Jammeh Fires Health Minister Dr.Malick Njie       

…..RVTH Chief Medical Director Appointed As Health Secretary

Jammeh Blocks Freedom Newspaper IP Address

By Staff Writer Modou Sawaneh, Banjul   

Health Minister Malick Njie, has been dismissed with immediate effect, the Freedom Newspaper can authoritatively report. Mr. Njie received the biggest shock of his life Tuesday, when he was informed that his services with The Gambian Government was no longer needed. The former army major  has been replaced by Dr. Mariatou Jallow, the erstwhile Chief Medical officer at the Health Department. Dr. Jallow was asked to quit her current job to take up ministerial appointment, which is the highest paid job at the Health Ministry.

While the Government did not advance any reason for Dr.Njie’s removal, a statement issued by the office of the President says the President acting on the powers vested on him by the constitution, has terminated the services of Dr. Malick Njie with immediate effect. The statement cites section (74) (4b) of the constitution, which empowered the President to hire and fire Ministers.

Dr. Njie left his office Tuesday with a heavy heart. Health Ministry sources said the erstwhile Minister was taken aback by the news of his sacking. Signs of frustration and panic could be seen visible on the former Minister’s face. Dr. Njie hurriedly left his office, as soon as he received his sacking letter.

In another development, Gambia’s President Yahya Jammeh has given directive for the Freedom Newspaper IP address to be blocked in The Gambia. The Presidential order came following recent graft and right abuses stories published by the US based leading Gambian online paper. Our Correspondent says for over a week now Gambians could not access the paper. The President was said to be very upset with the paper’s recent revelations about his corrupt practices and gross human rights violations.

Sources close to The Gambia Telecommunication Company GAMTEL said the order to block the Freedom Newspaper's  main IP address came from the President Yahya Jammeh. Our sources said the President convened an emergency meeting regarding the need to ban the Freedom Newspaper in The Gambia.

Acting on the Presidential directives, Information Minister Fatim Badjie instructed the company’s IT specialists to program a code that would deny Gambians access to the Freedom Newspaper.

This is not the first time that the Freedom Newspaper has been blocked in The Gambia. The US State Department in its  2006 and 2007 human rights report highlighted about internet censorship in The Gambia. The report said the Freedom Newspaper  IP address had been blocked on numerous occasions by the Jammeh Government. The report also laments about gross rights abuses in The Gambia.

Staff Writer Justice Sam, contributed to the story.