Gambia's Ambassador To Ethiopia and African Union Presents Credentials To The President of Ethiopia.

The Gambia's ambassador to Ethiopia and the African Union (AU), Mr. Sulayman Alieu Jack Tuesday, December 19th, presented his letter of credence to H.E. Mulatu Teshome, President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia  as the Ambassador Extraordinary  and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of The Gambia to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The presentation ceremony was held at the Presidential Palace in Addis Ababa and it was attended by high ranking officials from the Ethiopian government and Gambia Embassy officials.

During the close door meeting H.E Ambassador Jack conveyed the fraternal and warm greetings of H.E. President Adama Barrow to his Ethiopian counterpart.  He indicated his appreciation of the enduring friendship and strong spirit of solidarity that continues to underpin The Gambia and Ethiopian relationship and expressed his commitment to its further strengthening through mutual beneficial cooperation of the two countries. He also expressed his appreciation of the impressive economic growth that Ethiopia has registered over the years and her continuing and steadfast support to the efforts to develop the African continent.

H.E. President Teshome reciprocated the fraternal and warm greetings of his Gambian counterpart. He congratulated The Gambia government and people for the peaceful, historic and democratic transition that occurred in the smiling coast and recalled the fond memories he always cherished about his previous visit to The Gambia on two occasion. He further more highlighted that Ethiopia will continue to support the effort to develop the African continent and to work on mutually beneficial and development partnership with African countries including The Gambia.

In another note Ambassador Jack credence have been approved by The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Moussa Fakki Mahamat and the President of Ethiopia. He will also soon present his letter of credence to the Executive Secretary of United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and he also doubled as the Gambia Ambassador to Kenya.   

The discussion were followed by book signing and a photo session.

By:  Saidina Alieu Jarjou

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

The URR Governor’s Statement On NaYCONF Is Irresponsible..

Reference is invited from the article published on the point newspaper on Wednesday, December 20, 2017. “NaYConF as a huge waste of resources”. “Left to me alone NaYConF should not be a weeklong event, but only two days where youths can come together and discuss issues affecting their development to avoid waste of resources,”

I was very staggered, flabbergasted, bowled over, perturbed and provoked beyond all human endurance as a Gambian youth, when I read a nasty, hateful, malicious, malevolent comment by the Governor of Upper River Region, Fatou Jammeh-Touray with the intention of tarnishing the image of NaYCONF in order to suppress the voice of the youth.

According to Mr. Lamin Darboe, the Executive Director of National Youth Council “the biennial event, NaYCONF is meant to bring young people from all over the country and beyond to share their experiences and dilate on issues that affect their lives. The theme for NaYCONF 2017 is “New Gambia: Challenges and Opportunities for youth”. Is the Governor saying that the event is of no importance to the welfare and the advancement of the youth?

The last time I checked this year’s NaYCONF event was poorly managed as a result of inadequate accommodation and food which you are to be blame since was held in your region.

Governor I doubt if you were scrutinize as per your leadership skills and educational background before given this position. Please be informed that a leader who treat the youth of her nation badly is an agent of   conflict and a threat to peace at large. The youth are the future leaders therefore they need to be supported to realize and achieve their dream as it is the only way we can make our country great.

As a good leader since you knew that the event was a waste of resources. You could have took the floor to address the issue and gave recommendations for further events.  Leadership is the ability to provide direction, implementing plans, and motivating people.

Please be reminded that leaders help themselves and others to do the right things and at the right time in an effective and efficient manner. They set direction, build an inspiring vision, and create something new. Leadership is about mapping out where you need to go to "win" as a team or an organization; and it is dynamic, exciting, and inspiring.

Yet, while leaders set the direction, they must also use management skills such as good organization, time management, interpersonal and relationship-building skills, delegation, forward-planning and strategy, communication, problem-solving, administrative and financial skills to guide their people to the right destination where they want to be, in a smooth and efficient way.

I think you really need to be schooled as per the aims and objectives of such an event in order not to repeat your mistake again. In another note I will advise you not to respond to a question that you don’t understand as such will rick your leadership.

NaYCONF is special in its work as a champion for young people, empowering them to participate in decision-making processes. As young people will be the ones living with the decisions made today, they should help shape them but with leaders like you I doubt if such will be a reality?

Youth conference provides us with a platform in which we can discuss together, openly and frankly, the many realities, challenges and opportunities facing young people in today. Young people are the future of The Gambia let us take this opportunity to work together and build a future for a Gambia we want that embraces and empowers all young people.

The conference plays an important role in strengthening youth advocacy and engagement efforts. It is also a time for the young people of The Gambia to come together as a team, share knowledge, and benefit from the rich diversity that makes The Gambia the last place of hope on earth.

