The Final Grade For Secretary General Abdoulie Sallah is: A

Interior Minister-Ousman Sonko-  Reading Minister Ousman Sonko’s  resume  (CV) on the state house website, one can easily detect some degree of fraud in that CV. There is nothing wrong with Sonko reporting that he graduated from the Latri-Kunda Secondary School, but he is giving us the impression that he graduated from a Senior Secondary School. The CV reads:

 EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

Senior Secondary Certificate – What Senior Secondary School?
Diploma National Development-What University?

The state house should vet some of the CVS of its staff before putting it there for public consumption. It is only in The Gambia that a state Minister will lie on his resume and go scot free. Sonko knew very well that he graduated from LK and he is posing as if he bagged a High School Diploma from The Gambia High School. There is no need to lie or exaggerate one’s resume.

If the Vice President can present her four GCE credits or passes why not Sonko. Sonko should remember that one does not need to be educated to work in Jammeh’s cabinet.

 In Jammeh’s own philosophy, loyalty to one’s President and country, supersede educational qualifications. Be yourself and cherish your educational accomplishments.  Say: I am a graduate of LK and move on….

Mr. Sonko has been in the good books of Yahya Jammeh for the following reasons: One, Sonko facilitated the killing of the late LT. Almamo Manneh. Two, Sonko also masterminds the arrest and jailing of LT. Landing Sanneh.

                    Work Performance

Ousman Sonko has been one of the worse Interior Ministers The Gambia has ever produced in living memory.  This is attributed to his lack of security expertise and maturity. The appointment of Sonko has witnessed the rise in crime rates, prostitution, drug and human trafficking in the country.

Sonko does not live a quality life. He is a serial womanizer. His work ethics is below expectations. There have been reports of Sonko sexually harassing Interior Ministry staff, including Prisons and Women police officers ( WPCS).

The President owes an obligation to Sonko because he (Sonko)  has executed secret killings for him. It would be difficult for Jammeh to let Sonko go.  That is why he is able to hang around on that post all this while.

The Final Grade For Interior Minister Sonko is: Grade D-

Local Government Minister Ismaila K. Sambou-  Ismaila  Sambou is also another survivor of Jammeh’s Government. Since the sacking of the erstwhile Lands Minister Manlafi Jarjue, Sambou has been hanging around the corridors of the Lands Ministry. There is no secret for his continued presence in office. He is Jammeh’s lands grappler.

The year 2009 was a year of land grapping. Minister Sambou has sold almost all the lands in the country, thanks to his co accomplice Yahya Jammeh.  The proceeds of such sales have been channeled to Jammeh’s Kanilai project.

Corruption is endemic at the lands Ministry. For one to secure a mere Lease he,  or she must put some money “under the table.” Land owners have repeatedly complained about the bureaucratic red-tape at the said Ministry.  People bribed their way just to secure a mere sketch plan for buildings.

Minister Sambou himself owned numerous lands in the Kombos.  These properties were secured during his tenure in office. He is insensitive to state functions. He puts personal interest ahead of national interest. Since he has the backing of the President, Sambou careless about his Ministry.

The Final Grade Report For Lands Minister Sambou is: Grade F

Minister of Tourism and Culture-Nancy Seedy Njie- Madam Nancy Njie was a popular cook at the Banjul Ferry Terminal. She is also a strong supporter of President Jammeh and his APRC Government. This earns her the job as Tourism Minister. Being a good cook does not qualify one to be a Tourism Minister. One has to be familiar with the multicultural settings in order to be able to attract tourists into this country.  In other words, the Tourism Minister should be somebody who is able to relate with the Western world effectively without having the suspicion of incompetence on her side. This is lacking in the case of The Gambia.  I doubt if Nancy Njie has travelled extensively  prior to her appointment. There is no evidence of her attaining Western  or African higher education.

While we do not place much importance on education, it is imperative to note that the Tourism Ministry is an important sector of our economy. Hiring a competent Beach Boy “ BUMSTER” is far better than handpicking a cook whose only preoccupation is to promote the President and not the image of the country.

The past tourist season was a failure. There have been a dramatic reduction on tourists arrival compared to previous years. This is attributed to poor marketing strategy . The Tourism Ministry has not been waging a vigorous campaign in attracting “ high spending” tourists into the country.

In the absence of good marketing, there cannot be bumper tourism. Nancy Njie and her team must win the confidence of tourists- most importantly gays, whom the President threatened to behead if caught in the country.  There was no damage control mechanism initiated by the Tourism Ministry to allay the fears of visiting gays.

The Tourism Ministry should work with our security forces to clean our beaches off prostitutes, gang members and gambling, but there have not been any serious move to that effect. In fact, we are witnessing a rising crime rate on beaches.

The Final Grade For Tourism Minister Nancy Njie is: D-

President: Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh-  Performance Assessment – Dr. Jammeh’s primary role as a President is to ensure that all Gambians-both at home and abroad are safe, healthy and well fed. There is no doubt that Dr. Jammeh has been working very hard in bringing development on our door steps. He has facilitated the construction of roads, schools, hospitals, and his recent found cure for aids. Thanks to Dr. Jammeh, underprivileged students can now have access to higher education, which was not the case in the First Republic under Jawara’s era. Passing an exam, does not guarantee one admission to high school during the PPP rule. We have heard about cases of scholarship and job discrimination in the previous regime.

