The wife of former NPP now UDP member, Mbemba Drammeh, was arrested and released on bail by the Gambia Immigration Department. This follows Drammeh's arrest in December for alleged election rigging in favor of President Adama Barrow, after which he secretly returned to France. The court has issued a warrant for Drammeh's arrest for failing to appear in court to answer charges of seditious intent.

Senegalese businessman and opposition leader, Bougane Guèye, has announced plans to invest $25 million in The Gambia, following a meeting with President Adama Barrow. The investment will be directed towards several strategic sectors, including media, computer engineering, and agribusiness. This comes as Guèye's political activities have quietened, sparking speculation about a potential shift in focus towards business.

The Gambia Ports Authority (GPA) is planning to engage with the Sanyang community to address concerns over the ongoing ports expansion project, which involves the relocation of 461 properties and settlements. The community has demanded that all facilities of the deep sea port be located in the sparsely settled Tourism Development Area to avoid affecting any settlements. In response, the GPA has recognized the importance of community involvement in port development and is ensuring their representation in the project implementation.

An audit has revealed that the managing director of The Gambia's Social Security and Housing Finance Corporation (SSHFC) approved a 9.8 million euro loan for the government to purchase buses without board approval. The Public Enterprises Committee of the National Assembly discovered this irregularity during a review of the corporation's 2022 activity report and audited financial statements. The SSHFC has been asked to rectify its internal procedures before the report can be accepted.

Essa Bokarr Sey, former ambassador and deputy chief executive officer of the OIC Gambia Secretariat, has publicly declared his opposition to any third term for incumbent president, Adama Barrow. Sey, who previously served as The Gambia’s ambassador in Taiwan and the US, voiced concerns that term limit manipulations and constitution tampering are key causes of conflict and political instability in West Africa.

The Njie Charakh School of Business Training in The Gambia has graduated 200 women entrepreneurs after a five-month intensive course on business and entrepreneurship. The school, which was established a year ago, has trained over 500 entrepreneurs to date. The CEO of Njie Charakh, Morr Sarr, highlighted the profits made by the entrepreneurs within five months of completing training and called on the government to support such initiatives to boost job creation and reduce unemployment.

Alagie Ceesay and Alagie Secka, young players from the Logic Sports Academy in The Gambia, are set to continue their football and educational journey at the New English School in Jordan. This move follows a partnership between Logic Sports and the school, a development that Minyan Jobe, the chairman of Logic Sports, believes will bring significant benefits for the players and their parents.

The Gambia's Minister of Justice, Dawda Jallow, and his adviser, Ida Persson, have discussed the country's transitional justice programme on West Coast Radio, highlighting the broader corrective measures being undertaken by the state. The programme, which includes the Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparations Commission (TRRC), is part of a strategy to address systemic challenges that have affected the nation for over two decades. Despite criticism and allegations of procedural deficiencies, the Ministry of Justice continues to prioritize legality, fairness, and procedural rigor in addressing the nation's complex historical challenges.

The article discusses the implications of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger's exit from the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) on regional stability, economic cooperation, and collective security, with a particular focus on The Gambia. It suggests that The Gambia, which has historically relied on Ecowas for military support, needs to develop its own military capabilities to maintain national sovereignty and self-sufficiency. The article also highlights the potential for increased instability and economic uncertainty in West Africa due to this shift.

The Gambia has launched a new law magazine titled "JUSTICE: Let There Be Justice Though The Heavens Fall," aimed at promoting legal discourse, transparency, and accountability. The magazine, founded by esteemed legal mind FaFa Edrissa M’Bai, will serve as a platform for legal practitioners, scholars, and students to discuss pressing legal issues. The inaugural edition explores various topics including constitutional development, the role of the judiciary in safeguarding democracy, and gender justice.

The Gambia International Airlines Ltd. (GIA) has announced the details and cost of its 2025 Hajj package, priced at D525,000 per pilgrim. The package includes round-trip airfare between The Gambia and Saudi Arabia, hotel accommodations, ground transportation, meals, and a 5-liter bottle of Zam Zam water. However, the cost of the Tobaski ram is not included, and pilgrims wishing to perform the Tobaski sacrifice will need to pay an additional D15,000.

Also, the blazing fire, which began around 4am, has not only handicapped regular flow of businesses at the site, but has left many out of business especially those who lost all their goods and equipment to the unfortunate incident. In addition, the Sandika, which attracts people from all over the Kombos and even beyond, is a popular spot where people trade in all types of goods and services. According to Lamin Kanteh, a victim, he received a phone call from one of his customers, informing him

By Amadou Manjang According to the Ministry of Public Service Baboucarr Bouy, there are about 2,700 unseen workers in almost ten ministries including the Ministry of Information, Petroleum, Interior, Fishery, Justice, Foreign Affair, Defense, Transport, Tourism, Lands, Finance, Higher Education, Trade, and Youth. ‘We have also established something that is unseen,’ he said during a press conference at DKJ Conference Hall. He said they can’t call the people ‘ghost workers’ because they have to

The Republic of Gambia has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Kingdom of Spain to recruit Gambians for work in Spain, with the Gambia government starting the distribution of application forms. The applicants must be Gambian nationals aged between 25 and 50, with a valid passport and experience in agriculture, particularly fruit picking and handling. The final selection will be determined through an interview process involving the Spanish Office of Labour, Migration and Social Security officials, the Spanish Embassy in The Gambia, and the Spanish employer.

