Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 112/2007, 24 – 25 September 2007
Editorial
Peace Building
A Must for All Societies
The one-day international celebration highlighting the importance of peace
in all parts of the world is quite significant. War does not only devour
lives, it often destroys infrastructure and creates disaster, which undermines
economic development, generates social problems sometimes of catastrophic
magnitude.
Human beings live in society and are therefore compelled to relate to one
another. Individuals relate to one another; groups of individuals relate to one
another within a given society and societies relate with one another. Such
relations can be one of cooperation or domination.
As society metamorphosizes from one stage to another the masses, in their
pursuit to protect their common economic, political, social and cultural
interest have succeeded in imposing instruments in accordance with the demands of
the times. Such instruments which have defined the standard of practice for
society, have undergone numerous refinement as required by time and
circumstances to make them better serve the common interest.
Such an instrument may be a national instrument called a constitution or an
international instrument such as the UN Charter or the UN Declaration on
Human Rights.
Such legal instruments protect the sovereignty and equality of nations and
peoples; the fundamental rights of individuals, etc. In short all forms of
political, economic, social and cultural rights which, if respected can go a
long, long way in ensuring peace and stability in the world.
One group of individuals or society exploiting and oppressing another and
leaving them to languish in poverty and misery can only serve as a source of
conflict. It is part of peace building for political leaders from all sides to
respect and defend the sovereign will of the people.They can follow the
example of Ahmed Tijan Kabbah who did all he could to ensure free and fair
elections while relinquishing power. It is also part of peace building for
governments to ensure that human rights are promoted and protected, good governance
prevails and poverty averted.
Groundnut Pricing
By Bubacarr K. Sowe
The Secretary of State for Agriculture, Kanja Sanneh has informed the
National Assembly that the Department of State for Agriculture is not responsible
for the pricing of groundnuts. Mr. Sanneh made this statement while replying
to a question posed by the National Assembly Member for Sami, Lamin Ceesay,
who wanted to know the price of groundnuts per metric tonne in the 2007/2008
trade season. “The pegging of the producer price for groundnuts is not the
responsibility of my Department of State,” Mr. Sanneh responded.
Asked by the Member for Niamina East, Foday Jallow, what plans are afoot to
avoid a repetition of the past situation in the groundnut trade sub-sector,
the Secretary of State referred the member to his previous answer.
The Member for Wuli West, Sidia Jatta, asked the SoS what plans are in place
to get farmers paid whose cotton produce was bought on credit by buying
agents. Mr. Sanneh responded that the marketing of cotton is not the
responsibility of his Department of State, but The Gambia Divestiture Agency.
Mr. Jatta enquired how much cotton was produced last season and how much
money was owed to the cotton farmers, the SoS said, “I kindly refer the
Honourable Member to my answer to the last question”.
WANEP Celebrates World Peace Day
By Isatou Bittaye
The West Africa Network for Peace Building (WANEP) The Gambia has organised
a forum to commemorate International World Peace Day on Friday September 21
at the Paradise Suites Hotel. Speaking at the forum, Pamela Cole, Coordinator
of WANEP said the International World Peace Day is a day set by the United
Nations to be celebrated yearly and that the day will serve as remembrance for
the people and organisations that peace needs to be observed. She said there
can never be development without peace and the Gambia has joined the World in
celebrating the day in peace. Madam Cole noted that the day would also serve
as a remembrance of millions of people trapped in the World such as
refugees; children sold and raped victims among others. She said there has been a
decline in every form of violence in the World except terrorism. On the
requirements of Peace, She noted that peace has different meanings, which include the
absence of poverty, violence and respect for human rights. Madam Cole added
that peace requires not only the absence of violence but also the presence of
justice. She however challenged everyone to take steps in the struggle for
peace building and maintenance, noting that that is the battle, which requires
fighting daily.
Also speaking, Mr. Ousman Yabo of TANGO said peace is a noble word but
cannot be present with too much inequalities, political and religious intolerance,
poverty and disease. Mr. Yabo added that unless all these problems are
tackled peace couldn’t prevail. He said that it is high time for the leaders to
recognise and practice good governance and be tolerant to the people. He
indicated that there is also unfair distribution of wealth in the World, which also
serves as a threat to peace.
Deputising for the speaker of the National Assembly, Hon Netty Baldeh said
the National Assembly is committed in ensuring peace. Mr. Baldeh was talking
on ‘the role of the National Assembly in expanding peace and people’s freedom.
’ He noted that democracy is the only system that provides for peace and in
the absence of democracy there cannot be representatives and a responsible
National Assembly. The NAM said peace is the foundation of human development,
in a stable and secured environment where social justice, women’s emancipation
and child rights, among others, exist. Mr. Baldeh emphasized that on certain
occasions he had to vote against government when his conscience dictates
that the interest of the public is not being served. He also noted that peace
had to be shown with commitment and that peace must be solved with diligence
and diligence goes with tolerance.
Investing in Peace is Cheaper
Professor Nicodemus Awasom, Chair of Exams and Education at the University
of The Gambia speaking on the topic “citizens and peace building” said peace
is a priceless commodity and the Gambia is exceptional because it is an
Island of peace. Professor Awasom noted that many don’t appreciate peace until it
eludes them. He said investing in peace building is cheaper than ending war.
Professor Awasom added that the civil society has an important role in
maintaining peace, noting that the government is just a partner in peace building.
He said that the family, religious bodies and organisations also have a
crucial role in peace building and that in maintaining peace, all hands must be on
deck.
Mrs. Hannah Foster, Director of the African Center for Democracy and Human
rights, said no peace is without human right, justice and participation. She
indicated that peace is a right and duty, which should involve the advancement
of women and men, and the ability to break the psychotic form of violence.
