FC Barcelona and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Team Up to End Polio and Give Every Child an Equal Shot at Life

Futbol Club (FC) Barcelona,FC Barcelona Foundation, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation kicked off a three-year partnership today to energize the global fight to end polio and draw attention to the promise of life-saving vaccines. Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, along with FC Barcelona President Sandro Rosell and Manager Josep Guardiola, announced the partnership at the Newseum in Washington, DC. They were joined by players Andres Iniesta and Seydou Keita.

The first year of the partnership will focus on polio eradication. Polio has been reduced globally by 99 percent and is one of the best examples of the value of life-saving vaccines. The disease once crippled children worldwide, but there are now just four countries–Nigeria, India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan–where polio transmission has never been stopped.

“We have the chance to score a big win against polio, but we need loud and passionate voices to join the fight,” said Gates. “FC Barcelona’s commitment to using sport for social good will help us rally support for vaccines and end polio once and for all.”

FC Barcelona – with 18 million Facebook fans and multiple Twitter channels with millions of followers – will engage its followers through social media. In-stadium advertisements and announcements during matches will highlight the tremendous opportunity the world has to end

African Union Welcomes South Sudan as the 54th Member State of the Union

In accordance with the provisions of Article 29 (1) and (2) of the Constitutive Act of the African Union with respect to the process of accession to the Constitutive Act and admission as a Member State of the Union, and following a request by the Republic of South Sudan to become part of the African Union family of Member States, the Commission has received the requisite number of written communications supporting the admission of South Sudan to the African Union as the 54th AU Member State.

The Gambia: Climate of fear amongst the community of human rights defenders

 PARIS, France, July 22, 2011

 Publication of an international fact-finding mission report
Gambia celebrates today its national holiday, called “Freedom Day” by President Jammeh, the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), publishes an international fact-finding mission report on the situation of human rights defenders in The Gambia. On this occasion, a press conference is organised in Dakar.

Calls For Probe Into Alleged Criminal Conduct By George W. Bush

Former US President George W. Bush

The United States-based Human Rights Watch said it believes there is sufficient basis for the US government to order a “broad criminal investigation” into alleged crimes committed in connection with the torture and ill-treatment of detainees, the CIA secret detention program, and the rendition of detainees to torture.

Such an investigation, it said would necessarily focus on alleged criminal conduct by former President George W. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, and CIA Director George Tenet.

In a report “Getting Away With Torture” published in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi on July 12, Human Rights Watch said it builds on their prior work by summarizing information that has since been made public about the role played by US government officials most responsible for setting interrogation and detention policies following the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, and analyzes them under US and international law.

Is NAWEC’s Financial Status In Jeopardy?

From the Public Accounts and Public Enterprise Committees (PAC/PEC) of the National Assembly to the Public Hearing organised by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), the National Water and Electricity Company, NAWEC have been lamenting the huge sums of money it is owed.

This compelled the Company in what has been seen as a drastic move, to publish in a media dispatch the names of individuals and institutions owing it voluminous sums of monies.

Green Africa Exposing Opportunities Under The AGOA

Prof Darryl R.O. Prevost

The Green Africa Tour, an initiative of the CADIA Institutes and Academies in the United States of America was established to help expose the prospects offered under the Africa Growth and Opportunities Act, AGOA.

The AGOA, an initiative of the US Government in 2000 is meant to step-up trade between the United States of America and the African continent.

According to Prof Darryl R.O. Prevost, President AAADAC Alumni Clubs and Executive Director CADIA Institutes and Academies, the Green Africa Tour represents the development of a mature and direct supply chain of fair trade and organic products from Africa.

Former GPU President Handed Treason Charges in Absentia

Ndey Tapha Sosseh, erstwhile GPU President

National Assembly Derailing from Its Mandate

 More news…

• NDEA Examines Gambia’s Drug Situation
• Peace Ambassadors Continues A Ceaseless Quest For Peace

Celebration of Nelson Mandela International Day: 18 July

NMF Photo/Matthew Willman

On the occasion of the Nelson Mandela International Day observed on 18 July, the African Union wishes to join the rest of the world in congratulating Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela on his 93rd birthday. Africa is certainly proud to be home to the icon which Madiba (as Mandela is fondly known) has become.