In conclusion madam Governor I hereby request for you to apologies to the Gambian youth so we can recognize you as part of our leaders. It is believed that young people are, not future leaders but present. And as leaders they are capable of not only taking smart decisions about their future but also being the driving force to deal with challenges currently faced by the world at large.

By: Saidina Alieu Jarjou

Political Activist  

Are The Gambia MP’s Really Concern about the Health Care of the Voters? (Part.1)

Reference is invited from the budget allocated to the Ministry of Health & Social Welfare at the tone of D955, 171,920. It is in that regard I write to register my total dissatisfaction beyond all human survival to the whole Members of Parliament from the Speaker to the Gate Man.

I am the least happy when I saw the MP’s tends to priotise other service in budgeting through the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs. The 2017 budget allocated only 1.41% of the total budget to the health sector. The amount allocated to the said Ministry is too small considering the confrontation increased demand beyond the treatment of AIDS, malaria, and other communicable diseases as access is still the greatest challenge to health care delivery in rural Gambia it's not enough besides the Abuja Declaration requires 15 percent of national budget of which 5 percent is for Maternal &Child health.  The major challenge is the unstable human resource base, arising from high staff attrition. There is also a shortage of essential medicines and equipment for high-quality care. As most of the available medicine in the hospitals is Paracetamol (C8H9NO2).

During your various campaigns you promised the voters that you will provide them with the state of the earth medical and health facilities when you are voted in to office. But to my surprise such proposal is never implemented but ignored.  

The Gambia, like many other countries in sub-Saharan Africa, has long been overburdened with maternal health problems. With a population of approximately 1.8 million, the densely populated West African nation has been ranked among the African countries with the highest levels of maternal mortality. The national maternal mortality ratio, which has fallen by 46% over the last 20 years, is estimated at 400 deaths per 100,000 live births

I submit to you that corruption diverts much-needed resources away from health care delivery and reduces patient access to quality services. Examples include medical staff in public sector health care institutions who sell drugs that should be free, and theft (for personal use) or diversion (for private sector resale) of drugs and supplies at government storage and distribution points.

People consume more fast food and packaged foods, which tend to have high levels of sodium; they engage in less physical activity, sitting in their cars and buses on their way to work; and they are more likely to consume alcohol in their leisure time. Another risk factor is an increase in smoking rates across populations.

Much of the current focus of health care delivery in The Gambia is on traditional and visible factors like HIV and malaria. However, changes in lifestyle and a growing middle class are making noncommunicable diseases like cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes big issues among populations. Prompt access to primary healthcare before onset of severe illness is vital to improve morbidity and mortality rates. The Gambia has high rates of child mortality and research is needed to investigate contributing factors further.

 The provision of a safe water supply and good sanitation are major contributory factors to positive childcare. At present, Gambia’s is unable to provide clean water for all rural and urban areas. Of the total population, 80% still rely on the bush toilet for sanitation, and it is widely understood that diarrhoea diseases can be exacerbated in environments where sanitation is poor.

Is submit to you that the Gambia Health Sector is sinking like the mighty Titanic as a result of inadequate medical facilities and the human resources. We the poor voters take our families to the Government hospital without facilities while those of you at the peak whom we voted for, to protect and improve our health care conditions take your families to the private clinics. Health should be a priority of The Gambia Government as a healthy nation is a wealthy nation. Inaccessibility to health care is a violation of human right.

This saw a clear testimony that we leave in a country where our policy makers don’t have trust in our health care system they brought to us.

The Gambia’s public health sector is in crisis as the government fails to adequately fund it, leaving external donors and foreign countries to chip-in with chicken changes. We cannot achieve a free zone disease country until and unless we take in charge of our health care system and pump in the required resources to meet international standards.

The mere fact that the health care system is based on donor funds, people are dying of needless from preventable disease as donor funds may not be available when they are needed the most.

In conclusion I stand on top of Mountain Kilimanjaro and request for the MP’s to scrap and revise the budget and ensure that the MOH&SW is given the right amount that can cater for the citizens.

To be continued……

By: Saidina Alieu Jarjou

Blogger/ Activist

Open Letter to the Permanent Secretary Mr. Pateh Jah , PMO on the Ministry of Agriculture Saga (Part.1)

Please be reminded that the Personnel Management Office is an agency of The Government of The Gambia, which is  under the Office of the President which is responsible for; the administration of the General Orders, the recruitment of volunteers and technical assistance personnel, public service training and staff development policies and implementation, staff inspections and organization, formulation and review of the schemes of service policy for and administration of pensions and gratuities personnel statistics, and manpower budgeting and control.

