GFA Appoints BB Baldeh As Media Officer

BB Baldeh was exonerated of criminal charges in May

The erstwhile Sports Producer and Presenter for West Coast Radio (WCR), Bakary B. Baldeh has been appointed Media Officer for the Gambia Football Association (GFA) last week.

Mr. Baldeh told a local newspaper, The Daily News, on Friday that “he is honoured by the appointment, which came as a surprise to him”.

Earlier this year, Mr Baldeh suspended his usual radio programme (sports report) for WCR in order to fully defend himself on charges of “conspiracy to commit felony” and “Incitement to Violence” brought against him by the police.

However, after being exonerated of all charges by the Kanifing District Magistrate Court on May 24, Mr Baldeh make an unannounced quit of the radio and settled to his native hometown, Essau. The Voice newspaper gathers that this was because of the WCR’s (a privately-owned FM station) handling of affairs during his ordeal, to which he was discontented with.   

The charges emanated from a February 11 sports programme, which the Gambian authorities claimed to be criminal. It followed Baldeh’s hosting of two aggrieved golf workers (Caddies) who had accused Ebrima Jawara, President of the Gambia Golf Association and the son of former President Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, of unfair treatment during a national golf tournament, sponsored by Gambian President Yahya Jammeh.

Mr Baldeh has always denied any wrong doing. His acquittal and discharge followed a submission by his defence counsel Pap Cheyassin Secka that the charges are not known to law. 

Baldeh was arrested on March 23 after being invited to the Kairaba police station in the Kanifing Municipality together with the station’s proprietor, Peter Gomez and another reporter, Hagie Drammeh.

While Gomez and Drammeh were released after being grilled, Baldeh was held for three days. He was released on March 25 after making his first appearance in court.

    

Author: Modou S. Joof for The Voice newspaper