MFWA Holds Discussions with Gambian President Adama Barrow

The President expressed gratitude to the MFWA saying “I thank you for all the great support to The Gambian people over the years and I assure you that I will be media-friendly.”

The MFWA as part of its effort to strengthen the media to support the transition and democratic consolidation processes in The Gambia has deployed a four-member media-assessment mission to The Gambia.

The MFWA delegation in a group photograph with President Barrow

The delegation which shall be in The Gambia for one-week is holding discussions with government officials, media community and other key actors on the ground. The mission will produce a report that will highlight the media context in The Gambia, the challenges facing the industry and make recommendations on processes to strengthen the media.

High on the agenda of the MFWA mission will also be discussions on outstanding issues of impunity for crimes perpetrated against journalists by the Yahya Jammeh regime. The discussions on the issue of impunity will be mainly focused on the non-compliance by the Jammeh regime of three judgements of the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice delivered in favour of three journalists, Chief Ebrima Manneh (in 2008); Musa Saidykhan (in 2010); and Deyda Hydara (in 2014).

The MFWA Mission delegation with Manneh’s family

To this end the MFWA delegation met the family of Chief Ebrima Manneh, a victim of enforced disappearance in 2006.

“I want to know who murdered my son,” said 94 year old Mr Sarjo Manneh, father of the disappeared journalist as he sobbed while talking to the delegation.

Mr Sarjo Manneh, father of Ebrima Manneh

Mr Manneh said all he wanted was justice and has been having sleepless nights since his son disappeared.

The MFWA delegation assured Manneh’s family of the commitment of the organisation and its partners such as IFEX to ensure that justice is done and impunity for crimes against journalists brought to an end in The Gambia.

The MFWA and its national partner the Gambia Press Union have been working collaboratively over the years to promote press freedom under the repressive Jammeh regime. The two organisations are therefore committed to working together to strengthen the Gambian media sector

Regulating meat prices are among GLMA’s major challenge‘GLMA/Nema Plans to construct Livestock/Milk Facilities Countrywide’ said GLMA DG

Bakery Badjie, the director general of the Gambia Livestock Marketing Agency (GLMA) has unveiled that his institution entered into agreement with the Nema Project to construct Livestock and Milk Production Facilities countrywide.

Speaking during a meeting with Agriculture Minister who was on tour of institutions under his ministry said they are working on revitalizing the livestock associations to enable them achieve and sustain this initiative.

Being institution responsible for marketing and management of livestock trade in the country, he said GLMA needs to create market to promote local production.

Mr Badjie recollected that GLMA was established through an Act of Parliament in 2008, meant to create employment for Gambians. He said therefore that money is injected in this sector, to help among others, facilitate transport of livestock to a more commercial sector.

He also spoke of the need to embark on sensetisation farmers on the activities undertaken  

Commenting on the ongoing activities, he said, access to credit has been increased and extension workers are engaged on cattle tax collection activities.

He also said access to market has been increased, especially during Tobaski feasts, they facilitate availability, accessibility and affordability of rams.

He said they also collect data on cattle movements and review report every year.

GLMA/Nema Plans to construct Livestock/Milk Facilities Countrywide’ said GLMA DG

 

Bakery Badjie, the director general of the Gambia Livestock Marketing Agency (GLMA) has unveiled that his institution entered into agreement with the Nema Project to construct Livestock and Milk Production Facilities countrywide.

Speaking during a meeting with Agriculture Minister who was on tour of institutions under his ministry said they are working on revitalizing the livestock associations to enable them achieve and sustain this initiative.

Being institution responsible for marketing and management of livestock trade in the country, he said GLMA needs to create market to promote local production.

Mr Badjie recollected that GLMA was established through an Act of Parliament in 2008, meant to create employment for Gambians. He said therefore that money is injected in this sector, to help among others, facilitate transport of livestock to a more commercial sector.

He also spoke of the need to embark on sensetisation farmers on the activities undertaken  

Commenting on the ongoing activities, he said, access to credit has been increased and extension workers are engaged on cattle tax collection activities.

He also said access to market has been increased, especially during Tobaski feasts, they facilitate availability, accessibility and affordability of rams.

He said they also collect data on cattle movements and review report every year.

Scorpions Play Morocco, CAR in March Friendlies

As part of preparations for the 2019 African Cup of Nations qualifiers, The Gambia National Men’s Football Team has lined up two friendly matches this month with Morocco and the Central African Republic. The matches, to be played in Morocco, will see the Scorpions square off against the hosts on March 23 before the wind up their one-week camp in the north African country with another game against the CAR on March 27.

The Gambian team, to be made up of both foreign and local based players, is expected to arrive in Morocco on March 21 where they will stay until the 28^th of the month. The technical team comprises of head coach, Sang Ndong and his assistants Omar K. Sise and Matarr Mboge.