Mrs. Foster noted that if you want peace you should not talk to your friends
about it but rather those who you termed as enemies and she called for the
reduction of arms and bombs.
Deputising for Halifa Sallah, Mr. Ousman Sillah, spoke on the topic “Is
peace and security ever possible in the world in the face of the war on Terror,
widespread global corruption and poor governance which continue to pose new
forms of violence and insecurity: what challenges and prospects are there for
peace building in the New Millennium?.” In sharing his perspective, Mr. Sillah
said if the war on terror is being waged against religious bigotry and
fundamentalism then it should be supported by all those who cherish freedom and
peace. He said the war on terror that we see today is being waged by certain
powers who want to impose their will on others; that they do not represent the
interest of the majority of the people of the world but that of a few. He
postulated that the discussion of peace is a question of life, suffering and
death. Mr. Sillah said that peace cannot be attained by mere prayers or
incantation; that peace is something that is built and worked for; that peace is
normative and cannot be realized without justice; that justice prevails when
rights are being respected for people to live a dignified life. Mr. Sillah said
that it is good governance and democracy that engenders peace. He said peace
cannot be imposed and that peace is also not the absence of physical
violence; that psychological violence (stress), the restlessness of young people to
emigrate, domestic violence, poverty, hopelessness, unemployment, job
insecurity all contribute in creating an unpeaceful environment. On the need for
peace, Mr. Sillah said peace is the creation of a space that enable human beings
the ability and latitude to realize their fullest potentials and a fulfilled
life. He concluded that all is not gloom and hopelessness; that these are all
man-made problems and are challenges that we can overcome with
determination; that with good governance, democracy and due process in place and with the
awareness and struggle for rights, peace will prevail.
Other speakers included Lt. Col. Masaneh Kinteh, GNA Commander, Mr. Alieu
Darboe of Action Aid International The Gambia and Mr. Fabakary Kalleh of Youth
Ambassadors of Peace. Students of Marina High and Primary Schools sang songs
and read poems on peace. Young people also made drama performances from YIDAC
and the Nova-Scotia Gambia Association depicting peace and the daily
happenings in life.
Rural Electrification!
Mansakonko, Others Without Electricity
By Yaya Dampha
Information reaching Foroyaa has it that the Rural Electrification project
is not working as expected by the people in the Lower River Region.
This reporter examined the situation on the ground and discovered that in
Lower River Region, before the coming of the Rural Electrification Project
(REP), there used to be electricity supply in the following communities: Soma,
Karantaba, Sankwia, Kani-kunda, Mansakonko and Pakalinding. However, according
to the source, with the advent of REP the supply is only limited to Soma and
Pakalinding and three street lights in Toniataba; that Karantaba, Sankwia,
Kanikunda and the administrative headquarters, Mansakonko, are all without
electricity; that this has increased discomfort in these communities.
According to NAWEC officials in the area, the REP has only constructed one
exchange station in Pakalinding and their supplies are coming from the
powerhouse built at Farafenni in the North Bank Region. The officials further told
this reporter that after the commissioning of the project, they realised that
anytime they supplied Jarra, the power went off. They said up to the time of
the interview, they could only supply two villages in Jarra and these were
Soma and Pakalinding.
Today is D-Day for Tabara Samba
By Fabakary B. Ceesay
The well publicized murder trial between the state and Madam Tabara Samba is
set to end today, Monday, 24 September. The trial Magistrate Pa Harry
Jammeh, is ready to deliver judgment on the matter at the Kanifing Magistrates’
Court.
Madam Tabara Samba is standing trial for killing her husband, Mr. Ebrima
Nyan, at Old Jeshwang, sometime in March this year. Madam Samba was alleged to
have poured hot oil on her husband while he was sleeping in bed which led to
his untimely death. At the beginning of the trial her first counsel withdrew
from the case due to personal reasons. After this the trial did not proceed
due to the lack of legal representation for her. At the latter part two
humanitarian female lawyers, Mrs. Amie Joof Conteh and Ms. Lubna Farrage,
volunteered to represent her without cost. They called for either a fresh trial or to
re-cross examine the witnesses who had testified in the trial. The trial
Magistrate decided to recall the witnesses to be cross examined again. By the end
the trial the prosecution called ten (10) witnesses while the defence called
two (2) witnesses including the accused herself. The prosecution has
addressed the court orally on the matter, while the defence filed a written address
to the court. Today, Monday, 24 September, Magistrate Jammeh will decide the
fate of Madam Tabara Samba based on the evidence adduced from both sides and
the law.
NIA Diamond Case
Defence Raises Concern Over Delay
By Fabakary B. Ceesay
The long dragging criminal case between the state and six ex-officers of the
National Intelligence Agency (NIA) did not proceed in full swing at the
Kanifing Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 19 September. The matter was before
Principal Magistrate Moses Richards. The state counsel A.S Umar applied to tender
the cautionary and voluntary statements of all the six accused persons. The
application was granted and the statements were tendered as exhibits. Mr.
Umar also applied for an adjournment due to the absence of his witness. He also
said he wanted to review all the documents pertaining to the case in order to
avert further delay in the trial.
The defence counsel, Mr. Lamin Jobarteh did not object to the state counsel’
s application but raised concerns about the case. Mr. Jobarteh said the
matter is a criminal case and their liberty has been at stake for almost three
(3) years now. He urged the prosecution to speed up with their case. The
matter is adjourned till October.
The six ex-NIA officers are standing trial for allegedly robbing two German
Nationals of their properties, including 206,000 US dollars, 8 pieces of raw
diamond, two cell phones and a shaving machine.
