WHERE IS THE US EMBASSY FUNDED GPU PRINTER?

MEDIA CHIEFS EXPLAIN THEIR SIDE OF THE STORY

By Pa Nderry M’Bai, Raleigh, NC

Following questions regarding the whereabouts of a printing press that was secured for Gambia’s Press Union in 2006, by the United States Embassy in Banjul, the Freedom Newspaper embarked on an investigation with the view of tracing the printing press. Our investigations took us to various media houses in The Gambia, and outside the frontiers of the mini West African state, where we spoke to various media chiefs. 

The GPU printing press has been rented to the Today Newspaper, which is owned by a Nigerian publisher Adiamoh. The Union has reached a memorandum of understanding with the Today Newspaper.  According to the agreement reached, Today Newspaper was supposed to pay an annual fee of D100,000 dalasis to the Union. There was also an option of making quarterly payments. 

The Point Newspaper’s name featured in our investigations. It was gathered that the printing press was onetime  entrusted to the Point Newspaper. But when contacted for his side of the story, Point’s Managing Editor, Publisher, and Dean of Reuters Africa Desk Pap Saine said he last saw the printing press in 2007.  

“The GPU printing press is no longer with the Point Newspaper. This was since 2007. It is with the Today Newspaper.  You talk to Madi Ceesay, he will give you all the details,” said Mr. Saine.

For his part Madi Ceesay, the Publisher of the Daily News said he is no longer part of the Gambia Press Union Executive, and therefore he was not in the position to throw light on the story. He advised this reporter to contact the GPU Executive or its exiled former Secretary General Ndey Tapha Sosseh for details.

“ The right person is the people in the Executive. I am not a member of the GPU Executive.  Talk to Emil, I can give you his number, or you talk to Ndey Tapha.  I cannot comment on GPU matters. Let me give you their numbers,” said Mr. Ceesay.

Mr. Emil Touray was indisposed for comments at press time, but we were able to reach the erstwhile GPU SG Ndey Tapha Sosseh at her Mali offices. Madam Sosseh said the GPU printing press was in safe hands, and there is no cause for alarm.

The printing press is housed at the Today Newspaper.  Before it was at the Point Newspaper. It is now with the Today Newspaper.  We had a memorandum of understanding with Today like we did with the Point, where they give a particular amount of the proceeds from the printing press to The Gambia Press Union, which we use as part of the money to sustain the Secretariat,” said Ndey Tapfa Sosseh

According to Ms. Sosseh, GPU parent body in The Gambia had an action plan, which includes the setting up of a printing house, and also the sale of news prints to the local press at a cheaper cost. She said the union is committed to enhancing the work of local journalists especially in the area of newspaper printing.  She said the proposed printing house would be earmarked for various printing works.

Ms. Sosseh said the US Embassy funded printing press is generating income for the union. She said the Today Newspaper had an agreement with the Union to use the printer, and the paper make an annual payment of D100,000 dalasis to the Union. She also talked about quarterly payments made by Today in regards to the said agreement reached by the parties concerned.

The proprietor of the Today Newspaper Adiamoh was said to have travelled to Dakar. He was not available to shed light on the story. The Freedom Newspaper was able to get hold of one of his Editors Gdola Adiamoh, who confirmed that they are using the GPU printing press. Editor Adiamoh , however, could not state how much the paper was paying to the GPU. He advised that we get in touch with the publisher of the paper.

The said printer was secured on behalf the GPU, through the US Embassy by Alagi Yorro Jallow, the erstwhile Managing Editor and publisher of the Independent Newspaper. 

The US based Gambia Press Union recently announces its intention of securing a printing press for the main journalist body in The Gambia. However, the publication of their press release warranted an investigations about  the whereabouts of the US Embassy donated printer to the Union.