PHOTO: NGBV 

NGBV to Embark on 16 Days Activism on Sexual Violence

                                       

By Ousman A. Marong

            

The Network of Gender-Based Violence (NGBV) in partnership with the United Nations Development Fund (NNDF) will join the rest of the world to commemorate International Day to eradicate violence against women.

NGBV would embark on a 16 Days nationwide activism on November 2019.

This year’s nationwide activism campaign theme: would be "Ending Sexual Violence in World Places.”

Speaking at a press briefing held at Action Aid Secretariat Fallu Sowe, National Coordinator for Gender-Based Violence said the aim of the campaign is to harmonize efforts to end all forms of sexual and Gender-Based Violence in the country.

‘’The theme reflects the core principle of the transformative 2030 Agenda for sustainable development and reinforces the UN Women Campaign commitment to a world free from violence for all women and girls,” he remarked.

He decried that Gender-Based Violence against women is becoming frequent in all societal strata, while urging key drivers to take stringent measures towards eliminating the practice.

‘’NGBV would like to seize this opportunity to remind the government, and its people that The Gambia is a signatory to many international and regional Treaties and conventions that protect women and children from all forms of violence, such as the Convention on the Rights of the child,” he asserted.

He said these treaties were ratified and domesticated into our laws.

He stated the Women’s Act 2010, the Children’s Act 2005, the Domestic Violence Act 2013, and the Sexual Offences Act 2013 prohibits all forms of violence and abuse against women, children including the girl child.

He highlighted that domestic and sexual violence including criminalizing FGM and child marriage are in a there alarming rate.

He said the 2014 CBV data collection shows that there is increase number in sexual violence reported cases.

He computed 2,030 reported cases of sexual violence to be registered between the years 2014-2018 respectively.  

“There were 941 cases in 2018 alone and 46 percent of the cases were sexual violence,” he noted.

PHOTO: Scorpions (Photo Credit ABU)

Gambia Hold DR Congo Into An All Draw To Top Group D

By Ousman A. Marong

Senior Scorpions of The Gambia has on yesterday held DR Congo into a 2-2 draw to top their group with 4 points and 5 goals respectively.

The Scorpions were pitted in Group D together with DR Congo, Gabon, Angola, etc.
In their match 2 first-half strikes from DR Congo’s Cedric Bakanbu handed them a 1-0 win over the Scorpions in their Group D-Day two match on Monday, November 18, 2019.
The match was played at the Independence Stadium in Bakau, The Gambia.

The Scorpions equated the scoreline just 2 minutes into the second half.

It was a long sent ball from midfielder Hamza Barry who chipped the ball targeting captain Pa Modou Jagne’s head and he headed the ball with a butterfly header into the next.

Coming into the locker room, Scorpions of The Gambia were given it all out dominating all the ball possessions with Hamza Barry controlling the entire midfield.

Jackson Muleka, restored the scoreline for DR Congo in the 79 minutes in the second half seeing the Scorpions goalie, Alhagie Job alias Toldo flying in the air like a butterfly chasing after a newly ripe fruit, but efforts reaching out to the ball remained futile.

The draw for the Scorpion’s matchday two on the home ground saw them finished top of the group D after Gabon won Angola by a margin 2-1 in a simultaneous kick-off in Libreville.

Holders, The Gambia, who finished first also on four points as Gabon, joined the latter at the round of 16.

DR Congo is third with two points and remained in the hunt for one of the four best third-place teams set for a place at the knockout stage.

The first half was characterized by few chances from either side as both sides deployed a cautious approach.

Both needed to win to be certain of a place at the next round but failed to break the deadlock after regulation time.

Back from recess, Gambia broke the deadlock just a minute into the second half courtesy Bubacarr Jobe with a curling shot that left DR Congo’s goalie with no option.

The equator saw the Scorpions took control of the game dictating the pace as the Leopards as DR Congo labored in a search of their feet.

Three minutes past the hour mark, the Scorpions’ goalie, Alhagie Jobe alias Toldo was to his side’s rescue with a superb save to deny the Leopards’ captain who unleashed a curler from a free-kick at the edge of the penalty area.

But the scorpions responded in style one minute later when a three-man move involving Modou Secka-Barrow, Musa Barrow, Hamza Barry, and Bubacarr party to give birth to the second goal.

PHOTO: Fatou Fatty (Photo Credit TRRC Media Team)

Coercive Consumption of Hallucinogenic Concoction: Daughter Narrates Dead Mother’s Past Agony

By Ousman A. Marong

                     
Fatou Fatty, a daughter one of the victims of former Gambian president Yahya Jammeh’s witch hunting exercise has explained in detail the anguish of her late mother until her demise.

Fatou appeared before the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) during their community hearings about the inhuman treatment meted out to innocent people in 2009 when hallucinogenic concoction was given to many in the name of hunting for witches and wizards in the country.

The purported witch hunters were said to have come from Guinea Conakry.

The witness told the commission that her mother, Nyima Koteh alias Bouy Koteh who died around the age 80 like many others were abducted and given the concoction by the self-claimed witch hunters.