MARRIAGE AND FAMILY
BLACKMAIL, JUSTICE AND SENTIMENT
By Amie Sillah
Part 5
A Dream Comes True
Greg and Daado became married. It was a simple classic marriage. The Duo
wanted it that way. They are two of a kind. Greg is rich but very modest,
likewise Daado. Friends, relatives and loved ones attended the ceremony. There was
enough to eat and drink, merriment and fulfillment on both sides. Greg and
Daado loved themselves.
The Reception
The ‘devil’ appeared at the reception party uninvited. He spoiled Daado’s
happy day. He harassed, tormented, threatened and blackmailed her. Justin
waited until Daado was alone. He dragged her aside and said. “I want to see you
tomorrow at the Sun lodge at 6pm sharp. If you fail, you know what I can do. I
have the videotape of our escapade and also your pregnancy report. See the
son of the devil tomorrow”. He tried to kiss Daado but she turned her face
away. Greg appeared. He came to look for his wife. “Where is my beautiful wife?
My friends and relatives are asking for you”. He held her hand. Justin
greeted him with respect and said. “Congratulations Mr. Greg! You are very lucky to
win the coveted prize”. Greg shook his head and said. “Thank you Doctor!
You are welcome”. He went away with his wife. Daado frowned at Justin. Greg
introduced Daado to his guests. “She is beautiful, graceful!” They all
exclaimed. Justin trailed behind the couple. He sneered at Daado when people are less
attentive. He stayed to the end and threateningly stared at Daado. She was
shaky but pretended to be normal.
The Appointment
Daado fulfilled her appointment after a fortnight. She came a bit late and
Justin complained. “Why are you late? You kept me waiting for an hour. I am
businessman and time means money. I can’t play with time!” Daado protested. “
Why Justin? Why? Why are you tormenting me? You know I am newly married. You
betrayed our friendship, my trust in you. What else do you want from me? Why
are you blackmailing me? I am not supposed to be here. You know it!” “Sit
down please!” Justin said. Daado refused to sit down. “I am not sitting down.
Say what you have to say and let me go!” “Okay! Please yourself madam. My
request is one million Dalasi and I keep my big mouth shut. I have records of
the pregnancy and the miscarriage”. Justin showed her the records. “I have
copied a sizeable number of them. I can show them to your husband and his family
if you don’t cooperate”. Daado was shocked and afraid. Justin threw the
papers at her. She became outrageous. “You are a bastard! A public dog! Where
can I get that kind of money? Daado asked. “From him Ofcourse! If he can pay
half a million to see your pretty face he can surely pay one million to save
your pretty ass. You have to appreciate. I am being very considerate here”. “
Have you gone bankrupt doctor?” The devil gave a devilish laughter and said. “
My family has a Multi-Million estate. I am a businessman. I do business.
This is business girlie! This is business!” “You are insane!” Daado exclaimed.
Justin laughed at her. Daado asked for time to get the money. “Yes! Take your
time to raise the money. I give you two weeks to do just that. Don’t do
anything stupid. I am ready for you. I am Doctor Justin. I am mean and dangerous.
I can go to any length to get what I want. Don’t play with me!” He
threatened Daado. He tried to kiss her but Daado turned her face away. She is now in
deep shit, as the Americans would say.
At Home
Daado became withdrawn, timid and nervous. Greg noticed it. Who wouldn’t? He
loved her and wanted to make her happy all the time. Greg asked Daado
whether she was okay. “I am alright”. Daado lied. “No! You are not. You are
worried, something is eating you up. What is it my sweetheart? Since we got married
you are not yourself. Are you hiding something from me?” “No! I am not”.
Daado then shed tears. Greg became more concern. “But you are shedding tears?”
Daado lied again “I am shedding tears of joy. I never thought I’ll marry
the most eligible bachelor in town, the famous and mega rich Greg Johnson!”
Greg embraced her and entered the house. He was not convinced. “Daado is hiding
something from me. She is kind of timid and scared. Perturbed and restless,
something is eating up my baby. Sooner or later I’ll find out”. He
soliloqued “Don’t carry your worries and pain to yourself. Marriage is sharing of Joy
and pain, for better or for worse; in health or sickness till death do us
part. Daado! Even if death parts us physically it will not part us in spirit”.
Greg embraced and reassured Daado. “I am overjoyed!” Daado lied to Greg.
At The Office
At the office Daado asked the Financial Manager to transfer one million to
her account. Mr. Jobe asked whether Greg was aware of it. Daado lied. “Yes he
is aware. I am into precious stones business”. She explained.
Another Appointment
They met at the rendez vous. Justin mimicked, mocked and geared at Daado. “
Madam Greg! Have you brought the money?” Daado threw the bag at him. “Here is
one million! Take the buck and leave me alone for God’s sake. I regret
knowing you and to have anything to do with you! You are wicked Justin! You are
evil!” She was almost in tears. Justin took the money and gave her the escapade
cassette. He put his hand at her shoulder. Daado took it off. “Watch the
film Madam. Exclusively, all alone”. “Son of a bitch! Bastard! God will punish
you!” Daado left. He provoked her. “You cannot bluff me. I had you before
your husband”. He mocked at her.
Daado Watches
The Escapade Film
Dado watched the horror film. How Justin drugged and ravished her. She cried
in shame. She blamed her naivety. Greg knocked at the door. She panicked and
put off the video cassette player. Greg entered and enquired. “What are you
watching?” He held the cassette jacket. “It must be a nice film. Lets watch
it. I want to join the fun”. Daado hesitated. “Put it on! You don’t want me
to see it?” “No! It is not that”. “Then put it on!” Greg ordered.
