LRR gets new governor
President Adama Barrow has appointed Seedy Lamin Bah as Governor of the Lower River Region. Mr. Bah replaces Madam Rohey John-Manjang, who was appointed minister of Forestry and the Environment
Continue Reading >>President Adama Barrow has appointed Seedy Lamin Bah as Governor of the Lower River Region. Mr. Bah replaces Madam Rohey John-Manjang, who was appointed minister of Forestry and the Environment
Continue Reading >>His Excellency President Adam Barrow has pardoned eight prisoners, six Gambians and two Senegalese, on the occasion of eid el Adha. The move follows recommendations by the mercy committee.
Continue Reading >>According to the United Nations conference for trade and development UNCTAD, global trade was worth 28.5 trillion dollars in 2021. African share in global trade averages between 1% and 3%, indicating the continent's ability to take advantage of the wealth generated by world trade. These statistics serve as a wake-up call prompting the leaders of Economic Community of West Africa states ECOWAS through its Commission to convene a 5 day media training on trade advocacy for dozens of journalists from the 5 ECOWAS Anglophone member states in Lagos Nigeria.Addressing the participants, the Director of Trade, ECOWAS Commission Kolawole Sofola, highlighted the factors affecting trade agreement signed by African countries, including lack of capacity to produce, large informal trade sector, barriers to trade among others, that kept the continent on the margins of global trade. "We recognise that the role of media in the area of trade policy and trade related interventions has been very limited in our region due their lack of awareness of our business community, especially small and medium enterprises" he added.The lead trainer Dr Ken UKAOHA who doubles as the director General of west African institute for trade agriculture and development WAITAD, urged participants to refocus their reportage to trade and economic related issues by interrogating ECIWAS trade protocols thereby putting leaders to account. "Trade issues should serve as frontburners on your newspapers, radios, televisions and other media platforms to reposition our leaders to economic integration" he emphasized.The participants will be exposed to advocacy techniques, outreach principles, publicity and communication strategies. The training is under the Trade Facitation West Africa program organised by ECOWAS Commission and co-implemented by the German development cooperation GIZ with support from the world bank group, the US, Kingdom of Netherland.
Continue Reading >>The World Bank has provided a $68 million envelope for The Gambia to support the Diversification of the Tourism sector, Empower SMEs, Enhance Digital Economy, and Climate-resilient initiatives. A statement from the office of the president says the World Bank's continued support is evidence of The Gambia’s good performance during difficult circumstances such as the COVID 19 pandemic, as well as the country’s commendable track record in implementing sustainable projects for socio-economic development.
Continue Reading >>His Excellency President Adama Barrow has declared Monday, 11th July 2022, a Public Holiday throughout the country, in observance of the Muslim feast of Eid-ul Adha, commonly known as “Tobaski”.
Continue Reading >>The Ministry of youth and sports has announced that work on the renovation and remodeling of the Independent stadium will begin soon. The ministry said it had tendered the required paperwork to the Gambia public procurement authority GPPA which was approved. After the closing of the tender on the 24th of June, the ministry said its contract committee had assessed the bids and submitted its report, and recommended contractors to GPPA for approval. The ministry of youth and sports promises sports enthusiasts that it would fix the stadium and end its disqualification from hosting football matches. They clarified that the delay was due to the fact that the work which will cost the government over one hundred million dollars was not budgeted for. The government has now indicated the availability of the funds to carry out the work. CAF had banned the Independence stadium from hosting football matches for the senior national until it is renovated to the recommended CAF standard. The decision forces the Gambia to play its home matches on foreign soil. Therefore the Gambia played its home game against South Sudan at the Stade Latdior in Thiese Senegal.
Continue Reading >>The Ministry of health has slapped 371 public and environmental health officers with a two-month suspension from the beginning of July. In a letter dated 1st July, the ministry said the suspension without salary was a result of the staff's noncompliance to return to work after a long period of unauthorised absence. The health workers were on a sit-down strike in protest over unpaid allowances. Barely a week before sending the aggrieved staff on a two-month unpaid suspension, the ministry had issued a warning for the staff to return to work. A statement issued on June 25th stated that all efforts to resolve the dispute have failed. The ministry said steps being taken to ensure that extra allowances were paid were nearing completion.
