Appointments and Dismissals
By Amie Sanneh
We have been publishing a summary of the stories that we published in 2015. We now summarise the stories relating to appointments and dismissals of ministers and public servants.
NENEH MCDAOULL GAYE REAPPOINTED, SHERIFF BOJANG APPOINTED
President Jammeh on Tuesday, 6 January, 2015, effected a mini reshuffle of his cabinet effective from January 5, 2015 with Mrs Neneh Mcdouall Gaye bouncing back to the cabinet as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, replacing Mr. Bala Garba Jahumpa who has been moved to his former portfolio of Works, Construction and Infrastructure.
Mr. Sheriff Bojang, the proprietor and Editor in chief of the Standard Newspaper, was appointed as Minister of Information, Communication and Information Technology.
This was the first reshuffle after the attack on the state house by insurgents on 30 December 2014.
NYABALLY REPLACES BAYO, MAHONEY OUT
On Thursday, 8 January, 2015 in a press release, President Jammeh relieved the Secretary General and Minister of Presidential Affairs Dr. Kalilu Bayo of his duties with effect from the said date appointing Lamin Nyabally to replace Bayo.
In a similar vein President Jammeh relieved the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr Basiru Mahoney of his duties with effect from Thursday, 8 January, 2015. The Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Mr Abubacarr Senghore was overseeing the ministry of justice until the appointment of Mama Fatima Singhateh as Justice Minister.
MAMA FATIMA SINGHATEH BACK AS JUSTICE MINISTER
It was announced over GRTS television on Tuesday 13 January, 2015 that Mama Fatima Singhateh has bounced back to the cabinet to occupy her former position as Attorney General and Minister of Justice.
Madam Singhateh was first appointed as Attorney General and Minister of Justice in August 2013 replacing Amie Joof. She was later removed and replaced by Mr. Basiru Vasily Portier Mahoney, who was appointed last August and only sworn into office two days before his removal.
LAWYER MBOGE’S APPOINTMENT AS SOLICITOR GENERAL REVOKED THE SAME DAY
Senior Private legal practitioner Lamin K. Mboge on Wednesday, 14 January, 2015 confirmed to Foroyaa that it is true that he was appointed as Solicitor General at the Ministry of Justice; adding that his appointment was revoked on the same day he assumed office without advancing any reason for his removal.
ABDOU COLLEY REPLACES KEBBA TOURAY AS NEW FINANCE MINISTER
Mr Kebba Satou Touray, with effect from 16 March, 2015 was removed from his position as minister of finance and economic affairs. Similarly, Mr Abdou Colley was appointed as minister of finance and economic affairs, a position he held before under President Jammeh’s administration.
YANKUBA SONKO REPLACES WILSON AS NEW IGP
Mr. Benjamin Wilson, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), has been removed from his position and replaced by Mr. Yankuba Sonko on Monday, 13 July, 2015 following his return from a trip.
According to the source, IGP Wilson was asked to do a handing over to Mr. Sonko, the new IGP, when he reported to his office upon arrival from a mission. The source could not advance any reason for the removal of the IGP from his position.
POLICE COMMISIONER TOURAY IN URR DISMISSED
The Commissioner of Police in URR, Lamin Touray, has been relieved of his position as the Commissioner of Police in URR. The reason for the dismissal of Senior Police Officer Touray in Basse is not known
Commissioner Touray was said to have spent more than 30 years with the Gambia Police Force as a constable, and then rose to the rank of commissioner serving in all regions of The Gambia.
BAKARY NYASSI REINSTATED AS GIA MD
Mr Bakary Nyassi, who was dismissed as Managing Director of the Gambia International Airlines was reinstated on Thursday, 10 September, 2015. He was arrested and detained at Brusubi Police Station on 19 August 2014 and on 21 October 2014 he was arraigned at Banjul Magistrates’ Court charged with six counts of economic crime and other charges. He was granted bail and the case was transferred to the high court but the case has been stalled for many months now.
Mr Nyassi takes over from Mr Ebrima Sallah who had been acting as Managing Director.
MAGISTRATE JAITEH REMOVED FROM JUDICIARY
Mr. , the then Magistrate of Brikama Magistrates Court was removed from the judiciary following his release from detention at the Police headquarters in Banjul.
When contacted for confirmation, Mr. Jaiteh on Monday evening, 16 November, 2015 told this reporter that he was asked out of the judiciary but no reason was indicated. “I was not told about the reason of my dismissal but I was told ‘thank you for your services you have been rendering’.”