FOCUS ON POLITICS
THE 1987 GENERAL ELECTIONS
RULING PARTY RESORTS TO RELIGION AS ELECTION DRAWS NEAR
With Suwaibou Touray
We have been focusing on politics in this column and this motivates us to
narrate the history of The Gambia from pre-colonial to Post-Independence epoch.
We have since then followed the narration of events up to 1987, which was an
election year for both Presidential and House of Representatives.
In the last issues we have narrated a debate as to whether the elections
(1987) would be free and fair. We stopped where we said Gambian democracy was at
this stage sort of dominated by an elitist view, which cast doubt on the
capacity of the people to critically participate in politics. Let us continue
from where we stopped.
Barely one week to go for the 1987 elections, the opposition parties that
were allowed to utilize the national radio were yet to do so. The PDOIS which
was refused air time had to utilize other options such as holding symposia so
as to send their view across to the populace.
On Saturday, January 30th, 1987, over one thousand people responded to their
invitation on a discussion on the SeneGambia Confederation at the Gambia
High School hall. The PDOIS also broke with tradition and invited both the
Senegalese and Gambian authorities to the debate as a mark of fair play. They
invited the then Attorney Generals of both The Gambia and Senegal.
The theme of the discussion was the “Constitutionality of the SeneGambia
Confederation”. The Attorney General of Senegal diplomatically honoured the
invitation by sending a representative but the Gambian authorities did not.
Mr. Sidia Jatta, the Chairman of PDOIS spoke first in both French and then
English. Mr. Jatta dwelt on the perspective of the SeneGambia Confederation.
According to the Nation, he attacked those engaged in false historical notions
that the peoples of the SeneGambia at one time shared the same boundaries.
He referred to an article in the “West Africa Magazine,” by one Ousman
Manjang who argued that different empires and kingdoms existed in the West Africa
region, which were all independent of each other. He gave an example of Sine
Saloum and stressed the fact that some people were trying to mislead the
public for their political interest. Sidia insisted among other things that there
were many boundaries engulfing different kingdoms in the SeneGambia region;
that the area that we call the Gambia and Senegal was never a single political
entity before the arrival of the colonialists.
Halifa Sallah also spoke at length and expressed his disappointment on the
absence of the ministers of Justice of both Gambia and Senegal. He cajoled
that people who believe in democracy should not be afraid to justify their
actions, especially when demanded by the people. He spoke at length on Gambia’s
1970 constitution and the OAU charter to justify that the confederation agreed
to by Diouf and Jawara was illegal.
According to the Nation Newspaper, Halifa argued among other things that the
President of The Gambia could never become the President of the SeneGambia
Confederation. He asserted that this has been confirmed by the confederal
constitution itself; that Senegal’s President shall be the President of the
confederation. Halifa brilliantly argued that in times of war, the president of
the confederation has all rights to control the movement of goods, fuel etc in
both countries.
According to the Nation, contributions from the floor showed that Gambians
were dissatisfied with the SeneGambia Confederation and opined that it should
be regarded as a genuine desire to replace it by a system that is opposed to
what these present advocates of the confederation were propounding, which
they said seemed suspicious. The Nation stated that the applause in the hall in
support of the PDOIS argument against the SeneGambia Confederation was an
indication of a demand for a review of the whole affair.
At this stage, the ruling PPP simply shied away from the PDOIS and its
arguments. Many believed that the reason why Jawara excluded the PDOIS from
airtime over the radio was simply to avoid the embarrassment these revelations were
likely to make. Based on the reports in the ruling party organ, the PPP
appeared to be disturbed by the PDOIS style of campaign, which is based on
polemics (evidenced based campaign). It was at this stage that the Nation said the
PPP were being described as the Reaganites. The Nation teased that the PPP
does not want an opposition that would threaten or challenged their position;
that the PPP is simply banking on the hope that the populace does not
comprehend the issues raised by the PDOIS.
According to the Nation, the PPP was also accused of turning to religion in
their campaign with the hope that it might serve to soften resistance from
those who opposed them. For example, the PPP propagated the idea that it was
God (Allah) who put Jawara there and all those who opposed him opposed God as
well. According to the papers, the PPP was not really confident that their
strategy of using the election machinery would work this time around because of
the clear information given to the masses; that they therefore employed the
other tactic of buying the voter’s cards of the poor and unenlightened elector’
s who they suspect were not in support of them. The Nation states that
perhaps the payment of D100 for every voter’s card taken from some voters might
help them. The lesson to be derived from it, opined the Nation is, “if you
cannot convince others through debates or by facts, bribe them”.
By February 25, the PPP, represented by Mr. Bakary B. Darboe, Mr. I.B.A
Kelepha Samba and Mr. Saihou Sabally utilized PPP’s airtime. Mr. B.B Darboe who
spoke first said among other things that there was little difference between
PPP, NCP and GPP whose leaders he said were members of the PPP. He urged the
people to vote for the PPP. Mr. Kelepha Samba, the newly elected chairman of
the PPP at the time, spoke briefly on the history of the Gambia before
independence in 1965. He then referred to the development brought about by the PPP
such as roads, buildings, hospitals and health centers, wells for rural
peoples and so on and so forth. Mr. Saihou Sabally spoke last and reiterated what
Mr. Samba had said. This exhausted the airtime given to the PPP.
On the 26 February 1987, the NCP, utilized the airtime and dwelt on the
deteriorating economic situation, which he opined was caused by a corrupt PPP
Government. He said the PPP government had misused the nation’s money. He
vehemently denied being a tribalist. Mr. Dibba argued that life under the NCP would
not be hard and difficult but vowed that those who embezzled the Nation’s
funds would be punished. He said the Commission for the Evaluation of Assets
and Properties and Prevention of corrupt practices would be resumed.