As we celebrate the joyous occasion of Madiba’s birthday, we ought to be reminded of his extraordinary life from which we can draw a lot of inspiration. His selfless sacrifice, humility and dedication to the struggle for freedom and commitment to human rights are what separate him from the rest of mankind. He was humiliated and almost stripped of his dignity for his strong belief in freedom and human rights. Despite all his sufferings, Madiba has emerged a towering icon, preaching a message of reconciliation and equal rights for all. Madiba has not only been a torch bearer in the quest for Africa’s freedom he has also proudly stood for justice and freedom across the globe.

MFWA Press Statement...

Prof Karikari, MFWA Director (Photo: MFWA)

Prof Karikari appointed a member of South Africa Press Freedom Commission 

Prof. Kwame Karikari, Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa, has been appointed member of the 9-person South Africa Press Freedom Commission, an independent investigative commission set up to look at the regulation of print media in South Africa.

Gambia Armed Forces Athletes Set to Shine in Brazil World Games

Gold, Silver and Bronze medal to be awarded in the Peace Games

The three Gambia Armed Forces Athletes that left Banjul last week to Rio de Janeiro to take part the 5^th World Military Games will enter the race on Tuesday as the athletics championship gets underway.

Suleyman Njie in the 200m,  Dawda ML Ceesay in the 1500 and 5000m and Lamin Darboe in 100 and 200 m are eyeing for Gambia’s  first  Medal in the world Military championship.

The five-man delegation from the Gambia led by Lt Col Kawsu Sanyang  left Banjul last Wednesday to Rio De Janeiro Via Mali to take part in the 5^th World Military Games organized by the Conseil In ternational Du Sport Militaire ( CISM).

KIDNAPED!

Missing Journalist Chief Manneh

Five Years On, Chief Ebrima Manneh Still Missing

It has been exactly five years Thursday, since Gambian journalist Mr Chief Ebrima Manneh went missing and separated from his family where he was a breadwinner.

Chief Manneh, who disappeared since July 7, 2006, was allegedly whisked away from his office, the pro-government Daily Observer newspaper in Bakau, by State Security Agents.

Since then, his fellow journalists and family members have been in a ceaseless quest to trace his whereabouts, but so far, their efforts have proven futile.

In one of the most drastic of efforts to clear the doubts over his whereabouts, the sub-region’s leading media watchdog, the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) sued the Government of The Gambia at the ECOWAS Court of Justice in Abuja, Nigeria.

SPORTS JOURNALISTS HONOUR LATE LAD

The Late Lamin A. Darboe

On its 13^th, SJAG Honours 14 who made it

On its 13^th, the Sports Journalists Association of The Gambia, SJAG, honoured 14 who made it during its 3^rd Edition of the National Sports Awards on June 2, 2011 at a Libyan Hotel in Banjul, Jerma Beach.

Among the recipients of awards of various categories, was sports journalist Lamin A. Darboe, who died in a ferry accident on November 20, 2010. Darboe was honoured posthumously “for his unflinching services to the SJAG of which he was the Treasurer and his contribution towards the development of sports in general.

The former Sports Editor of the Foroyaa newspaper depart this life when his car accidentally plunged into the river while on board the ferry, at the Barra Ferry Terminal, a small town situated seven miles north of the capital, Banjul.

Change Is Certainly Possible

Guests at the event (Pix by GAMCOTRAP)

GAMCOTRAP Observes 3^rd Dropping Of The Knife

Six districts, namely: the three Kiangs, West, East and Central and the three Jarras, West, East and Central of the Lower River Region (LRR) graced the occasion marking an end to the practice of Female Genital Mutilation on their part.

Dubbed the “3^rd Dropping of the Knife”, the Executive Director of the Gambia Committee Against Harmful Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children (GAMCOTRAP), described the six districts coming together as a “signs of unity”, adding that “change is certainly possible.”

The event was held in Jarra Soma in LRR, is the first ever in this region of The Gambia, witnessed by foreign invitees, the Governor of LRR, Chief of Wuli West amongst others on 9^th July, 2011.

