
Hanna Davis, chairperson of the GAWFA Board, revealed that her organization, which was set up in 1987, is the leading and largest micro-finance institution in the country and has more than 48, 948 members delivering financial and non-financial services to its clients, including capacity building.
According to Madam Davies, GAWFA’s mission is to serve as a financial institution to enhance the entrepreneurial development of women to alleviate poverty. Lamin Dibba, director of NGO Affairs Agency, said that a micro-finance institution is recognised as an effective tool to fight poverty by providing financial services to those who do not have access to or are neglected by the commercial banks and financial institutions. According to him, the UN has given prominence to micro-finance by declaring the period 1997 to 2006 as the first United Nations decade for the eradication of poverty by the international community. “It was in this context that in 1998, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2005 as the international year of micro-credit to recognise its contribution to poverty alleviation,” he informed.
He said that since the inception of GAWFA, it has been offering important financial and non-financial services to its clients, 96.2 per cent of whom are women. “This is a clear indication of the concern you have to empower this critical mass of our population who work around the clock to earn a decent living,” he said. Siaka Bah, a representative from the Central Bank of The Gambia, said in many developing countries, small-scale enterprises and micro enterprises face severe financing constraints, though with access to finance, they can participate fully in the economic life of their communities, create employment and realise their full potentials. “The design and delivery of financial services to vast numbers of poor, medium and low income people who do not have access depends on innovations, investments, cost reduction through improved efficiencies and effective use of technology, and an appropriate regulation and supervision,” he said.

Women Lament Daily Commodities Price Hike

Despite complaints from buyers regarding higher offer levels, the price of goods continue to increase day by day. The women who work as street vendors and consumers are directly bearing the pinch.
Almost all women, including those engaged in white collar jobs living in big households will be vulnerable despite earning wages; because their earnings could not enable them afford the daily commodities in the market for the survival of their families Musoolula Bantabaa (women’s forum) put it.
Some women at the Serrekunda Market have raised concern over the skyrocketing prices of commodities, thus making life difficult for the poor low income earners.
“Women are the worst affected when food prices go up. We have to bear additional burdens for our families, we end up making huge sacrifices, such as being the last to eat in a family or at tomes faced with inadequate food at home due to high prices of food stuffs at the market”, Kaddy Sabally, a vendor at Latrikunda market told Musoolula Bantabaa.
easing concerned about the rise in the cost of living. She said the cost of one meal with rice has almost doubled in some places.
“I spent most of my profit gained from my business on my family as my contribution to the fish money that my husband gives me. Things are becoming worse day by day. Everything is expensive, especially oil and onion, which are the main ingredients we use in our cooking”, she added.
A vendor who spoke to Musolula Bantaba on condition of anonymity said food prices in the market have become a great concern for her and most Gambian women. She lamented that the price of daily commodities are increasing at an alarm rate and has threatened both women vendors and consumers alike.
“Selling at high prices is difficult in all situations, yet, as unpleasant as it can be, it is often necessary so as to realize profit. The customers are coming from with different perspectives, despite the situation. In times like this, it is imperative for the salesperson to understand regardless of how the market or economy is faring. The sales of commodities depend on the demand. Even vendors who are accused of hoarding prices, need some other expensive good to buy”, another vendor intervened.
For Mba Jammeh, also a vendor, said, a customer does not reject a price on the basis of increment, unless the deal can be saved by offering some kind of discount. “If they approach the market with this strategy, they are always at the mercy of failure, because a customer will never pay more than a salesperson tells them to”.
“Selling a price in a booming market requires diligence and patience to keep the discussion focused on the benefits that the customer is looking for, from both the product and from you. It is not our fault that the prices are high”, another vendor said.
Mariama Jallow, a consumer, told Musoolula Bantaba that with increasing prices of rice, oil and other food stuffs, men should consider adjusting the fish money they give to their wives. “The price of sugar is the worst now and 95 percent of households use sugar in preparing breakfast and sometimes evening meals”, she said.