Mr. Jabel Sallah who stood under UP/ NCP ticket in Banjul South spoke on the
adverse effects of the ERP on the economy. He said the president himself had
admitted that the economic situation had gone beyond repair. He then asked
what had happened to the healthy reserves in foreign Banks that the president
spoke about. He urged the people and asked, why not give NCP a chance for a
better future for all of us?
For the GPP, Mr. Assan Musa Camara said discipline should apply to all
levels of endeavor. He said there should be prompt action and a total commitment
to service; that there was a complete collapse of the socio-economic fabric of
our society, which he said, was deplorable. The GPP leader said GPP would
re-negotiate the country’s stand-by credit with the IMF and the structural
adjustment credit with the World Bank to ensure that:
a) The socio-economic and the welfare costs of the present
adjustment measures were equitably distributed, bearing in mind the interest of the
common man.
b) The Gambia’s debt is paid in accordance with the economy; debt
servicing capacity adjusted for the structural constraints represented by the
inequitable nature of international trade between the Gambia and its trading
partners.
c) Income of Gambians be adjusted to a level that restores their
purchasing power, through planned employment without aggravating the cost pushed
by inflation that has so drastically depleted the value of the Dalasi
d) That women are involved in all development programmes in both
planning and implementation stages, and said they should have equal access to
education and subsistence and production where necessary.
Mr. Camara finally denied engaging in tribal campaign .He accused the PPP of
trying to force people to vote for them. He finally expressed confidence in
the GPP.
See next issue as we analyze the 1987 election results and other matters.
FEATURE
“Painful Good-Bye to Home: Governance Failures as a Precipitant to
Emigration from Africa”
Well researched scholarly works that show useful insights into the myriad of
challenges that confront our societies are abound but only accessible to a
privileged few. These are seminal materials that invariably found themselves
lying on the shelves of the less accessed college, university or public
libraries and with their pages only waiting to be leafed through and dusted off by
a relatively limited number of students and academics engaged in research in
varied fields of study. Both the wealth of information contained in these
materials and the outcome of these educational research again follow the same
pattern or cycle of becoming knowledge destined for these libraries and being
sought after by the same limited number of students and academics. Some of
these works are printed in paperback and sold as books that are again affordable
to only a few in countries where the culture of reading and critical
mindedness are yet to take a firm root among its literate and non-literate
population, alike.
How do we ‘remove’ such valuable materials from within the four walls of
these educational fortresses and share the contents with the non-academic or
non-scholarly readers becomes a matter of concern. This is the one consideration
that compels me to search for materials with empirical ideas regarding
societal issues that can generate public discourse that contribute toward raising
awareness inorder to make a difference.
By courtesy of the COUNCIL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH IN
AFRICA (CODESRIA), headquartered in Dakar, Senegal, I am publishing the full
text of an article in the CODESRIA Bulletin, authored by Cage Banseka, which
thoroughly deals with the emigration phenomenon involving the young people
in our countries in its relation with the issue of governance. I am,
therefore, indebted to CODESRIA for this generosity. I was able to have access to this
material through Mr. Ebrima Sall, of Gambian nationality, who is the head of
the Research Department and with the kind permission of Mr. Nyamjoh,
Director of Publication.
This is not intended to be an academic exercise, but rather to help generate
or open up debate to discuss the pressing issues and challenges that
confront young people, in particular, and our society, in general.
This particular article deals with the so-called “Barcelona mba Barsakh”
syndrome, meaning the choices of either emigrating to ‘Barcelona or Death’,
which young people who are determined to change their lot for the better often
give themselves.
Immediately after the publication of this article, I would want to share
with the readers the full narration of the experience of a young Gambian
returnee who ventured to brave the open seas, with all its attendant dangers, in
search of greener pastures.
Ousman Sillah
Cage Banseka
African Union Mission
Khartoum, Sudan
What African countries have lacked during most of their history as
independent states are leaders who are unifiers, chiefs in the true sense, who bind
wounds, hold everything and everyone together, mobilise and motivate their
people, pursue a policy of inclusion rather than exclusion and are seen by one
and all to be of the highest integrity and beyond suspicion.– Adedeji Adebayo
(1999: 41).
A few years into the celebrated twenty-first century many Africans are
unrelentingly choosing to escape from their countries and questions are still
being asked about the capability of African states to become involved in an
effective management of resources, to put in place an appropriate design of policy
and an efficient discharge of functions, all designed at answering to basic
human needs. Can African states exhibit a predictable, open and enlightened
policy making a state system that is imbued with a professional ethos acting
in furtherance of the public good? Can Africans rely on their governments to
provide them reasoned freedom and the ability to pursue an integrated process
of personal self-development in a bid to acquire the things they have the
right to treasure at home?
These questions might sound like another definitional stigmatisation of
African politics.
However, many young people now seem to be of the conviction that development
in their countries is no longer concerned with enhancing their lives and the
freedom they wish to enjoy. They want to live lives that are richer and
unfettered, which allow them to be fuller social beings, and to interact with and
influence the affairs of their countries. They do not want to spend time
fighting for survival, and sporadically succumbing to substantive restrictions
to self-development. This is seen as the precipitant of emigration to the West.
The emigration phenomenon is apparently linked to the nature of the states
in Africa, their economic, political, and social situations. If the economic
and political realities back home were different, would these people choose
emigration? Many contrary views are held on these questions. However, the
reasons to prefer to face the unknown, to brave the life threatening journeys
through the high seas and estrangement at their destination seem very compelling,
and commentators can easily make recourse to the economic and political
malaise back in the African continent, personal ambition and human folly
notwithstanding.
