Author: Yusef Taylor

By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT A victim who testified at the Gambia’s Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC), Yusupha Mbye, sought clarification from TRRC Vice-Chairperson Adelaide Sosseh after receiving a cheque payment of D19,000. After covering the TRRC’s press conference on Reparation on Friday 16th July 2021, Yusupha called me to witness him returning his reparations and seek further clarification on his health treatment which has not gone as planned. The TRRC is a Commission enacted by the National Assembly in 2017 to investigate the human rights violations of the previous President Yahya Jammeh and his regime from 1994 to 2016.…

By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) published the Provisional Voter Register highlighting that over 987 thousand voters’ cards were issued for the 2021 Provisional Voter Register. However, the updated 2011 Voter Register indicates that less than 887 thousand voters’ cards were issued after the 2016 Supplementary Voter Registration exercise. Calculating the difference between the two voter registers highlights that the 2021 Voter Register has increased by 100,906 Registered Voters compared to the revised 2011 Voter Register. Increased Resources for General Registration Section 14 of the Gambia’s Electoral Act 1996 gives the IEC the discretion to “determine and…

By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT The Gambia’s Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has concluded the voters’ registration exercise with a total of 987,484 voters cards issued, meanwhile, the High Court ruled against the Banjul Mayor’s issuance of Attestation Forms. Last week IEC’s weekly memo highlighted that 856,719 voters cards were issued over the first 5 weeks meaning that only 130,765 voters cards were issued over the last 9 days. The voters’ registration process started on the 29th of May 2021 and concluded on 11th July 2021. It can be seen that each week the total number of registered voters declined significantly. If…

By Yusef Taylor and Ousman Saidykhan The Gambia’s Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) has presented five organisations with awards “to show appreciation for their support and commitment during the TRRC Process”. The award ceremony took place on 13th July 2021 at the TRRC’s Headquarters based in Dune’s Hotel, Kololi. The TRRC was enacted by the Gambia’s National Assembly in 2017 to investigate the human rights violations of former President Yahya Jammeh’s regime. The invitation sent by the TRRC’s media team highlighted that four organisations were to be awarded namely; United Nations Transitional Justice (UNTJ), International Center for Transitional Justice…

By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT Italy beat England at London’s Wembley Stadium to be crowned 2020 European Champions after three English players missed spot-kicks on the evening of 11th July 2021. It was a game of two halves with England edging Italy in the first half while Italy dominated England in the second half. After normal time Italy beat England on penalties after Rashford, Sancho and Saka missed England’s last three penalties in a row. Before the game, Italian coach Roberto Mancini stuck to his guns, opting for his trusted 4-3-3 formation which propelled Italy to the final with a 33…

By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan One Jocking Mendy of Bunkilling has complained to Gainako Online News that he and his family are at risk of eviction after receiving a letter from the Sheriff’s Office. The land in question is an irregular shape in the outskirts of Tujering behind Tanji which he says measures approximately 200 meters by 450 meters. A letter dated 23rd June 2021 from the Sherriff’s Office instructs that the occupants have been “warned to vacate from the said property on or before Wednesday 7th day of July 2021. Failure to adhere to this notice will lead to your forceful…

By The Cypher Media Team Sixteen of Gambia’s most talented, unearthed Emcees qualified for the Cypher 2021 Street Rap battles after almost 20 rappers competed in an audition to win D100,000 Dalasis plus more. The show which took place on Sunday, July 4th 2021 at Teranga Beach was hosted by Cypher Pioneers, Ali “Killa Ace” Cham and Bai Ibrahim “Rahim” Cham. The judges for the audition were Bankie Greyjohnson, Queenie and Bilal Bin Kebba of Poetic X. On the first Cypher, no battles took place, instead, all emcees were allocated one minute to freestyle without a beat and given a…

By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) released its fifth update highlighting that 856,719 voters cards have been issued by the end of the fifth week of Voters Registration. Gainako’s calculations show that the IEC must issue almost 143,300 voters cards in week six to meet their 1 million registered voters target. Considering that only 136,325 voters cards were issued in week 5 alone it appears unlikely that 143,300 voters cards will be issued in week six to meet the target. The voters’ registration process started on 29th May 2021 and is set to conclude next week 11th…

By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT One Mr Momodou Jallow representing the Association for National Reorientation and Development Party (ANRD) raised concerns that the Voters Card he was issued with was of very poor quality. In his own words “the quality is not there”. Mr Jallow was speaking at a dialogue between Political Stakeholders at the Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center on Saturday 25th June 2021. During his presentation delivered in the presence of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) Vice Chairperson, Joe Colley and Chief Electoral Officer, Sambujang Njie, Mr Jallow was adamant that he wanted to show his card to the…

By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT The Chief Executive Officer of the Indian Institute of Hardware Technology (IIHT) the Gambia told Gainako News he always had the vision to turn “this country to a semi–Silicon Valley of the sub-Saharan region”. IIHT Gambia graduated some 160 students on Information Technology related courses at Baobab Hotel on Sunday 27th June 2021. Silicon Valley is a well-known place in the San Francisco Bay Area in the United States of America which serves as a world leader in high technology and innovation. It is a very wealthy area that generates huge revenue for the United States.…