She further explained that one of her mother’s friends, Adama Bojang came to her (mother) and informed her about an ongoing meeting that both of them should go together.

She said her mother accepted to join her friend because they were told that visitors came to have a meeting with the community not knowing the supposed visitors were the so-called witch hunters.

She told the TRRC that they found people drumming and dancing at the village
bantaba (square).

“I went to the meeting ground but I found them drumming, dancing and my arrival coincided with my mother boarding a vehicle,” she said.

She said she saw men in military uniform armed with guns and some dressed in all red that went round in the community and abducts people
she said those who resist abduction were forced to comply.
She said: “The people that were abducted were the ones dancing and they were told that they were going to cure them.”

She said these people were made to dance against their will, adding that the abducted people were all elderly.
Fatou Fatty said some of them were forced to come to the village square while others came voluntarily.

“They told us they were witch hunters,” she said, adding the numerous people she saw on the bus were all from Jambur village.”

She said before her mother was abducted and given the concoction, she was healthy and goes to the garden by herself but after drinking the concoction, she began having health complications.

“When she returned, I saw wounds on her mouth with a broken tooth. She came home dizzy. Until her demise, she was never the same. Even if she wanted to go the bathroom she would fall,” she said.

She said her late mother became weak and object frequently fell from her hands as she could not hold them firm.

“Sometimes the things she used to say are incomprehensible because she could no longer speak clearly,” she said.
She said her Nyima was not able to communicate to any of her children because of her situation then.

She said no more than three days after she was forced to drink the concoction, her mother was hospitalized at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital in Banjul for a month.

“She did not improve until she died. She did not even open her eyes until she died,” she said.

PHOTO: President Barrow

It Is Hypocritical For Me to Be Describe as a Lame President- Barrow tells the Sheriff’s

By Ousman A. Marong

The president of the Republic of The Gambia, Adama Barrow has referred to some Gambians as hypocritical in describing him as a lame president.

"I am not a lame president. I became the president of this country through the prayers from the sheriff’s. Before I became president there was a funeral in my home village in Mamkamang-Kunda and there was this Sheriff in attendance; who happened to offer us prayers and identifies a certain amount of charities to us to be taking out. We gave out the identified charities and within 6 years’ time I become the president of the country,” he explained.

He made the disclosure on Friday 8^th November, 2019 during his meeting with a cross-section of Sheriff’s from Ecowas.

“It is hypocritical for Gambians to describe me as a lame president. I am not a lame president. People went to an extent labeling me as a president. some even said I am afraid to talk to my own people. If I were afraid how able am I talking to the masses in canvassing them to vote for during my campaign,” he quizzed.

He retorted that there cannot be two presidents in the country, adding that there is only one legitimate president in the county and that is him.

“I know the oppositions are after my seat, but whosoever is interested in succeeding me should wait tell 2021 presidential election. The country at this crucial time needs more prayers as we face growing political rifts,” he remarked.

In his part, Buneneh Sadi Hydara in his opening remarks said their visit to the country is part of efforts to offer “National Prayers” to the country and the needy. He urged President Barrow to be more proactive in leadership.

“You are the president today and tomorrow. Ignored all opposition talks and concentrate on your good works,” he advised.

 

He revealed that there are bad elements within the borders with all ears waiting for trouble to occur where they will sneak in to do whatsoever bad they wanted.

“I demand from you to appoint me as your defense minister. Mr. President if you happen to appoint me as your Defense Minister I will make sure I safeguard the peace and stability of the country. If I am appointed as defense minister I will correct many wrongdoings, in which I will punish, jail, and imprison many bad people,” he said.

  

Sheikh Ibn Saida Hydara, on the other hand, requests a diplomatic passport from President Barrow, which he said will help ease their traveling as Sheriff's.

Musa Drammeh, Minister of Local Government and Lands, described the visit as timely.

He thanked the Sheriff’s in their efforts in ensuring here is peace and stability in the country.

He further described President Barrow as a man of peace.

“President Barrow is a man with luck simply because normally it is the people who will go after the Sheriff's, but here we are witnessing the Sheriff’s meeting the president by themselves and praying for him," he said.

PHOTO: Mustapha Ceesay (Credit culled from his Facebook)

Former IGP Promotes Officers Based On Their Loyalty to Former President Jammeh – Says Mustapha Ceesay

By Ousman A. Marong

Mustapha Ceesay former Administrative Officer of the Gambia Police Force (GPF) has allegedly told the Truth Commission that former Inspector-General of police Ensa Badjie alias Jesus promote police officers based on their loyalty to former president Yahya Jammeh.

Testifying before the Commission in Dunes Hotel, via Skype from his UK base, Ceesay informed the Commission that former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ensa Badjie informed them (police officers) that their promotion was to done be based on their loyalty to former president Yahya Jammeh.

He said Mr. Badjie made the pronouncement at Kanilai during harvest to former President Jammeh’s farm.

“During the harvesting condoms were been distributed amongst security officers. I felt offended and asked myself to as why would a president called us to harvest on his farm and condoms are been distributed. I went straight into the mosque and put all the mikes on and started preaching,” he explained.