This article examines the balance of present evidence that seems to suggest
weakness and failure on the part of the states in Africa as a precipitant to
the massive departures. We question why states allow people to leave for
refuge abroad, where they tend to tell odious stories, true or imagined, that
further betray and expose African states to international ridicule. Our
discussion focuses more on prevailing mores and norms in African governance, and the
generational fallout that might have led to massive and unrelenting
emigration despite the dangers and frustrations involved.
Does bad governance precipitate emigration?
Many years after independence some Africans are still waiting for their
leaders to reshape their venerable societies, eliminate the old parochial
fissures and replace them with nations that prioritise general welfare. Young people
are still waiting for their states to steer the way to unprecedented levels
of prosperity and to new heights of human development and dignity through a
series of both macro-level and micro-level social and economic policies. The
strong feeling among these people that states would somehow achieve for them
all the good trappings of a progressive economic, social and political welfare
cannot simply be dampened.
Governance and politics in some countries of Africa are still largely
concerned with the questions of how to survive (who gets what, when and how?) than
how to manage the affairs of the state in a way that benefits the entire
citizenry. The few answers that have been suggested by the politics of the
continent to these questions have seemed deeply unsatisfactory, especially for
those who are at the receiving end of politics, and who eventually develop the
feeling that they have no other alternative than to move to the West. They
leave behind them countries typified by stagnation and social decay, dilapidated
infrastructure, run-down housing, poor agricultural production and declining
life expectancies.
Save for a few countries, the leaders seem to be doing little or nothing to
restructure the distorted and disarticulated, dependent and underdeveloped
structures of the sub-continent’s social formations. Only little is being done
to empower the people, to strengthen and reconstitute national allegiance to
the state, and to challenge the cultural bastardisation to which
globalisation is subjecting the continent. Many leaders still keep confusing the
establishment of violent structures with the strengthening of the state. They often
confuse the harassment of the opposition elements, the asphyxiation of civil
society, political thuggery and criminal looting of the country’s resources,
with power. Put shortly, some opportunistic, decadent, irresponsible, largely
unproductive, shamelessly corrupt and ideologically barren class of
individuals run some African states, and mortgage the futures of young people.
African students who gain a valuable education in Western institutions no
longer seek to return to serve their own countries, and if they do then they
are a rare phenomenon. Upon arrival in the West many embark on the search for
naturalisation or other means to stay permanently in their host countries. In
many cases they abandon their educational pursuits. Naturalisation for them
is already an achievement of its own. It is an assurance of security that
their home countries have failed to give them. Through this process Africa’s
brains are being drained while leaders stand by idly and watch.
Generations of young people are growing in countries whose landscape is
dotted with unfinished projects, crumbling infrastructure, unhelpful bureaucracy,
capricious government policies, large scale mismanagement, waste and
political adventurism and the manipulation of political power. An accentuating
number of funerals accruing from the HIV infection have equally inspired awe and
put many n chagrin. All these have somewhat subverted the possibilities for
stability, peace and development, thus making any African youth see their
states as typical examples of blown opportunities, distorted dreams, an
illustration of he chaos theory, and typical examples of gangster politics (Akeya 1997:
346).
Many feel that some governments in the continent attempt to impose a
framework of order with a greater propensity for breakdown than for survival. Many
states have become fragile, and in many instances, prove quite unable to
tackle the conflicts which arise within or among them. Sometimes the state, as in
the Sudan, may break apart beneath the pressure of its own management. In
this sense the state is no longer the solution to the problem or the provider of
security, but part of the problem itself. The fact that the Sudanese
government, for example, has become aware of the feebleness of the instrument on
which it has to rely, makes it more determined to suppress any form of
opposition in their way. It is by this logic that this government has become the
primary instrument of violence directed against its own people. Such state
violence and failure are vividly illuminated in the number of Sudanese civilians
seeking refuge in Chad and elsewhere. These are mesmerised people for whom
their own state has so utterly failed to provide the basic necessities for
human existence that they prefer to leave their own homes to the unknown but
almost always wretched existence beyond the frontiers of their own state.
In Africa inefficiency and exploitation are less dramatic phenomena than
state violence, but they are the most recurrent. The extractive role of the
state and the degree to which it extorts revenues from the common man in order to
provide benefits to a privileged group of government employees or loyalists
and clients is very much more evident than its efforts to achieve a better
life for all. Unlike in the industrial capitalist states where one of the
functions of the government is to divert resources from producers to consumers,
and from those with more to those with less, African governments more often
than not make the transfer in the opposite direction. Resources are transferred
from those with little political influence to those with more political
influence. In this way African leadership makes itself distinctive from others
through the self perpetuating nature of groups of beneficiaries.
On the continent, inefficiency, exploitation and deprivation are all
expressed, not only through neo-patrimonial patterns of social relationships, but
most evidently through corruption, which simultaneously benefits those with
more political influence, while at the same time distorting the application of
any decent or universalistic criteria for governing a state or allocating its
resources and benefits. The African governments sometimes present the
external economy, and especially multinational companies, as exploitative forces to
their own domestic economy, but these companies often act as the mechanism
through which the same governing elite extracts a surplus from the economy, and
also a channel through which they establish a clientelist relationship with
the external world. Where states are efficient and accountable the role of
such transnational companies ceases to be a problem. Some of them employ locals
who otherwise would be tempted to depart to the West.
Conclusion
Some African countries have made commendable progress in development and
good governance at this time, and there might be some truism in the claim that
the recent mass attempts by Africans to emigrate to the West have been induced
by the world-wide-web and the television stations that bring images of
Western opulence even to the remotest parts of the world. However, the underlying
causes for emigration are more complex than these simplistic interpretations,
and no matter the positive balance sheet we might like to draw of African
economic and political development in the last few years.
