Calls renewed for Gambia to respect ECOWAS Court decisions

The journalists need a media environment free from intimidation, arbitrary arrests, detention, disappearance, torture, killings and all forms of human rights violations designed to gag the media in The Gambia, the GPU stated. (Photo Credit: Haddija Jawara/Facebook)

The Gambia Press Union, GPU, Saturday renew calls for The Gambia Government to respect two verdicts of the ECOWAS Court of Justice.

 

The call was contained in a solidarity statement that strongly condemned the Ethiopian government’s crackdown and jailing of nine journalists and bloggers in April 2014, while calling for their immediate and unconditional release.

Its 1^st Vice President, Baboucarr Ceesay said: “The solidarity statement for jailed Ethiopian journalists and bloggers cannot be concluded without renewing Gambian journalists call on the government of The Gambia to respect the ECOWAS court’s verdict…

GPU condemns jailing of Ethiopian journalists and bloggers

Ethiopia is one of the worst countries for journalists in Africa under the leadership of Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn - Ethiopia 2012 - World Economic Forum on Africa 2011 (Photo credit: World Economic Forum)

The Gambia Press Union, GPU, Saturday strongly condemns the Ethiopian government’s crackdown and jailing of nine journalists and bloggers and called for their immediate and unconditional release.

 

The message was part of coordinated efforts through the pan-African journalists’ body, the Federation of African Journalists, FAJ, in solidarity with colleagues in Ethiopia, one of the worst countries for journalists in Africa.

“Our hearts also beat in unison with the hearts of journalists experiencing unthinkable predicaments in Egypt, Somalia and Ukraine.

“…and journalists facing hard times and those who died in their duties in other parts of the world for doing their job and telling truth to power,” says Baboucarr Ceesay, GPU’s 1^st vice president.

Blood Shed: Di Bosslady’s new single

Photo taken from reverbnation.com

Tenza Di Bosslady, a UK-based Jamaican reggae dancehall singer, has released a new single ‘Blood Shed’ which she said is dedicated to her cousin gunned down in Jamaica a few months ago. It is produced by Tenza Music Digital (TMD) Records.

“The single has been well received by critics and is receiving outstanding feedback from disc jockeys in Asia where the song was officially released two weeks ago,” Tenza told The Voice Vibes. “The promotional music video for 'Blood Shed' has also been released in conjunction with the track and will be aired on television stations across Africa, Europe, Asia and North America.

SENEGAL: GDP Weaker Than Forecast

President Sall is presiding over low agricultural production in Senegal (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Early estimates by the authorities [in Senegal] suggest that Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth was weaker than forecast in 2013, about 3.5 per cent compared to the expected 4 per cent. 

This is indicative of low levels of production in the agricultural sector, difficulties in the industrial sector and in the extractive industries, says an International Monetary Fund, IMF, mission which visited Senegal from April 16-30, 2014 to conduct the seventh review under the three-year Policy Support Instrument (PSI) approved in December 2010. 

In contrast, activity was particularly buoyant in the telecommunications and construction sectors. Inflation stood at 0.7 percent on average in 2013 amid softer agricultural commodity prices in the international market. 

NSC calls for sacking of three GFF officials, ask others to resign

A government task force that looked into The Gambia’s age cheating and expulsion from the CAF U20 championship has called for the resignation of entire football Federation executive committee  (Photo Credit: Sang Mendy)

The National Sports Council, NSC, has called for the sacking of the Gambia Football Federation, GFF’s, technical director Ebrima Manneh, U20 team manger Saihou Bah and administrative secretary Baboucarr Jobe.

An NSC task force that looked into The Gambia’s age-cheating and expulsion from the CAF U20 championship recommended their sacking.

The task force also recommended that the [entire] GFF executive [committee should] honourably resign for “failing and embarrassing the nation and losing public trust.”