First Clitoral Repair Hospital for FGM Victims to Open Friday

“The goal is to help as many victims as possible have this surgery, which will also help discourage the barbaric practice of FGM,” Nadine Gary said.  “When its effects can be surgically reversed for free, what would be the point?” - Photo Credit: Clitoraid

The world’s first clitoral repair hospital for victims of female genital mutilation (FGM), located in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, will open on March 7, according to the U.S.-based nonprofit organization, Clitoraid. 
 
It said Chantal Compaore, the First Lady of Burkina Faso, will preside at the ceremony. The hospital was built with donated funds and through the efforts of worldwide volunteers.

“Having Chantal Compaore’s support and presence on March 7 is such a wonderful way to celebrate this opening,” says Clitoraid Communications Director Nadine Gary. “She has been a steadfast voice against the horrors of FGM, and we’re honored that she will be there.”

EU deplores 'inflammatory statement' on homosexuality

On the eve of The Gambia's 49th independence anniversary, Jammeh vowed to fight gays the same way as malaria-causing mosquitoes, if not more aggressively (Photo Credit: MSJoof/TNBES/Nov2012)

FIU ready to work with anti-money laundering journalists network in Gambia

L - R: Mr Drammeh, Mr Jahateh and Mr Camara (Photo Credit: MSJoof/TNBES/Feb2014)

The director of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has promise to work with the Network of Journalists against Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing – The Gambia, a national chapter of the sub-regional network.

Yahya Camara said his Unit is ready to work with the network to see how best the right information on the scourges of the twin evils of Money Laundering and Financing Terrorism (ML and FT) reach the masses. 

The FIU is established by an Act of the parliament and is mandated to render services such combating ML and FT in The Gambia.

Jammeh to ban import of basic foods ‘without fail’

RICE as a staple food in Gambia is mainly imported from Asia (Photo credit: Facts and Details)

The President of The Gambia has said he is “determined to end importation of basic food items by 2016 without fail.”

“Our traditional Gambian dishes or foods are being replaced by unhealthy, and for most Muslims, haram junk food being imported into this country,” Yahya Jammeh said on the eve of The Gambia’s 49^th independence anniversary of February 18. “This dangerous trend must end.” 

In June 2013, President Jammeh announced his government would ban the importation of rice into the country by 2016.

Pres. Jammeh reduces Gambia’s independence to ‘a sham’

In April 1970, The Gambia became a Republic with President Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara its first Head of State (Photo taken from Kissy Kissy Mansa)

The Gambia’s President Yahya Jammeh has reduced to “a sham” his country’s independence that was attained from colonialists Britain on February 18, 1965.

“Our independence was achieved through the hard work of patriotic independence-minded citizens but that independence was a sham,” he said on the eve of The Gambia’s 49^th independence anniversary.

This, according to him, is because Gambia’s leadership at the time “plunge our country deeper into the complete hegemony of the British Empire and therefore fail to bring about any significant socio-economic development.”

The Gambia: January 17 Is National Natural Medicines Day

Photo taken from The Point

President Yahya Jammeh has declared 17 January as National Natural Medicines Day in The Gambia.
 

On the eve of The Gambia’s 49^th independence anniversary of February 18, Jammeh, who is also an herbal doctor, said “this Day will be set aside to appreciate, celebrate and also embrace Gambia’s indigenous ways of medical treatment.” 

The Gambian leader said the Day will be celebrated “for the glories of our rich past”.

However, he noted that it should be a moment for further reflection, though and research for the improvement of indigenous knowledge of natural remedies for their adaptation in a dynamic and increasingly materialistic commercial world. 

Local councils owing NAWEC over D159 million failed to honor payment plan

On the contrary, the company has not paid corporate taxes of D158 million

The Gambia’s sole producer, transmitter and distributor of electricity, water and sewage, says it has been faced with a legacy of arrears for many years.

Auditor identifies UTG’s ‘insecure’ financial dealings

Photo Credit: Helleman News

An auditor of the National Audit Office, Baba F. Drammeh, has identified ‘shocking’ financial irregularities at the University of The Gambia. 

 

Drammeh said the UTG officials have carried out payments whose vouchers are without adequate documentation, payments without recipients’ signature, procurement without competitive bidding and leave encashment that amounted to D4, 554, 083.28 (over US$ 119, 844).

In a breakdown, he noted that payment vouchers not signed by approving officer amount to D171, 955, payment vouchers lacking adequate documentation is D1, 458, 732, overseas travel allowance at D421, 078.78, payment without recipients signature D134, 180, procurement without competitive bidding D2, 272, 843.50 and leave encashment at D95, 294.

Gambia host WAICA educational confab in November

Participants at a weeklong (August 26-29, 2013) WAICA-Re international training course on “advance marine andaviation insurance” for insurers from  West Africa (Photo provided by Lamin Jahateh)

Gambia: National Insurance Commission would be a ‘driving force for growth’

High Table L-R: Momodou Joof-MD Takaful Insurance, Henry Jawo-Retired IAG Secretary General, Almamy B. Jobarteh-Current IAG President, Ebou Bittaye-MD Global Security Insurance  and Dawda Sarge former IAG President (Photo Credit: Lamin Jahateh)

The Gambia: Slight decline in bank reserves

Platinum Habib Bank, now Keystone Bank, is one of 10 commercial banks competing in a relatively small market in The Gambia (Photo Credit: M.S.Joof/TNBES/August2011)

Gambia records massive drop in foreign aid in 2013

In 2010, the EU cut 22 million euros of budget support (aid) to The Gambia over human rights concerns.

The Gambia forcast economic growth at 7.5 per cent

Projection based on robust expansion of agriculture and tourism, according to Central Bank officials in Gambia. (Photo by Mansa Banko shows officials at a rice field in Central River Region of The Gambia under the Ifad-funded PIWAMP project)

Aid agencies warn of another food crisis in northern Mali

Aid agencies say people in northern Mali's regions of Gao, Timbuktu, Kidal and Mopti are food insecure (Photo Credit: Oxfam)

Gambian Dalasi Fall Drastically in 2013

In September 2013, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned that prolonged overvalued exchange rate would damage Gambia’s international competitiveness (Photo credit: Wikipedia)