Continue Reading >>Acting in accordance with the 1997 Constitution of The Gambia and upon consultation with the Public Service Commission (PSC), His Excellency President Adama Barrow, has appointed Ebrima G. Sankareh Government Spokesperson & Presidential Adviser on Diaspora Affairs effective 20 June 2022. Directly answerable to the President of The Republic, the Spokesperson manages the political information of the President and centrally coordinates the strategic internal and external communications of the government. He speaks on behalf of the President, Cabinet ministers, and all other senior officials both nationally and internationally. Mr. Sankareh who was initially appointed by Barrow in June 2018, will with his expanded portfolio advise the President on best practices for harnessing the potentials of the Diaspora and guiding statutory entities in charge of Diaspora matters. In 2017 President Barrow declared the Diaspora as the 8th Region of The Gambia and with the appointment of Sankareh as Presidential Adviser on Diaspora Affairs, the government is showing the political will of addressing barriers to effective engagements with the Diaspora. Sankareh, a seasoned journalist holds double BA degrees in Political Science and History from North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC, USA, and a Master of Arts Degree in English Literature from Graduate Schools of The University of North Carolina at Charlotte and Gardner Webb University in Boiling Springs, North Carolina, U.S.A. He proceeded to the University of Birmingham at Edgbaston, UK for his Ph.D. studies in African Studies with a specialization in Literature. He had earlier graduated with a Teacher’s Diploma in English and History from The Gambia College and Bristol University, UK.
Continue Reading >>The vice-chair of the Gambia Football Federation electoral committeeSaikou B. Jarju has declared that the GFF presidential elections will take place on the 27th of August 2022 at a venue to be disclosed in due time.Mr. Jarju also stated that nominations will open on the 21st of July 2022 and close on July 28th and announcements of the candidates will be made on the 4th of August 2022. This will be followed by an announcement of the final list of eligible candidates on the 13th of August 2022.
Continue Reading >>The National Agency Against Trafficking in Persons [NAATIP] of the Republic of the Gambia and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons [NAPTIP] of the Federal Republic of Nigeria are cooperating in the fight against people trafficking. The two agencies signed a memorandum of understanding to prevent, suppress, and punish trafficking in persons of especially women and children in both countries and beyond.The agreement is aimed at establishing direct channels of communication, building trust, exchanging information, and taking a new approach in judicial cooperation to fight trafficking in person. The director of NAATIP Tulai Jawara Ceesay and Dr. Fatima Waziri-Azi of NAPTIP both said the agreement would help address their challenges when implemented effectively. The International Organisation for Migration’s chief of mission in the Gambia Fumigo Nagano expressed hope that the MoU will help tackle the menace. The High commissioner of the federal republic of Nigeria to the Gambia Muhammed Manu said there is a missing link in the fight against trafficking. Trafficking in persons is a crime and a human rights abuse. The three most common forms are sex, Labour, and Child trafficking. Recent reports by the IOM have indicated that over 30 billion US dollars have been earned by the criminals involved in trafficking with over 2 million people falling into their traps across the continent. These two parties in their drive towards the implementation of the provisions of the MOU have set up a Joint Implementation Working Group with equal representation of members from both the Gambia and Nigeria.
Continue Reading >>His Excellency President Adama Barrow in exercise of the powers conferred on him under Sections 71(1) and 71(3) of the Constitution of the Republic of The Gambia, has appointed Mr Ousman A. Bah as Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, effective today, 24th June 2022.
