By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT An analysis of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs (MoFEA) September 2022 Expenditure Report shows that seven Government Institutions have overspent while twenty-five underspent. The September 2022 Expenditure Report also highlights that the Government’s Local Fund (GLF) Expenditure exceeded D16 Billion Dalasis from January to the end of September 2022. It can be recalled that the Government cut D923 Million from the 2022 Approved Budget back in late July 2022. Parliamentarians approved the Revised 2022 Budget which authorised the Government to spend D22.7 billion instead of D23.7 billion. It’s important to note that the MoFEA’s…
Author: Yusef Taylor
Yusef Taylor
Yusef Taylor, commonly known as Flex Dan is an editor and practising journalist based in the Gambia with a keen interest in human rights, the economy and good governance among many others. He continues to break news on the economy, human rights violations and is highly engaged in security sector reforms, constitutional reform and the transition of the Gambia from dictatorship to a democracy, the NewGambia. Yusef has been working with Gainako as a media practitioner from 2015 to date. He has a degree in Civil Engineering with 5 years of Design Consultancy experience.
By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT The Gambia Parliamentary Newsletter (GPN) has issued its Fifth Edition of its monthly newsletter focusing on the National Assembly Proceedings with particular emphasis on the 2022 State of the Nation Address (SONA) by President Adama Barrow and the subsequent debates. Download the Fifth Edition in the link >>> 2022-08-GPN 5th Edition The Fifth Edition features a lively exchange between the Speaker and Hon Sulayman Saho who attempted to move a motion that will see the President attend the SONA Debate. Another lively exchange is captured between the Speaker and two Hon members in the article titled “You…
By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT Gambian National Assembly members of the Sixth Legislature have proposed an increase of almost D9 million in Basic Salaries for 2023. National Assembly members commenced the debate of the 2023 Draft Budget yesterday 24th November 2022. According to a document released yesterday, showing the proposed increase of Basic Salaries and Allowance of National Assembly Members for 2023, all members’ Basic Salary is proposed to increase by 30% while the Speaker’s Basic Salary is proposed to increase by over 136%. Hon Fatoumatta Njai of Banjul South who sits on Parliament’s Standing Committee on Finance and Public Accounts…
By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT Hon Fatoumatta Njai of Banjul South has travelled to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on a three-day training of trainers on the “ratification and domestication of international and regional human rights instruments on ending violence against women and girls (EVAWG)”. The training which started yesterday 17th November is due to end on Saturday 19th November 2022. Hon Njai believes that “our problems are not ratification, they are mainly the implementation and most times the problems are people’s lack of understanding and even knowing that our countries have signed those agreements”. Speaking to Hon Njai she explained that “after…
By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT Hon Abdoulie Ceesay of Old Yundum who happens to be the Deputy Majority Leader of the Sixth Legislature has disclosed to this medium that the Gambia Government has submitted a written commitment on the implementation of the United Nations (UN) Security Council resolution on weapons of mass destruction. The UN Security Council Resolution 1540 which was adopted in 2004, states that “the Security Council decided that all States shall refrain from providing any form of support to non-State actors that attempt to develop, acquire, manufacture, possess, transport, transfer or use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and…
By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Hon Seedy Keita laid the 2023 Draft Budget at the National Assembly featuring a Budget Deficit of D3.93 billion Dalasis on 14th November 2022. The total Revenues and Grants estimated for 2023 are projected to exceed D31.4 billion while total Expenditure and Net Lending are expected to exceed D35.4 billion. Budget deficit refers to the amount of funds that the government needs outside Revenue and Grants to fund its Expenditure and Net Lending. Whenever Revenue and Grants exceed Expenditure and Net Lending then the Gambia will register a Budget Surplus.…
By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT This article was first published in the second edition of the Gambia Parliamentary Newsletter and details what a Bill and an Act are. The second edition features a Bills Tracker which was verified with Parliamentary Staff. Our reporter has visited Parliament in our quest to identify all the Bills tabled at Parliament, Bills passed by Parliament and those assented to by the President. The information will be serialised in the Gambia Parliamentary Newsletter. Download the second edition at this link. A Bill is a proposed legislation which is under consideration by the National Assembly. Bills which…
By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT Diaspora Gambian Rapper based in Texas released a new track Dekabi 69 condemning “corruption & negligence” which led to over 70 children being killed from Acute Kidney Injury (AKI). One person who won’t be buying the song is the outspoken Minister of Tourism and Culture Hon Hamat Bah who believes that the rapper’s song is “just for him to please his audience — but I totally disagree with him”. Both the rapper and Minister Bah spoke to Coffee Time with Peter Gomez. Our reporter also held an exclusive interview with the rapper to understand what inspired…
By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT The Gambia Police Force has been very busy detaining and questioning citizens in the week after the announcement of the “avoidable” death of at least 69 children from contaminated cough syrup in early October 2022. The busy week started on Friday 7th October 2022 when Police dispersed mourners of children killed by Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) which the World Health Organization announced were caused by four brands of contaminated cough syrups from the Indian company, Maiden Pharmaceuticals. Speaking with Nenneh Freda Gomez, she explained that when the Police came “they asked for Nenneh and Madi Jobarteh…
By Yusef Taylor @FlexDan_Y, The Gambia Parliamentary Newsletter has been awarded a grant by the Migration Sustainable Development Goals (MSDG) to publish 10 editions of the Gambia Parliamentary Newsletter (GPN) within 7 months. The latest GPN which features a visual makeover has been published today 10th October 2022 focusing on the period of August to early September 2022 when the National Assembly concluded their recess. Here is a link to all editions published to date; Download the 4th Edition here. Download the 3rd Edition Here. Download the 2nd Edition Here. Download the 1st Edition Here. Created by Gainako Online Newspaper as a collaborative…