“The games are confirmed; we will play the CHAN team of Morocco and the CAR [senior national team]. We expect to receive some players from the old squad and the new players we have invited to join us. So far the response that we’ve got is positive and the players are willing to come and join us,” Sang Ndong said.

“We are still convincing some new players playing in England, Germany, France, Belgium and Italy to come and join us. We cannot consider the players that went to Europe through the ‘Backway’ because of their refugee status, until their status changes.”

Sang’s charges will play away to Benin in the opening game of the Afcon qualifiers in June this year, after which there will be no qualifier until March 2018 when the Scorpions host Algeria in Banjul, thus making this month’s test game very critical in preparations for the campaign.

“This window in March is our only opportunity to get to see these players in action before June. We have players playing in all the positions all over Europe and even though some of them are young, we want to get to see them in action.”

Agriculture Minister Visits institutions

The Minister forAgriculture  Omar Jallow, alias OJ on the 6 and 8 March 2017 visited  institution under his line ministry, from Planning Services Unit, Central Project Coordinating Unit (CPCU) and the Food and Agricultural Sector Development Project (FASDEP) under the Agriculture Department at Cape Point in Bakau, Agricultural Model Horticulture Centre in Wellingara,  Department Livestock  Services, the Nema Project, both in Abuko and a final meeting with the Livestock Dealers Cooperative Society.

The tour was characterized by meetings with staff ranging from directors to drivers and cleaners, visits to offices, project sights and agricultural developments programs. 

The OJ was accompanied by his Permanent Secretary- Saite Drammeh and Momodou Mbye Jabang CPCU Coordinator.

 The Agriculture Communication Unit, the Disease Control Lab, Poultry Farms and other administrative offices at the Livestock Department were among places visited at the Livestock Department.

At the FASDEP project in Bakau, a micro-garden including cabbages, garden eggs, tomato, pepper, among others grown on Framed-Tables, on which nylon bags are spread, with soul sprinkled on it- mix with groundnut cells and manure, was among places visited.

During meetings held with the respective departments and units, staff lamented challenges in getting the required facilities, ranging from deteriorating capacities, morbidity constraints. They also explained numerous projects being embarked upon, but call for more donors funding to enhance staff capacity, and improve on extension services. At the agricultural planning service unit an in-depth discussion on the defunct data system was discussed and proposals on the way forward made. While assuring of his support to reactivate data collection system, the minister also called for staff commitment and dedication to services.

At the Nema Conference Hall in Abuko, project staff explain various projects beings embarked upon and highlighted numerous challenges confronting them, while the minister continue to assure that his office is upon to them towards addressing challenges and enhance development.  The final meeting for first week of the Minister’s visit of line departments was the Livestock Dealers Cooperative Society at the Abateur in Abuko.

During meeting with the Livestock Dealers, they explain frustrations they went through during the recently ended APRC Government and appeal for appropriate measures to regain back their lost glories. Among problems they encountered were eviction and generally unstable working environment, arrests, detentions,- sometimes for asking Former President- Yahya Jammeh to pay back cattle he loaned from them.

The new agric minister in his respond assured them of his office support towards achieving common goals. He advice them to strengthen their Cooperative so that they stands chance to enable them collaborate with government more effectively.

Francis Mendy, a staff called for more staff commitment towards their job.

Saite Drammeh, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture in his remarks said he took note of the stated challenges and promised that needed follow-ups will be conducted.

He said the down-sizing of the unit in the pasts is among reasons for the challenges being faced with currently. He acknowledged that morbidity is a challenge, but added that they are trying to embark on project activities to address such challenges. He said the planning unit is what moves the Agriculture Ministry, adding that money is being given for data collection purposes. “We can’t get funds without appropriate data system. We were told that the tablets- used for data collection in past were crashed. We have lot of young people that need job. If there is budget the existing vacant positions will be filled,” Mr Drammeh said.

Momodou Mbye Jabang- CPCU Coordinator commended Minister Jallow for his pragmatism. He described his unit as nerve centre for all donor funded projects under the agriculture department. He said among issues CPCU came to address is issues of duplication efforts that arised.

Commenting on the activities that the unit is embarking on, he said the plan launched in The Gambia links to Ecowas Agricultural Policies and continental agricultural development plans.

He said among the projects they are running includes 21 vegetable gardens in North Bank Region and Upper River Region respectively. He added that the unit also hosts the Soil and Water Management Project and the Agricultural Valued Chain Development Project. “We do lot of projects, including rice and livestock productions, but access to market is a problem,” he said, adding that about 500 hectares land area has been surveyed in URR, and they have livestock projects all over the country.

He further stated that other projects under his unit includes the Food and Agricultural Development Project in Bakau supported by the Agricultural Development Program and the NEMA project funded by IFAD and ADB concentrated on land development.

He also explained that a Draft Agricultural Policy is in place, and with the advent of  the new Government there is need to rush up to finalise the policy.