Continue Reading >>Baba Hydara , son of the slain journalist Deyda Hydara has on Tuesday testified in the ongoing trial of a former member of Ex-President Jammeh’s hit squad Bai Lowe in Celle, Germany. Baba is one of the Plaintiffs in the trial of the former patrol team member. Bai Lowe is accused of being a member of the hit squad, known as the Junglers, between 2003 and 2006 and has allegedly participated in the assassination of opponents of former President Yahya Jammeh, including the murder of Deyda Hydara a journalist of the AFP news agency and Co-founder of Gambia daily The point Newspaper . Lowe is accused of crimes against humanity, murder and attempted murder including helping to stop Hydara’s car and driving one of the killers in his own vehicle.In a lengthy and cross-cutting testimony Baba discussed the history and content of the point newspaper where his father worked as well as his dedication to press freedom, Democracy and good governance. Baba explained that his late father had two columns in the newspaper called "Good morning Mr President and the Bite" where he wrote on issues of national concern and socioeconomic development. This according to Baba never went down well with the former president as he received several threats from the corridors of power. The witness also discussed the killing of his father, his family's reaction to the news of the murder and the subsequent difficulties endured by his family including financial and, educational challenges. He also detailed the psychological trauma as well as security threats his family encountered after the killing of his late father. He disclosed that no formal or impartial investigation was launched on the assassination of his father by government. However, the international Journalists network Reporters without Borders carried out some investigations and put pressure on government to investigate the matter. This he said led to government issuing a partial report tarnishing Deyda's reputation. The witness also discussed his understanding of the patrol team, the assassination of his dad, Dawda Nyassi and the attack on Ousman Sillah. He stressed that he never wanted to discuss the assassination of his father with anyone because it disturbs him. Baba also said that everything he knows about the work of the Junglers and murder of his dad came during his time with Gambia's victims center. The presiding judges also asked clarification on whether Ida Jagne and Isatou Jagne refer to the same person who was in the car during Deyda's assassination and the witness said he knows only Ida Jagne and not Isatou. The plaintiff's lawyer Dr Patrick Kroker asked about the Junglers who returned from Equatorial Guinea and the witness explained that they were arrested, charged and taken to court and later discharged. The witness said government intended to shut down the Point Newspaper and threatened Pap Saine, the co founder of the paper. Baba Hydara urged the government of the Gambia to ensure the implementation of the TRRC recommendations saying accepting them alone is insufficient. He expressed his commitment to fight for justice for his late father and other victims of ex-president Jammeh and his hit squad. He called for the swift prosecution of the perpetrators. The father-of-four, late Deyda Hydara worked as a Gambia correspondent for Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and was considered a doyen among journalists in the West African state. The court Presided by a panel of five judges is adjourned to Thursday 30th june 2022.
Continue Reading >>His Excellency Mr Pa Musa Jobarteh, Ambassador of the Republic of The Gambia to the Kingdom of Belgium and the European Union, on Friday 22nd May 2026 presented his Letters of Credence to the President of Georgia, His Excellency Mr Mikheil Kavelashvili, as the Ambassador of the Republic of The Gambia to Georgia at a ceremony held in the Presidential Palace in Tbilisi.H.E. Ambassador Jobarteh conveyed fraternal greetings from His Excellency President Adama Barrow to the President, the Government, and the people of Georgia. He underscored his willingness to work with Georgia further to strengthen the existing bilateral ties between the two countries.During a closed-door meeting with the President, Ambassador Jobarteh highlighted several areas of cooperation, including Science and Technology, Agriculture, and Tourism. The two agreed to explore opportunities for economic cooperation between the two countries.In a similar development, His Excellency Mr Pa Musa Jobarteh, on Tuesday 26th May 2026 presented his Letters of Credence to the President of the Republic of Moldova, Her Excellency Ms Maia Sandu, as the Ambassador of the Republic of The Gambia to the Republic of Moldova at a ceremony held in the Presidential Palace in Chisinau.H.E. Ambassador Jobarteh conveyed fraternal greetings from His Excellency President Adama Barrow to the President, the Government, and the people of the Republic of Moldova. He underscored his willingness to work with the Republic of Moldova further to strengthen the existing bilateral ties between the two countries.H.E Ambassador Jobarteh and Her Excellency Maia Sandu discussed and noted potential areas of aligned interest and cooperation in which The Gambia and the Republic of Moldova can mutually benefit, including support for each other’s candidature at multilateral levels and the relevance of multilateralism for small states. They both echoed similar sentiments on international peace and security, and the need to expand trade, agriculture and investment learning exchanges.
