Breaking News: Lamin Kaba Bajo Removed, SG Mamburay Njie Fired, Yanks others Redployed!
Breaking News: Lamin Kaba Bajo Removed, SG Mamburay Njie Fired, Yanks others Redployed!
Breaking News: Lamin Kaba Bajo Removed,SG Mamburay Njie Fired, Yanks others Redployed!

President Jammeh Appoints New Cabinet Friday 20th October 2006.  His Excellency the President of the Republic of The Gambia, Alhaji Dr Yahya A.A.J. Jammeh, acting under the provisions of sections 70 subsection 1, 70 subsection 3, 71 subsection1 and 71 subsection 3 respectively of the Constitution of the Republic of The Gambia, has effected the following cabinet appointments with effect from yesterday, 19 October 2006. Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy, Vice President and Secretary of State responsible for Women’s Affairs; Mr Gibril Bala-Gaye as Secretary of State for Finance and Economic Affairs; Dr Tamsir Mbowe as Secretary of State for Health and Social Welfare; Mr Edward Singhateh as Secretary of State for Forestry and the Environment; Mr Baboucarr Jatta as Secretary of State for the Interior; Mr Ismaila Sambou as Secretary of State for Local Government and Lands; Mr Kanja Sanneh as Secretary of State for Agriculture; Mr Maba Jobe as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs; Mr Yankuba Touray as Secretary of State for Fisheries and Natural Resources; Mrs Neneh Macdouall-Gaye as Secretary of State for Communication, Information and Technology; Mrs Fatou Lamin Faye as Secretary of State for Education; and Mr Sheikh Omar Faye as Secretary of State for Youth, Sport and Religious Affairs.

 In a similar development, President Yahya Jammeh has relieved Mr Mambury Njie of his responsibility of the post of Secretary General and Head of the Civil Service with effect from18 October 2006. In the same vein, H.E. the President, by virtue of the powers vested in him under section 168 of the Constitution of the Republic of The Gambia, has appointed Mrs Elizabeth Ya Ellis Harding as Secretary General and Head of the Civil Service with effect from yesterday 19 October 2006, replacing Mr Mambury Njie. Mr Maba Jobe is a newly appointed Secretary of State. He has replaced Mr Lamin Kaba Bajo, who has been removed as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. Mr Jobe is a trained military officer who served as Commander of the Armed Forces in the 90s. He was later appointed Gambia High Commissioner to Nigeria till 2001 when he resigned. Mr Yankuba Touray has been moved from the Department of State for Agriculture to the Department of State for Fisheries and Natural Resources, replacing Mr Bai Mass Taal. The new Secretary of State for Agriculture is now Mr Kanja Sanneh a former senior official of the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI). Meanwhile, four ministries, namely Tourism and Culture, Works and Infrastructure, Attorney General and Department of State for Justice, and Trade and Industry are yet to be filled.

Meanwhile, the firing of Sussan Wafa Ogoo, Balla Gabajahumpa, Bai Taal, brother of Saja Taal, Lamin Kaba Bajo and Sheikh Tijan Hydara has been seen as a diverison by many observers here. The President according to sources made a last minute change of mind by putting on hold the original list of ministers to be fired including the Vice President. Even though he had effected such changes, there is a panic in his cabinent. A Banjulian who spoke to our reporter said the removal of Gaba Jahumpa, Bai Taal and Sussan might hunt Jammeh in days to come. The three  they said had a strong following in the capital and are capable of changing the minds of APRC supporters towards the system.

Leaks from the Department of state for  Justice say Sos Hydara's removal was linked to the Minister's failure to prosecute the Freedom Newspaper subscribers. "The President was very upset with the Minister following his statement that there  was no law to try the Freedom Newspaper subscribers. Hydara would be very lucky if he only gets a sack. He is likely to be prosecuted by the state. There are people trying to investigate him from the NIA."said the source.

The President is currently scouting for a justice minister. Many lawyers approached for the post declined, said my source. Many lawyers cited lack of job security and official interference at the justice department.


Posted on Friday, October 20, 2006 (Archive on Sunday, October 29, 2006)
Posted by PNMBAI  Contributed by PNMBAI
Return