It is true that deep-seated social and economic failures underlie some of
the problems faced by African states, but it is also accurate to say that these
problems themselves are in key respects political ones, for which political
solutions must be found before there will be any chance of improving the
social and economic structures that can improve livelihoods and keep people at
home. Yet it is certain that a political community’s existence can only be
founded on an adequate convergence of the interests of the various groups making
up the community, and on a sense of national consciousness and mutual
obligations. Furthermore, heterogeneity and disparate elements in African
communities render a common political life difficult, and one of the greatest errors of
some contemporary leaders has been to presume that they can command
homogeneity into existence by fiat. This equally scares some people and sets them on
the run.
One of the greatest tragedies of contemporary Africa lies in the fact that
many of those comparatively few states which have seemed to be in a position
to build effective institutions on the basis of shared and integrative values
have dramatically failed to do so. Mineral rich Democratic Republic of Congo,
oil rich Nigeria and fertile Uganda are some of the most striking examples.
In these cases the most evident source of the problem, expressed in the
concept of bureaucratic authoritarianism, has been the refusal of those ruling
elite to accept the diminution in their position of power and privilege which
accountability would imply, and their willingness to resort to repression and
constitutional changes as a means to protect it.
It should equally be noted that civil wars, prolonged strife among
communities, and military dictatorship have also greatly contributed to impeding
positive development in some African countries. People who think that effective
political order are remotely in prospect will choose to leave for places where
they feel there are hopes for reasonably skilful, people-centred and honest
governments of a non-personalistic kind.
Furthermore, the standards that some politicians try to set during their
electoral campaigns are often too unrealistic. If they finally come to power,
and with the depths of the problems to be solved becoming apparent, it becomes
more and more difficult to sustain the image of what they had thought would
be their political conduct. They end up becoming what Migdal has described as ‘
wind-up toys lumbering single-mindedly through the various stages of
development’ (Migdal, 1988: 5). Even by more modest standards, many states have
faltered badly in building the capacities to improve the situation of their
societies in ways commensurate with contemporary global developments. Their
failure to cultivate a national and unitary feeling among the citizens, and their
limited success in implementing their own legislation have ultimately affected
the very coherence and character of the states themselves and led to
widespread disillusionment and emigration among the people.
In some countries, and in the so-called century of hope, the future still
looks gloomy, and a new cynicism has crept into scholarship on African
development. There is only minimal participation by the state leaders in the
maintenance of economic ties between internal and external groups, all these pointing
to the limited penetration of society by the national centres of authority.
State-society relations only seem to be worsening. As exemplified by the
ongoing crisis in Ethiopia, what is now proving to be a common pattern is grave
suspicion and resistance to state designs by un-assimilating minorities who
now view government policies as presaging dire threats to their survival.
Development experts would suggest that the only solution to the problem of
emigration would be an amelioration of the economic and social conditions back
in the countries from where the immigrants are coming. While it might be odd
to argue against this view, there is the need to see the role of politics in
the process as well. If governments remain clientelist, corrupt, inefficient
and prebendal, if they fail to share the limited resources they might have
in an equitable and inclusive way, if the country is mismanaged, people will
become alienated, hopeless and breadless. Improving the economic situation of
badly governed countries might be good, but failing to correct political
wrongdoing will leave many of the problems that precipitate emigration unsolved.”
The above article was published in the CODESRIA Bulletin, numbers 3 and 4,
2006.
“Additional Tourism Development Areas,” SOS Colley
Bubacarr K. Sowe
The Secretary of State for Tourism and Culture, Angela Colley has said that
to promote the development of quality tourist facilities up country, her
department, in its Tourism Development Master Plan, will create additional
tourism Development areas, the majority being in the rural areas.
“The Department of State and the Gambia Tourism Authority will also
encourage investment in ecologies and other forms of tourist accommodation along the
banks of The River Gambia”, SOS Colley said.
She was responding to a question from Hon Bora Mass, the Member for Kiang
East, who asked for what plans her Department was making to improve the
provincial tourism industry, which could reduce unemployment in the provinces.
SOS Colley said: “We feel that in order to give the tourists a fuller
picture of The Gambia, and to enable the experience of the true and real Gambia, we
must sample the hospitality of the entire country”.
The Secretary of State added that the benefits of tourism trade must not
only be restricted to the urban areas, but must also spread to the rural areas
to help provide jobs and improve the livelihoods of the rural population.
Profile of the New AG
Marie Saine graduated at St Joseph’s High School in 1992 and later proceeded
to St Augustine’s High School where she took the A level exams in 1994.
She left the shores of this country in 1996 and travelled to Malaysia. She
enrolled at the Islamic University of Malaysia in 1996 where she studied law.
She obtained her law degree in 2000 and returned to The Gambia the same
year. She was called to the Gambian Bar the same year. She was appointed to the
position of state counsel that year. She later rose to the position of Senior
State Counsel and Principal State Counsel.
She later travelled to South Africa where she obtained her LLM in Human
Rights at the University of Pretoria in 2005. She returned to The Gambia and
continued working for the state. She was appointed acting Deputy Director of
Public Prosecutions in January 2007. She later become Technical Adviser at the
Office of the President, a position she held until her recent appointment as
Attorney General and Secretary of State for Justice.
Kanyiba Clocks One Year Incommunicado
By Fabakary B. Ceesay
Mr. Kanyiba Kanyi, a UDP supporter who was arrested at his home village of
Bonto in Kombo East, has now served one year in detention. Mr. Kanyi, a staff
of Christian Children Fund (CCF), was arrested on 18 September 2006. Mr.
Kanyi, has not appeared before any court of law on any charge since his arrest,
last year.