HUMANELY MISTAKES

Madi MK Ceesay, erstwhile GPU President

And The Urgent Need To Setup A Regulatory Body

As a union, we fail to set up a self regulatory body to take care of our humanely mistakes. It’s long overdue and something needs to be done about that, the sooner the better, a former President of the Gambia Press Union (GPU) said.

“Another area we fail is influencing a better media-government relationship, after all efforts. That success cannot be achieved by one party, it’s a dual responsibility,” Madi MK Ceesay said while delivering a paper on the Successes and Failures of the GPU at the recently concluded Triennial Congress of the GPU held from June 24-26, 2011 at the Gambia Telecommunications and Multimedia Training Institute (GTMI) in Kanifing. READ ON…

The PPP regime was more media-friendly, but…

DA Jawo, erstwhile GPU President

Though the atmosphere during the First Republic was no doubt more media-friendly, the GPU had a few open confrontations with the former PPP regime, according to Mr Demba Ali Jawo, former President of the Gambia Press Union (GPU).

“One such confrontation was when the government attempted to set up a media regulatory body; the National Press Council,” he said.

“While the bill was passed by the House of Representatives and even assented to by President Jawara, the GPU stood its ground by insisting on not registering with such a council because of its draconian nature. It was indeed quite reminiscent of the famous National Media Commission which was created by the Jammeh administration in 1994 and which the GPU again fought against and won.”

Hanging on the Balance of probabilities

Halifa Sallah, Secretary General  PDOIS

“Since sufficient number of genuine Gambian voters have registered, since we are also aware that many people who are not qualified to vote have been given opportunity to be registered, it is necessary to rely on the evidence provided by our registration agents to draw conclusions and make generalisation regarding the genuineness of the Registration exercise,”

A media dispatch from the Opposition Party, People for Democratic Independence and Socialism (PDOIS) said. READ ON…

LEGAL AFFAIRS

Former Daily Observer Editor Charged, Granted Bail

Nanama Okocha Keita

ON THE HOME FRONT

Gambia Among Eight Most Difficult Countries To Do Business

Also in the news…

• Tourism Industry Declining, Energy Unveiled As The Most Expensive For Hotels
• Gambia Among Eight Most Difficult Countries To Do Business
• Brig. Gen. Robert Ferrell Harps On Good Communication, Successful Operation
• AIDS Forum on Advocacy and Human Rights ends
• President Jammeh Eyes The Way Forward In Human Capital Investment
• 2.6 Billion People Still Lack Access To Improved Sanitation
• Jeshwang Women To Bargain With Crocodiles
• Gambia sustainable land management project lunched

Sports: Nerve Wrecking Moments For Gamtel

See also…

• Gamtel Coach Tapha Manneh Talks On ‘Big Achievement’
• Interior’s Jammeh: Any Team Can Relegate

Penalties!

Nerve Wrecking Moments For Gamtel 

The FA and Super Cup Champions, Gamtel Football Club on Sunday witnessed nerve wrecking moments as they’ve been held to a goalless draw in full time by Senegalese side Niary Tally.

The Gambian side and their Senegalese equals had earlier on played a goalless draw in Dakar, Senegal in the 1^st leg of the WAFU Club Championship. Both sides managed the same level of performance and the same results in the 2^nd leg at the Independence Stadium in Banjul on July 3.

MEDIA STATEMENT

The public called on to scritinise voter list

The General Registration of Voters Exercise was conducted from Thursday 5^th May 2011 to Friday 17^th June 2011. The provisional number of registered voters is 837, 029.

Consequently, in accordance with Section 19 subsections (4) and (5) and Section 132 of the Elections Act, the IEC will publish at all Registration Centres the list of voters for a period of at least ten days to enable members of the public to scrutinise the list.

The list of voters will be available for viewing from Monday, 18^th July 2011.

Everyone is being encouraged to take this opportunity and participate fully in this very essential component of the electoral process.

ASG dismiss claims that ‘YJAG is an opponent to GPU’

YJAG Asst. Sec. Modou S. Joof

The Assistant Secretary General of the Young Journalists Association of The Gambia (YJAG) Mr Modou S. Joof has disproved of claims that YJAG is an “opponent” of the Gambia Press Union (GPU).