Continue Reading >>Muslims in Banjul gathered at the King Fahd Mosque to observe the Feast of Eid al-Adha, locally known as Tobaski. President Adama Barrow, cabinet ministers, security chiefs, and senior government officials also participated in Eid prayers, led by Imam Ratib of Banjul, Alhaji Cherno Alieu Mass Kah. The president used his Eid message to call for peace, tolerance, and responsible citizenship.Imam Ratib of Banjul, Alhaji Cherno Alieu Mass Kah, led the two-rakah prayer.In his sermon after the prayer, the Imam Ratib urged Muslims to uphold peace, tolerance, and stability.He expressed concern over the rising use of drugs and illicit substances among youth and called for concerted efforts by government, parents, religious leaders, and society to address this menace, which threatens the well-being and future of young people.He also prayed for ongoing peace and stability in The Gambia and the wider world.In line with religious teachings, Imam Ratib supervised the slaughter of his sacrificial lamb, which opened the way for other Muslims across the city to do the same, as prescribed by Islamic faith.Outside the mosque, His Excellency Adama Barrow delivered his Eid address, congratulating Gambians and Muslims on this significant feast.He urged Muslims to be peaceful, tolerant, and law-abiding, adding that The Gambia is preparing for another presidential election, which the world will observe closely.On the international stage, President Barrow said he was closely monitoring developments in the Middle East. As chairman of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, he maintains contact with regional leaders to promote dialogue, restraint, and diplomacy for resolving differences.The President then left the King Fahd Mosque in Banjul for State House, where he also oversaw the slaughter of his two sacrificial lambs.The Imam of the State House mosque, Alhaji Mustafa Jallow, led the team that marked the conclusion of the President's Eid celebrations.
Continue Reading >>The Vice President, His Excellency Mohammed B.S. Jallow, has presided over the signing of a cooperation agreement between Tibu Africa from the Kingdom of Morocco and the Ministries of Basic and Secondary Education, Youth and Sports at the State House in Banjul. This agreement aims to support the national development agenda, especially in youth empowerment, education transformation, sports development, and international collaboration. The delegation from Tibu Africa accompanied by Bakary Y. Badjie the Minister of Youth and Sports, and Dr Habibatou Drammeh the Minister for Basic and Secondary Education, went to the Vice President's office to formally introduce their initiatives in The Gambia.Following an in-depth discussion with VP Jallow regarding the programme, the approach to implementation, and its potential impact on the country, the president of Tibu Africa Mohamed Amine Zariat, proceeded to sign agreements with the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.These agreements, reaffirming the Government’s strong commitment to investing in Gambian youth development and empowerment, through strategic international partnerships, also form part of broader efforts to expand opportunities for Gambian youth in sport and education, as highlighted by Tibu Africa's President, Mohamed Amine Zariat.This partnership also aims to incorporate sports into national development policies. Youth and Sports Minister Bakary Y Badjie described the arrival of Tibu Africa in The Gambia as a “significant advantage.”The Gambia is poised to become the first English-speaking country to benefit from Tibu Africa's intervention and partnership programmes, marking a significant milestone in the organisation’s expansion within the African continent.Basic and Secondary Education Minister, Dr Habibatou Drammeh said the government, through her ministry, is “fully committed to the agreement with Tibu Africa.”This programme targets all “642 public primary schools across the country.” A similar agreement is expected to be signed between Tibu Africa and the Ministry of Interior.Tibu Africa is internationally recognised for its innovative use of sports as a catalyst for sustainable social transformation, youth empowerment, educational advancement, and community development. The organisation operates in more than fifty-two cities across the twelve regions of Morocco and has expanded its interventions to several African countries, including Tunisia, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, and Madagascar.