Under Jammeh’s rule, there have been equal access to schools, and more students are being sent overseas for educational opportunities. This is a major achievement on the side of Dr. Jammeh in bringing education to our people’s door steps. Jammeh has also instilled discipline in the country, with his feared NIA taming the powers that be. The days of state Ministers threatening the poor man, or sons of Ministers bragging is over.

Under Jawara’s watch, tribal profiling was common. People were judged based on their tribe, family/government connections and how much wealth one gets. By merely mentioning that one is related to an influential Government Minister, he or she is likely to be given special treatment in terms of access to employment, education, social functions, the list goes on.

Having highlighted Dr. Jammeh’s achievements, let take a closer look at his shortcomings. The year 2009 was a bad year for Jammeh. Instead of developing the country, he was busy curing aids and asthmatic patients. He also embarked on witch hunting. Some people died during the said witch hunting. Jammeh also took charge of the Information Ministry, Agriculture, Energy, and Defense.

There is no doubt that he Jammeh wants to develop the country, but he seem to be preoccupied with issues  that have no bearing with his role as a President.  Jammeh has the tendency of being too “ possessive.” He wants to prove to his critics that he is in charge of the country  to a point that he is retarding national development. There is no way that one person can man all these Ministries and expect development.

On the human rights front, Jammeh has failed miserably. He has been linked to secret killings, kidnappings, and persecution of the opposition. Reports of coups and counter coups continue to go unabated.

Mr. Jammeh has fallen out with the majority of his loyalists. Yankuba Touray, Edward Singhatey, Peter Singhatey, Fatou Jahumpa Ceesay, Saja Taal, Neneh Macdwol Gaye, Dida Halaka, Lang Tombong Tamba, Kawsu Camara, the list goes on and on. None of these people decided to part with Jammeh. It was Jammeh who sent them packing. They still pledged their allegiance to Jammeh and his APRC.

Overall, Jammeh has registered a dismal performance for the past year. He needs to relinquish other portfolios in the interest of nation building. He should also live up to his recent call for national unity. All political detainees should be released and killers of Deyda Hydara be brought to book.

The final grade for Jammeh is: Grade: F

Vice President H.E. Aja Dr. Isatou Njie-Saidy-  Dr. Isatou Njie Saidy has been the longest serving cabinet member in Jammeh’s Government. She is also Africa’s first female Vice President, if the information posted on the state house web site is to go by. The Vice President has also been playing an important role in advocating for women empowerment in The Gambia. This is a known fact-undisputable.  The VP has been deputizing the President in major international functions. She also a role model for Gambian women.

In terms of job performance, the Vice President has shirked her responsibility. If she was doing her job as expected, the President wouldn’t have devoted his time in policing cabinet and the Civil Service. The VP is what Americans called a PAY CHECK collector. She only cares about monthly salary and other luxuries  allocated to her by the state.

The VP could have been instrumental in shaping Jammeh, but she thinks that any attempts to correct Jammeh might cost her job. She resorts to “ Yes Sir” nonsense compliments just to fake the situation.

The VP has been taking a backseat for a while when it comes to policy issues. She watched by allowing Jammeh to wreck our country. She never offered honest advise to the President. Slowly, but surely Jammeh will realize the viciousness of this lady. It is better to have the likes FJC as VP than Isatou whose loyalty is questionable. What she preached and does is completely different.

Besides, attending International and local conferences, what is the VP’S role? She has not initiated anything meaningful since coming to the state house.  Jammeh has his own Aids Foundation, where he is helping humanity, but the VP is preoccupied on pursuing wealth. 

The excuse they normally give is: if the President is into active business, why not dip my hands on state coffers and enrich myself. Jammeh is  corrupt, but he has invested his wealth before our eyes. All his structures and wealth would be recovered once a new administration comes in. The VP should stop the money laundering and work for her country.

The only good thing that the VP has ever done is the marketing of Gambia’s image to donor partners during International conferences.  Her second name is Madam conference. She likes flying and collecting perdiums.

The final grade for VP Isatou Njie Saidy is: Grade: C-

Minister Of Finance And Economic Affairs-Abdou Kolley- Mr. Kolley used to be the former Minister of Trade before coming to the Finance Ministry. He is a pious and hardworking young man. He always embraces ethical standards in whatever he does.

While at the Trade Ministry, Kolley was able to promote a good relationship between the Trade Ministry and the business community. He promotes private sector led economy, which is alien to the Government he is serving. His attempts to restore sanity in our battered Trade Ministry was frustrated by the new influx of Lebanese hustlers-under the leadership of Muhammed Bazzi. Bazzi and his group wanted to milk our coffers unchecked. This led to the auctioning of GAMTEL, GAMCEL and NAWEC. Government later revoked the sale of GAMTEL and GAMCEL following public outcry.

Mr. Kolley did his very best by ensuring that his department creates more jobs for the youth. Although, the majority of those employed served in the army, police, and the NIA.  There were few white collar jobs.

With Kolley heading the Finance Ministry, hopes are high that he would help to stabilize the ailing economy.  He is a charismatic worker, who believes in actions than words.

The final grade for Finance Minister Kolley is: Grade: B +

Part Three of  this Government grade report will come later. Thanks.