Mr Joof was speaking on Sunday during the Triennial Congress of the GPU June 24-26, on the “expectations of ordinary members, associate members; the nature and definition of sub-groupings their relationship with the GPU. How to improve or strengthen relations”.

“As an affiliate body, YJAG has sometimes been identified both locally and internationally as an opponent of the GPU,” he said. “I want to make it very clear that this is an identity that we want to distance ourselves from.”

He admitted the fact that the GPU is number one journalists’ body in the country, and they’ve been members of the Union before creating an affiliate body. He said: “For this reason, we will endeavour to work with the GPU in it strives for a free press, freedom of expression and the safety and security of Gambian journalists.”

War On Drugs Has Failed Globally

Cocaine bust, estimated to worth $1 billion, June 2010, Banjul.

Drug Agency says that’s not the case in The Gambia

In a controversial report on June 2, the Global Commission on Drug Policy argued the war on drugs has failed and suggested that the decriminalization of narcotics like marijuana could help weaken organized gangs.

However, the Deputy Director of National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDEA) in Banjul, Mr. Kalilu Njie has told The Voice that the war on illicit drug trafficking has not failed in The Gambia, as they have witnessed an increasing trend of arrests of suspected drug traffickers and drug-related offenders.

Senegal football trio honoured in Gambia

Diouf & Fadiga @ the SJAG 2010 Awards

They lost to Cameroon in Bamako, Mali in a penalty shootout during the final of the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations, sent parking controversially in the quarter finals of the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup, yet Senegal stars continue to receive honours.   

The latest coming from the Sports Journalists Association of The Gambia (SJAG), nine years later, with awards to Senegal stars Elhaji Diouf, Khalilou Fadiga and Alasan Ndoure.

The three arrived in Banjul on Friday to attend the 3^rd Edition of the SJAG National Sports Awards on July 2, 2011, which coincided with celebrations marking the “2011 World Sports Journalists Day”.

On Its 13th, SJAG Honours 14

See also...

• Senegal Stars Embrace Gambia As Homeland
• West Ham Versus Airport

Senegal's El-Haji Diouf Poses with other award receipients

On Its 13th, SJAG Honours 14 

The Sports Journalists Association of The Gambia, SJAG on July 2, 2011 honoured 14 during the 3^rd Edition of the National Sports Awards, among them individual athletes, administrators, institutions and living legends in and out of the country.

The annual event was established in 2007, nine years after the establishment of the Association in 1998. The winners of this year’s categories include: Player of the year: Lamin Sarjo Samateh of Samger; Coach of the year: Lamin Sarr National

GPU Congress: Delegates Elects A Resident President

New GPU Executive

Paid-up members of the Gambia Press Union (GPU) have elected a new executive to steer the affairs of the Union until 2014 during a three-day triennial congress held at the Gambia Telecommunication and Multimedia Institute (GTMI), Kanifing, June 24-26.

The congress, funded by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) was held under the theme “Strengthening the GPU: A detailed analysis of the past, current situation, actions to confront challenges”.

Ex-President Ms Ndey Tapha Sosseh became the first incumbent to loose out in a bid to secure a second term of office. She was defeated by the former Secretary General Mr Bai Emil Touray in the race for the presidency on Sunday.

ECOWAS Council of the Wise express concerns on attempts by Heads of States to change Constitutions

More news

•  Bad leadership affecting the ECOWAS sub-region 
• Promotion, maintenance of peace and security is paramount - says minister Kolley 
• ECOWAS Council of the Wise express concerns on attempts by Heads of States to change Constitutions 
• Democracy is a continually evolving process - Ambassador White 
• VP calls for genuine public-private partnership 
• NDEA Denounce Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking

GPU President exhorts for balance media reportage in forthcoming elections

New GPU President Bai Emil Touray

The newly elected President of The Gambia Press Union (GPU) Mr. Bai Emil Touray said journalist are duty bound to give accurate and balance reportage within the principles of best practice in the upcoming presidential elections.

He was speaking to The Voice at the end of the Triennial Congress of the GPU on June 26 at the Gambia Telecommunications and Multimedia Institute in Kanifing.

Mr Touray said journalists should refrain from stereotyping candidates contesting for the presidency regardless of their political agenda, and socio-economic backgrounds.