It is that regard I write to you to remind you of the role played by the Minister of Agriculture as per the contribution to our GDP. The said ministry is the backbone of our nation, therefore it need to be led by technocrats who have the knowledge, skills and know how not only with words but with action.   As such will increase agricultural output, meet the food requirements of the population from the land of Gambia, provide gainful employment and income for the agricultural labour force, and generate foreign exchange through value-added agriculture related activities.

Of recent reports emanating from the Ministry of Agriculture have it that Minister O.J. Jallow has rejected the appointment of PS Ousman Jammeh on the grounds of continuity of programmes at the ministry. The question one might asked will be O.J who is a seasonal Agriculturalist why is he rejecting the appointment of Mr. Jammeh?

The most important thing is to note that the argument is a false premise and the real premise should that Mr Ousman Jammeh was a former Civil Servant who was parachuted from regional Director to PS under the former regime, even above people that were senior to him both in qualifications and experience but that he retired as a Civil Servant to become appointed a Minister under Jammeh before falling out with Jammeh and ending up being detained for 1 year. So the question is whether the Civil Service should continue to bring back people from outside and deny people in the hierarchy their natural progression?

During the last days of the PPP, retired heads of institutions retired and natural subordinates took over and some or a few were appointed advisers. Under Jammeh there was a marked lack of adherence to the Civil Service rules and the mixing up of political and public services.

Ousman Jammeh is a retired Civil Servant and former Minister of Agriculture trying to come back under contract and Hon. Minister Omar A. Jallow is right to be concerned at having a former Minister as his PS and is more comfortable with a Civil Servant than a former political appointee.

There is a need for one to understand the meaning and synopsis of political appointee and Civil Servant. Assan came to Ministry of Agriculture with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Engineering and a Master of Science in Agronomy from Kuban State Agricultural University, in the Russian Federation at a time when we had nothing more than 5 Master’s degree holders in most of the institutions.

I for a person meet Assan in different occasions when I used to work for the Government, I realized that he is a great man who understand the said Ministry as he spend all his carrier there. The issue here is, it is not that O.J is trying to Jallowfied the MoA but trying to give the job to the jobs friend as that is the only way we can make The Gambia self-food sufficiency. 

Mr. Jallow has 23 years professional and work experience in the field of Agriculture and agronomy, working and managing agricultural projects and rising from the position of Agric Officer to Deputy Director/ Head of Soil and Water Management Services and a Deputy Permanent Secretary & Coordinator for CILSS in The Gambia.

Since 1994 starting with the IFAD and African Development Bank funded Agricultural Services Project where he undertook the training and formation of 5000 farmers into Water User Groups and a Water User Association.

As Deputy Head of the National Agronomy Section of The Gambia, Mr Jallow played a key role in the design and implementation of the Lowlands Agricultural Development Project as well as the successor Participatory Integrated Watershed Management Project.

Mr Jallow worked as a Young Professional with the FAO, as National Counterpart for the Indonesian Farmer to Farmer Assistance Programme which included the design and training of farmers and the setup of a Farmer Training school in rural Gambia.

Variously, his tasks and duties as National Agronomist and Project Manager include and covered

Analyzing all aspects of the agricultural investment project cycle including feasibility assessment, design, appraisal, and project evaluation in developing country situations. Identifying agriculture sector development needs and recommending practical strategies to fulfill those needs. Analyzing agriculture-related aspects of projects such as infrastructure or financial sector development, and recommend strategies to ensure the agriculture sector of the country supports the activity in a sustainable manner. Drafting project or project activity descriptions for inclusion in the Investment Memorandum or Cabinet documents. Providing detailed written reports of findings and compilation of documents to donors and government. Making public presentations on agriculture-related issues and/or projects. Conducting 'Project Activity Oversight' operations in accordance with the Statement of Work for that activity. Coordinating with the relevant government agency, civil society, private sector, donor, and Project Management Unit staffs to facilitate Activity Oversight operations. Evaluating progress of Projects, Project Activities, and Sub-Activities. Providing detailed and comprehensive written reports on progress of a Project, Project Activities, and Sub-Activities to the Authorities.

I submit to you that Mr. Jallow played a key role in the design of the Gambia National Agricultural Investment Plan, which is a holistic look at Agricultural investment and development covering not only Agriculture but the requisite social and public infrastructure such as roads, markets, logistics and schools and clinics necessary to ensure that the lives and livelihoods of farmers and the whole cycle benefit and improve as intended the investments.

Mr Jallow is very familiar with the modus operandi of many international funding agencies such as the African Development Bank, IFAD, FAO and the World Bank and also the Financial Instructions (FI) governing the operations of Government. As CONACILS, he is the Coordinator of CILSS activities and projects in The Gambia and represented THE Gambia at CILSS meetings.