Continue Reading >>The Government wishes to express deep concern over the increasing spread of misinformation, deliberate distortions, and politically motivated narratives circulating on social media and certain online platforms regarding issues of governance, corruption, and recent electricity supply challenges.While the government fully acknowledges the concerns of citizens affected by intermittent power shortages and other national challenges, it is both irresponsible and unfortunate that some individuals and groups have chosen to exploit these temporary challenges to spread falsehoods, undermine public confidence, and score cheap political points rather than contribute constructively to national dialogue and solutions.The Government remains firmly committed to transparency, accountability, and responsible governance. Consequently, allegations of corruption must never be reduced to social media propaganda, political sensationalism, or coordinated misinformation campaigns aimed solely at scoring cheap political points and creating public distrust. Matters of governance and public accountability are serious national issues that must be addressed through credible institutions, evidence-based processes, and the rule of law and not through reckless speculation and politically charged disinformation.It is essential to remind the public that the current electricity supply constraints are being actively addressed through ongoing interventions, investments, and regional energy cooperation efforts, particularly within the framework of the OMVG. The Gambia Government, under the leadership of President Adama Barrow has achieved significant progress in expanding national electricity access, improving generation capacity, and modernising energy infrastructure over recent years. These achievements should not be ignored simply for political convenience.No responsible government desires inconvenience for its citizens, particularly during important social and religious periods. However, genuine leadership requires honesty, patience, and collective responsibility, especially during moments like these.For nearly the past year, the country has experienced one of the most stable and reliable electricity supply periods in recent national history, with many households and businesses enjoying significantly improved power availability and fewer interruptions. This progress was not accidental, but the result of deliberate government investments and reforms in the energy sector. Therefore, temporary technical challenges currently affecting electricity supply in parts of the country should be viewed within their proper context. While any disruption to electricity supply is regrettable and taken seriously by the Government, isolated operational and technical challenges cannot reasonably justify the level of outrage, alarmism, and politically charged narratives being amplified in some quarters.The Government is therefore urging political actors, media platforms, activists, and members of the public to exercise restraint, patriotism, and responsibility in their public commentary. Constructive criticism is welcome in every democratic society, but the deliberate politicisation of temporary national challenges for narrow partisan gain does not serve the interests of the country or its people.National development cannot thrive in an atmosphere poisoned by misinformation, constant negativity, and manufactured outrage. Progress requires unity, stability, responsible citizenship, and a shared commitment to national interest above political opportunism.The Government reassures the public that efforts are ongoing to stabilise the electricity supply, strengthen service delivery, and continue advancing the country’s development agenda. Citizens are encouraged to rely on official channels for accurate information and to reject the spread of false and misleading content designed to create unnecessary panic and division.
Continue Reading >>The President, His Excellency Adama Barrow, on Tuesday received Mohamed Amine Zariat, President of Tibu Africa, at the State House. Tibu Africa is a Morocco-based sports organisation specialising in sports education, empowerment, and socio-economic inclusion of youth, women, and children across Africa. Mr Zariat launched the first Tibu in The Gambia, marking the first in Anglophone Africa.The President of Tibu Africa, Muhammed Amin Zariat, was accompanied to the State House by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Bakary Y. Badjie, and the Tibu country representative, Ebrima Manneh.Speaking to journalists after their audience with President Barrow, Mr Zariat disclosed that Tibu Africa was founded in 2011 to promote sports education and empower women and youths.Mr Zariat added that Tibu Africa plans to expand its activities in The Gambia, targeting schools across the country to give young people opportunities to pursue careers in sports education.The Tibu Africa President also praised the Gambia-Morocco friendship, which inspired this partnership, and expressed particular thanks to King Mohammed VI and President Barrow for their patronage.To further strengthen this partnership, Mr Zariat announced plans to establish a basketball court in The Gambia in December. He also extended an invitation to the President to attend the next Education Through Sport summit, to be held in Casablanca next year, where The Gambia will be the guest country.Finally, Mr Zariat expressed hope that The Gambia will qualify for the 2030 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Morocco.
Continue Reading >>The Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) has significantly improved its performance over the last five years, thanks to good management, strong leadership, and new ideas. Their revenue has increased from D12.7 billion in 2021 to an impressive D25.3 billion in 2025. This success has come from the efforts of Commissioner General Yankuba Darboe and his team, who transformed an authority that used to struggle to meet its goals.The 2026 GRA awards celebrate the biggest and most compliant taxpayers of the year. They also highlight the GRA as an institution that consistently exceeds expectations.Yankuba Darboe has been leading the GRA since 2014, six years after it was created by combining the central revenue department with the customs and excise departments. His leadership has brought about changes that have greatly improved how revenue is collected and taxed in The Gambia.With a dedicated team and support from a government focused on development, Mr Darboe started reforms that doubled and even tripled revenue in a short time. This earned him praise from the government and his colleagues.President H.E. Adama Barrow has been inspired by Darboe’s achievements and has attended every taxpayer award night to recognise and appreciate his leadership and contributions.Colleagues at the GRA also admire Darboe for his leadership skills, passion for success, and commitment to exceeding targets.Despite this success, Mr Darboe remains humble and sees these achievements as motivation to keep improving. He believes in always finding new opportunities and welcoming innovations, without creating more pressure on taxpayers. His main goal is to expand the tax base, rather than raise tax rates for the people.As they celebrate another successful year, the GRA leadership and team are confident in their ability to continue meeting and exceeding targets, supported by new technologies and systems. The future looks bright for them.
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