He also urge journalists to give various parties an opportunity for equal coverage, however, he stressed that journalists should desist from publishing statements that are not in the interest of the public and are likely to disturb peace.

Women’s football teams ‘Give AIDS the Red Card’

Captains of national football teams competing in the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2011 soccer championship in Germany are signing up to the Give AIDS the Red Card appeal in support of a global plan to eliminate new HIV infections among children by 2015.

The “Give AIDS the Red Card appeal”, which was launched by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) one year ago at the FIFA 2010 World Cup in South Africa, uses the power and outreach of football to unite the world around stopping new HIV infections in children.

Journalism suffered the most atrocities in the world

Outgoing GPU President Ndey Tapha Sosseh

See also...

• Gambia ranked lowest on press freedom scale in West Africa

Journalism suffered the most atrocities in the world



From 1991 to 2011, a number of 129 journalists have been killed and none of the perpetrators of these heinous crimes has been successfully brought to book, according to the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).


This compelled the outgoing President of The Gambia Press Union Ms Ndey Tapha Sosseh to stress that “journalism is the only profession in the world to have suffered the most atrocities”. Most of the crimes committed against journalists are largely perpetrated by governments and in some cases by individuals and organisations that are close to governments.

Carayol refute claims of ‘correspondence’ with MDD for possible registration of Diaspora Gambians

IEC Chairman Alhaji Mustapha L. Carayol

The Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) of The Gambia, Alhaji Mustapha L. Carayol has disprove of claims that he was involved in a series of “correspondence” with the Movement for Democracy and Development (MDD) for a possible voter registration of Diaspora Gambians.

The New York-based MDD, a nonpartisan movement which said it is “working to support the restoration of genuine democracy and respect for human rights in The Gambia”, had in May 2011 claimed to have written to the IEC in expression of their desire to exercise their civic responsibilities to register and vote in November 24, 2011 presidential election.

However, the IEC Chairman said he only spoke to them once on the phone and made it clear that his institution does not have the resources to conduct an overseas voter registration exercise.

IEC offers ‘amnesty’ to suspected fraudsters

IEC Chariman Alhaji Mustapha L. Carayol

Announces provisional voter list, set date for nominations and campaign

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) in Banjul, has said it will grant an official pardon to “suspected cheats” who have registered twice, foreigners who have acquired voter cards and the under aged, provided that they surrender their cards to the IEC before June 30, 2011.


The Commission’s decision not to pursue a legal suit against these “suspects” from now until the end of this month, was revealed during a press briefing at the IEC Office in Banjul on June 23, marking the end of the national voter registration exercise.

IKPALA: Touray is a ‘shame’ to the prison department

More news...

• IKPALA: Touray is a ‘shame’ to the prison department
• Bensouda’s conspicuous absence hold back rights activists’ trial
• NDEA Denounce Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking
• GAMCOTRAP officials to prove their innocence
• Njogu Bah asks us to followed Alkalo Eric Tundeh Janneh
• Barra Noran Produces An All Essau Final

Media Honed To Get It Right On Disaster Reportage

More news...

• GPU President exhorts for balance media reportage in forthcoming elections
• Media Honed To Get It Right On Disaster Reportage
• US welcome ICTR conviction of Former Rwandan Minister of Women’s Development
• Road Accident Claims Lives of 8 Students
• The Role of UTG in Instilling Values of Community Service and Responsible Citizenship
• Saint Joseph’s: A school with a tradition of excellence
• Women’s football teams ‘Give AIDS the Red Card’

Should the Development of Kiang be Based on Loyalty to APRC?

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

The Author, Ebrima Press is a freelance journalist working with The Daily News

Kiang in the Lower River Region of The Gambia has become a dominant issue in the country’s political debate, especially in the ruling APRC party circle.
This is so due to the prevailing resistance of the people to honour the ruling party with their votes.
To be precise, the ruling APRC party has very little recognition by the people of Kiang, in the Central and Western parts in particular.
Kiang West is the only constituency where president Jammeh lost to the opposition UDP in the 2006 presidential election.
The voting into office of two opposition National Assembly members in Kiang West and Central in 2007 parliamentary election is what appears to have added salt to injury.
The president reacted with fury and vowed to deny these choice-oriented people an essential development, road.