Until his appointment as Permanent Secretary Mr Jallow was one of the longest serving and most senior staff at the Ministry of Agriculture and recognized at Expert on Rice Agronomy and Policy and Programmes and a trusted adviser to the Minister and former Permanent Secretary and has a reputation for impartiality and professionalism.

In conclusion I will recommend for Mr. Jammeh’s appointment be rescind and redeployed to The Gambia College as a Lecturer since the College is facing a shortage of Lecturers in the said field.

To be continued……………

By: Saidina Alieu Jarjou

Blogger/Activist/Watchdog

prof.jarjou@gmail.com 

The Untold Story About The Mugabification Of Africa. (Part.1)

Robert Gabriel Mugabe was born on the 21^st February, 1924 in Kutama, Zimbabwe and married to Grace Mugabe the are blessed with four children’s.

Mugabe was a Pan African leader who liberate the Zimbabwean’s and he has been praised as a revolutionary hero of the African liberation struggle who helped to free Zimbabwe from British colonialism, imperialism, white minority rule and neo colonialism of all kind. The story of Robert Mugabe is a microcosm of what bedevils African democracy and economic recovery at the beginning of the 21st century. It is a classic case of a genuine hero the guerrilla idol who conquered the country's former leader and his white supremacist regime.

Mugabe chaired the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) group from 1975 to 1980 and led its successor political party, the ZANU – Patriotic Front (ZANU–PF), from 1980 to 2017. Ideologically an African nationalist, during the 1970s and 1980s he identified as a Marxist–Leninist, although after the 1990s self-identified only as a socialist. His policies have been described as Mugabeism

Mugabe took his oath of office on 17 April 1980. He gave a speech at Salisbury's Rufaro Stadium announcing that Rhodesia would be renamed "Zimbabwe" and pledged racial reconciliation. Soames aided Mugabe in bringing about an orderly transition of power; for this Mugabe remained grateful, describing Soames as a good friend. Mugabe unsuccessfully urged Soames to remain in Zimbabwe for several more years, and also failed to convince the UK to assume a two-year "guiding role" for his government because most ZANU-PF members lacked experience in governing. Although ZANU-PF's absolute parliamentary majority allowed them to rule alone, Mugabe created a government of national unity by inviting members of rival parties to join his cabinet. Mugabe moved into the Premier's residence in Salisbury, which he left furnished in the same style as Smith had left it. (Mugabe's Zimbabwe 2010 documentary).

Though he is old and needs to retire but must be commended and honor for his tersely efforts for his people and Africa as a continent than be humiliated beyond all human survival. Adolph Hitler, Tony Blair, Barack Obama and George W. Bush aren't been humiliated by their people talk less the world when they have coasted a lot of lost in human lives beyond all imagination.

Robert Mugabe, who resigned as Zimbabwe's president on Tuesday, was the last living African head of state who fought for his country's independence before becoming its leader. Mugabe, 93, used his aura of liberator from a colonial power to stay in power, but increasingly became seen as an oppressor. His resignation came days after Zimbabwe's military took over and detained the veteran leader.

Mugabe was never seen as a Dictator until he start the  Land reform in Zimbabwe which  officially began in 1980 with the signing of the Lancaster House Agreement, as an effort to more equitably distribute land between Black subsistence farmers and White Zimbabweans of European ancestry, who had traditionally enjoyed superior political and economic status.

Mugabe earned international recognition for education and health initiatives, and the nation steadily grew its exports of manufactured and agricultural products. Zimbabwe was famous for its tobacco production, and its weather supported year-round farming.

Until we Africans differentiate between "help & destruction" by the West, our continent shall never know peace and until we know what to accept and what not to accept from the illusive thoughts made for us to believe by the same West, we shall never see the direction of progress. How old is Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Angela Merkel, Theresa Maya etc?

Seriously the problem in Africa not the length or duration our leaders rule, take for example modern day German, the strongest economy in Europe, how long has their current Councilor being ruling nearly 13yrs, China, England itself, Holland, etc. Why are the democrats not talking about that but instead they fool us, brain wash us and ask us to go against our leaders so that our leaders see us as enemies of state and then suppress us in all ways.

The fact is we will not develop as a continent until  we stop pointing fingers at our leaders and start pointing them on ourselves, then we shall develop because we will always put our country first before any other thing.

The concept of dictatorship, brutality, democracy is a tactics used by the west to fight against the Pan Africanist, and to remove our African heroes to be replace by puppets who they can control like a remote controller so as to destabilize the Africa for their own interest.

Therefore for Africa to be the last place of hope on earth we need to go back to our culture, norms, values and our policies need to be Mugabified based on the ideology of Mugabification.  

To be continued……

By: Saidina Alieu Jarjou

Political Activist