According to his family members, they have moved heaven and earth to locate
their breadwinner but to no avail. They said they visited all the suspected
locations where his captors might have detained Mr. Kanyi. They lamented that
they have been up to Janjangbureh Prison but could not establish his
whereabouts. They noted that they have made countless enquiries at the state central
prison at Mile Two, but which bore no fruits. They lamented how they are
living in a state of agony any time they think of their loved one. The family
members who were almost in tears, said they lacked words to express how
disheartening the continued detention of Kanyi is to them. They said they left
everything in the hands of God. Mr. Kanyiba had left behind a pregnant wife who is
now nursing a six month old baby boy. It could be recalled that Mr. Kanyi was
arrested at his home in the evening of 18 September 2006, by four
plainclothes men who identified themselves as state security agents. He was said to have
been forcefully pushed in a waiting cab and quickly whisked away. Since that
day, his family has never set their eyes on him. A case has been filed
before the High for his release.
Accused Sentenced For Assaulting Imam
By Modou Jonga
Magistrate E.F M’bai of the Brikama Magistrates Court on Wednesday 12
September, 2007 delivered his judgment on the trial involving one Samba Bah, an
Imam, and one Kemo Saho, the accused.
In delivering a lengthy judgment, the presiding magistrate recalled that the
accused was charged with assault leading to grievous bodily harm against the
complainant on 6 October 2005 at Farato in the Kombo North and that the
prosecution has called three witnesses.
The magistrate recalled that the complainant said he was cut with a cutlass
by the accused who hid behind a mango tree. He said the complainant informed
the court that he reacted by raising a stick to hit the accused, that he did
this with a weak strength due to the assault by the accused. The magistrate
said the offence was reported to the Brikama Police Station, and then to the
Health Centre, and that the white gown worn by the complainant at the time of
the assault was tendered and marked as an exhibit. While appreciating the
efforts of the defence counsel in defending their client, the magistrate
recalled that the complainant was subjected to unpleasant questions during cross
examination that were totally irrelevant to the court and offensive to the
complainant. The magistrate noted that the accused has admitted that he had a
tussle with the complainant, and that prior to the said assault, he had reported
the complainant to one Lamin Sonko, a community leader.
According to the magistrate, the medical certificate of the accused was
rejected by the court on the grounds that there are differences in dates of the
assault and the date the certificate was issued, but that the cloth worn by
the accused was tendered and admitted in court as exhibit.
The Magistrate further noted that the accused had called three witnesses in
the persons of Dembo Touray, Baba Sillah and Sadibou Camara.
Commenting on the address of the defence counsel, the magistrate recalled
that the defence counsels were of the view that the accused acted in
self-defence in the face of repeated provocations by the complainant. On the prosecution
’s address, the magistrate noted that the prosecutor is of the view that the
accused acted with intent to assault the complainant; that the accused had
assaulted the complainant.
The magistrate stated that he is not satisfied with the statement that the
accused acted in self-defence. He noted the fact that the accused was injured
twice and that the matter was reported twice to Brikama Police Station, but
nothing was done about it. He further expressed satisfaction that the
prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. The accused was found guilty
by the trial magistrate.
Lawyer Gomez urged the court not to impose a custodial sentence. He urged
the court to impose a suspended sentence as a safety precaution to avoid future
occurrence on the part of the convict, as the latter is a first time
offender and a family man.
The prosecutor, corporal Badjie, applied for compensation for the
complainant based on section 145 (1) of the Criminal Procedure Code. The convict was
accordingly sentenced to a period of two years and fined ten thousand dalasis,
in default to serve an additional one-year in prison. Both sentences are to
run consecutively.
Ous Jallow Starts Season on High
By Modou Nyang
Young Gambia superstar Ousman Jallow started his club season with a 5-1
bashing of Duba Alfugeirah on Thursday with Jallow setting up the opener.
Jallow returned to the first team of Alain FC after serving a season long
loan at Moroccan outfit Raja Casablanca. And recent Scorpions debutant marked
his return to the United Arab Emirates top club by notching the ball with his
head for Ahmad Khamis to score in the 11th minute.
However Duba sniffing danger with Alain’s early opener fought an canceled
out the lead in the 24th and ending the first period on even terms. But Alain
regrouped in the second and fired four goals to finish-off the match. Jallow
was substituted early in the second half by striker partner Naser Khamis.
The two sides – Alain and Duba Alfugeirah, opening their 2007/08 account in
the first round of the Head of State Cup championship competitions in Dubai,
and Alain showed good tact following a good preseason in Switzerland.
Brann Lament Tijan Absence
By Modou Nyang
Brann Bergen lost 1-0 at home to club Brugge in the UEFA Cup 1st round on
Thursday citing the absence of a number of star players including Tijan Jaiteh.
The Norwegian Tippelegien league leaders lost the young Gambian midfield
star to injury and his absence for the important game with other first team
players caused Brann to slip to a goal down late in the match.
Brann held on to the game until Francois Sterchele broke the deadlock in the
85th minute after the home side had already substituted leading goal scorer
Thorstein Helstad and Captain Martin Andresen to rest them for their coming
games. “I’m disappointed that we don’t play a better game, and I’m only
satisfied with some parts of the second half.”, Brann’s head coach Mons Ivar
Mjelde said after the match. “A draw or a win for us would have been fair, and it
’s annoying to get that goal against at the end”, Mjelde continued.
Brann now face a tough challenge to overturn the result on October 4th when
they travel to Belgium to face Club Brugge for the second leg. And it is not
yet clear whether Jaiteh will be fit to make the all-important trip. Brann
are favourites to win the Norwegian league they presently sit at the top with
42 points, 4 clear of their closest rival Viking FK.
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