The National Council for Civic Education (NCCE) in The Gambia is encouraging residents of Jasobo and Jomari to vote in the upcoming Massembeh Ward by-election on February 22, 2025, following the death of the United Democratic Party (UDP) councilor Bakary Korita. The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has scheduled candidate nominations from February 5 to 8, and the official campaign period will run from February 10 to 20. The NCCE's campaign aims to promote peaceful elections, public accountability, and increased voter participation.

The Public Enterprise Committee (PEC) of the National Assembly in The Gambia has decided to question the Office of the Vice President and Finance Ministry about the €9.8 million spent on 70 buses for the Gambia Transport Service Company (GTSC). The decision follows discussions with the Social Security and Housing Finance Corporation (SSHFC) and the GTSC about the unrecovered expenditure. The government had initially directed the purchase of 50 buses, later adding 20 more, with the promise of refunding the money, a promise that has yet to be fulfilled.

Mohammed BS Jallow, Vice President of The Gambia, represented his country at the African Heads of State Energy Summit, where he emphasized the importance of energy in national development and economic empowerment. In his address, he reaffirmed The Gambia's commitment to expanding electricity access, aiming to provide power to 90% of its population by June 2025 and achieve universal electricity access by the end of 2025. The summit, organized by the African Union, the World Bank, and the African Development Bank, sought to strategize on achieving universal electricity access for over 300 million people across Africa.

The Gambia's Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs (MoFEA) has concluded an eight-day Debt Sustainability Analysis (DSA) training to enhance the country's debt management capabilities. The training, conducted in partnership with the West Africa Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM) and funded by the Africa Legal Support Facility (ALSF), involved officials from various Gambian financial institutions. The initiative aims to address institutional capacity challenges and foster inter-agency coordination for effective and sustainable debt management.

In the aftermath of the rainy season, regions in The Gambia such as Banni, Limbambulu Yamadou, Sami Koto, Basse, Sandu, and Jimara experienced severe flooding, causing damage to farms, homes, and businesses. Despite the passage of several months, there has been no government assistance provided to the victims. The news outlet Foroyaa plans to contact the NDMA to inquire about their plans for the affected individuals.

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP), once a significant political force in The Gambia, is facing internal disputes and a decline in influence. A faction within the party has challenged the results of the leadership election held in December, alleging constitutional violations by some candidates. Uthman Jeng, a representative of the dissenting faction, emphasized the importance of constitutional integrity and fairness in the electoral process.

The People's Progressive Party (PPP), once a significant political entity during Jawara's administration in The Gambia, is currently facing internal disputes and a decline in influence. A faction within the party has challenged the leadership elected in the December congress, citing constitutional breaches. Uthman Jeng, a representative of the faction, emphasized the importance of constitutional integrity and fairness in the electoral process, stating that the faction is not contesting the election results, but rather highlighting constitutional violations.

The Gambia government's concession agreement with Turkish company Albayrak for the management of the Banjul Seaport and the development of a Deep Seaport in Sanyang has been marred by irregularities, according to an investigation by The Alkamba Times. The report raises concerns about the bidding process, Albayrak’s qualifications, and the government’s decision-making, with allegations that the contract was awarded despite Albayrak failing to meet all bid requirements. The investigation also reveals financial and managerial disputes within the Albayrak-Negmar Consortium, and allegations of corruption and mismanagement in Albayrak's past engagements in other African countries.

A Gambian contractor, Lamin Y.F.A. Mboge, has admitted to the Local Government Commission of Inquiry that he paid a bribe to officials of the Kuntaur Area Council after securing a government contract. Mboge, the proprietor of Mbulmano Construction, claimed that council officials demanded a bribe of 150,000 dalasi in relation to a borehole drilling contract, which he negotiated down to 100,000 dalasi. The Commission of Inquiry was established to investigate the financial and administrative operations of local councils, with the aim of improving transparency and accountability.

The Gambia, Sierra Leone, and Liberia have signed a historic agreement to implement free roaming, aiming to lower mobile costs for travelers and improve regional connectivity. The deal, which aligns with ECOWAS regulations, was formalized by regulators from each country's telecommunications authority and is expected to boost trade, tourism, and business operations. The initiative is part of a broader effort to expand free-roaming agreements across all ECOWAS member states, potentially contributing to Africa's projected $180 billion digital economy by 2025.