Author: 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 Chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) Alieu Momar Njai has urged Gambian Political Parties to nominate at least 35% female nominees as candidates for the upcoming Parliamentary elections scheduled for 9th April 2022. Chairperson Njai made this declaration at a consultation meeting with National Assembly members (NAMs) organised by the CSO Gender Platform on 15th January 2022. Speaking at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara OIC Conference Center Chairperson Njie said “we’ve been trying to impress on the political parties to make sure that their nominees to contend for elections you have to include at…

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By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT Gainako Editor Demba Baldeh was called in for questioning at Barra Police Station while attempting to cover an alleged corruption at the ferry crossing in Barra. Mr Baldeh, who identified himself as a  journalist was questioning a Ferry staff who identified himself as the Manager. Speaking to a witness who also happened to be a media practitioner, he confirmed that Demba was taking photos and videos of alleged corruption taking place at Barra Ferry Terminal where staff were playing favours by moving vehicles ahead of the line. To ascertain what exactly happened our reporter held an…

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By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT The Gambia’s National Audit Office (NAO) has submitted their “Audit Report on the Government COVID-19 Response – Procurement and Distribution of Food and Medical Items” to the National Assembly revealing that the MoH could have saved D86,104,929 from Turkish Medical Supplies procured in April 2020. The contract numbered “GM-PCU-DS-MED-EQUIP” to procure medical supplies including ten (10) Ambulances and other medical equipment from Turkey was signed on 8th April 2020 between the Ministry of Health (MoH) and TMS-Turkey supplies. Unfortunately, Auditors report that “the contract negotiation was initiated after signing of a non-negotiable contract between TMS and…

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By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT and Alimatou S. Bajinka Gainako Online News has received a complaint from a parent of a student at Glory Baptist School that their child was vaccinated without their consent. According to the parent who showed us their child’s vaccine certificate, the child was vaccinated on 20th January 2022. To verify this our reporter visited Glory Baptist School and spoke to Government Officials to react to the concerns raised by the parent. Our enquiry with officials from the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE) and Ministry of Health (MoH) has confirmed that vaccination is taking place…

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By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT The Gambia’s National Audit Office (NAO) has published their “Audit Report on Government COVID-19 Response – Procurement and Distribution of Food and Medical Items” implicating the Ministry of Health, the National Security Adviser and the Deputy Inspector General of Police over some D5.7 million worth of fuel which remains unaccounted. According to the report “evidence of receipts and issuance of fuel procured were not presented” for D5,745,597 worth of fuel supplied by Gambia National Petroleum Company Ltd (GNPC) and Petro Gas Co. Ltd. Ultimately this meant that the fuel to be “distributed to the Joint Security…

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By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT Claim: The establishment of a Youth Development Fund and an inclusive Entrepreneurship Programme. Source: National Development Plan (2018-2021) President Adama Barrow’s government launched the National Development Plan (2018 – 2021) on 6th February 2018 which promises that “the vision and overall goal of the National Development Plan will be realized through eight strategic priorities”, one of which is “reaping the demographic dividend through an empowered youth”. Amongst one of the key expected results for Youth Empowerment is the creation “of a youth development fund” and the establishment “of an inclusive entrepreneurship programme”. One institution already established and tasked with the responsibility of…

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By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT Gambians are about to vote in the Sixth Legislature into the National Assembly on 9th April 2022. The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) announced that it had concluded plans to commence Nomination of National Assembly Candidates and that Nomination Forms will be available on 4th February 2022. The Gambia’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) has clarified that there are 53 Constituencies and not 48 as stated in outdated copies of the Gambia’s 1997 Constitution which was amended in 2015. Gainako Online News can also confirm that 53 National Assembly Members (NAMs) were elected in April 2017. A further five NAMs…

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By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT A letter dated 4th January 2022 from the Management of Gambia Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has fired one Mr Ebrima L Dampha for blowing the whistle on the $20 physical payment for airport “Safety Fee” by passengers at Banjul International Airport (BIA). According to Mr Dampha, the levy paid by passengers for disembarking and boarding flights from Banjul’s Yundum Airport has already been charged on passenger flights. The dismissal letter from the GCAA Board of Directors noted that a Board meeting held on 21st December 2021 had “unanimously agreed for [Mr Ebrima L Dampha] to be…

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By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT A press release from the Gambia’s State House has highlighted that “Members of the Cabinet will be sworn in on Thursday, 27th January 2022 at the State House in Banjul”. The press release clarified that an earlier statement from State House contained an error by rebranding Cabinet as a “Caretaker Cabinet”. The rejoinder to the first press release noted that “the Office of the President wishes to clarify that His Excellency, President Adama Barrow, has retained his immediate past Cabinet on a transitional basis pending the formation of a New Cabinet in due course”. Media practitioners…

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