He named names such as Modou Sowe, Aziz Bojang, Ousman Cham, and Ousman Sonko amongst others to be those present during the harvest to former president Jammeh’s farm.

He said prior to the witch-hunt, former IGP Ensa Badjie was present at the parade held at the police headquarters in Banjul.

“He (Ensa Badje) was present at the parade ground prior to the witch-hunt and he made the announcement before us that there will be a witch-hunting exercise to be conducted at the police headquarters and any police officer who refused to be obliged will be sacked off their job. The witch-hunters were dressed in complete red. Their leader had a big mirror and in the middle of the mirror there are small cowries surrounding all over his body,” he remarked.

The witness recalled seeing Solo Bojang former State House officer in the midst of witch-hunters accompanying them.

He alleged that the witch-hunters were using state vehicles with security officers to accompany them in carrying out their duties.

He further alleged that former IGP Ensa Badjie conducted the parade and informed them (the officers) that former president Jammeh had ordered witch doctors to effect search on officers. He added that Ensa Badjie told them whosoever was identified as witch or wizard will die or something will happen.

"Ensa Badjie told us that each security officers were to swear Allegiance to former president Jammeh. He said some officers were going to be identified and whosever failed to oblige will face the consequences," said the witness.

He informed the Commission that Ensa Badjie was the one who slaughtered the cock while FRI Jammeh slaughtered the goat. 

“The witch-hunters went away with a bottle of the concoction which was buried in the premises of the police headquarters,” he asserted.

 The witness said he was informed by one of his colleagues who went to Baba Jobe’s compound and confirmed that the July 22^nd boys were torturing old women.

“They saw them beating them and pouring water on them telling them “Atoll mu buwaleelati” meaning they were witches. They were not only beating them but pouring water on them,” he said.

He said when he visited his grandmother in Kiang Kantong-Kunda, he saw her running from the back attempting to climb over the fence.

“I rushed to her and announced myself to her. She was trembling and she was 85 at the time. I was told that the neighbors were threatening her that Yahya Jammeh’s witch – hunters will come for her. My grandmother told me she prefers to die than to drink their concussion and be labeled as a witch. She said she has lived her life in the most dignified way and she has never been labeled as a witch and therefore, she preferred to die than been called a witch,” said Mr.Ceesay.

He said he was told by an official at the Ministry of Finance that his aunty was raped multiple times by the green boys after drinking the concussion.

"Official from the Ministry of Finance informed me that my father had a kidney problem as a result of the concussion. One Sergeant Jahateh, a PIU officer was beaten severely after he attempted to defend his father from taking the concussion," he said.

He said some of the abductees were taken to Kanilai. He gave detailed testimony as to what he was told happened in other communities in Foni, Kombo and Nuimi areas as a result of the invasion of  Yahya Jammeh’s witch-hunting exercise.

Former IGP Led Witch Hunters to the Police Headquarters - Former CDO Tells TRRC

PHOTO: Abdou Colley

By Ousman A. Marong

Abdou Colley former, Chief Disciplinary Officer (CDO) of the Gambia Police Force (GPS) has told the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparation Commission (TRRC) that former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ensa Badjie led the team of witch-hunters to the police headquarters in Banjul.

According to him in the early morning of March 2009 he falls in his men and prepared them well, and they both dispersed and went into their various offices.

“Upon reaching our office we (the staff) saw a group of marabouts who were dressed in red, red uniform with their animal horns, mirrors, and cowries appearing before us. They were accompanied by former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ensa Badjie alias Jesus. They started searching the four corners of the buildings at the police headquarters in Banjul with their horns, mirror, and cowries. I was searched and nothing was found on me,” he explained.

He made the revelation at Dunes Hotel, testifying before the Commission.

“Former IGP Ensa Badjie alias Jesus ordered me to blow the horn during the searching at the police headquarters and I did,” he remarked.

He recalled former State House officer in the person of Solo Bojang to be part of the security officers who were accompanying the witch-hunters.

He revealed that the witch-hunters were rounding the four corners of the buildings of the police headquarters as if they were searching for something.

The witch-hunting was the state kidnap of over one thousand (1,000) villagers across the country in pass purge of witchcraft.

The witch-hunters were reported to have arrived in The Gambia from Guinea in the early years of March 2009, following the death of former president Yahya Jammeh's aunt.

He (Yahya Jammeh) was said to believe that witchcraft was used to kill her aunt.

“The witch-hunters pointed their horns, mirror, and cowries at Yahya Darboe, Mustapha Ceesay, Kumba Dampha, and selected them as witch and wizards,” he asserted.

He said the witch-hunters slaughter a goat together with a cock and dug a hole under a palm tree and buried them in the ditch.

“After burying them the marabout’s who were dressed in red, red asked the identified witches and wizards to report to them,” he said.

He alleged that former IGP Ensa Badjie alias Jesus ordered that the identified witch and wizards be taking to Kotu.

“Yahya Dorboe refused to go and nothing came out of it. Mustapha Ceesay was later transferred to Fatoto police station. His transferred might have some connection in his identification as a wizard," he opined.