GCCI, ZIGUINCHOR CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE SIGN BILATERAL AGREEMENTS

The Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) and its Senegalese counterpart – the Ziguinchor Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture – have put pen to paper to mark a historic move that will help harness regional integration and trading between the two countries. Amat JENG, who attended the signing ceremony, filed in this report

In a bilateral meeting between captains of the two industries, held at the Jerma Beach Hotel on Wednesday, the two presidents made it clear that the move could not have come at a better time than now, when the need to “trade with each other” has become more significant.

In his marathon explanation of why the move is a step in the right direction, Bai Matarr Drammeh, president of the GCCI, pointed out that there should be a free movement of goods, service, people and capital within our demarcations. “When we hit each other at the border we [both] suffer,” he said, adding that border closure by either party should not be entertained.

Mr Drammeh


He added that if one country closes its border to the other, the risk for starvation will be high; and this could lead to a situation of an influx of the number of refugees in the sub-region, because of food supply shortages. “It is our best interests to leave the borders open.”

He said that both countries are signatories to the ECOWAS protocols on free movement of goods and services, therefore it is duty bound for the two chambers of commerce to enforce those protocols using dialogue. “We should make information available to our governments, that people are bound to trade with each other. Without this, the degree of poverty will be high,” he said.

According to Mr Drammeh, in building the world of tomorrow, the two countries will have to join together to create an avenue for people to thrive.

He argued that competition should not be the overriding concern of the two parties. “We have to cooperate and not compete. This is the way forward. It is through such gatherings that both parties can express their feelings and find a solution to them. In business, there is no border,” he said.

Mr Drammeh explained that most of the countries in Africa are landlocked nations; therefore, the need for opening our borders becomes imperative.

He pointed that lack of collaboration at the borders seriously undermines the transportation of goods from one country to the other – which leads to the creation of shortage in food supply and the skyrocketing of prices at the local markets.

For his part, Jean Pascal Themba, president of the Ziguinhcor Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture, is optimistic that the deal that has just been struck would be effective and fruitful to both parties.

Concerns at Mali-Senegal border continue to increase, as travelers continue to suffer demands from authorities; Authored.

He maintained that the two countries are a society of one people whose geographical locations, historical and social facts are of the same.

He recalled the integration efforts the two countries have engaged in some years ago, saying: “We have been working to putting modalities of integrating together.”
He also recalled the fraternal and development relationship between the two countries, saying both nations have many things in common.

ON BUILDING A BRIDGE

As the debate on whether the proposed bridge across the river Gambia linking Senegal will be effective or not, Mr Themba revealed that plans are afoot on building the bridge.

For him, the construction of the proposed bridge would help to ease the predicament vehicles that ply the road to the other part of Senegal face on daily basis.

Themba also admonished “those trying to destabilize the two countries by virtue of heartless acts”, saying they would not succeed.

However, he did not give any glimpse of Senegal’s “ulterior motive” regarding the bridge, but dismissed claim that the last border closure – that gripped the two nations by the neck – was effected by the Senegalese Transport Union.

The border at Hamdallai

He presented copious evidence in the form of documents that show that a group bearing “ill intentions” was responsible for the act, because they were serving their own interest by putting the two nations into collision.

INTER-STATE ROAD TRANSIT SCHEME AND SEA LINK TRANSPORT

Mr Drammeh revealed that FEWACCI has finalised plans to establish a Sealink that will enhance easy transportation of goods in the sub-region since most countries now have vessels plying the sea. “This allows us to do business among ourselves in the sub-region,” he said, adding that merchandises from Ziguinchor can go as far as Cameroon and vice-versa.
“Sooner than later, we are also coming with the rail link project,” he said while revealing plans of the Road Transport Scheme, which is already in operation.

FORUM SEEKS REMOVAL OF CUSTOMS CHARGES ON ENERGY-SAVING TECHNOLOGIES

The Gambia’s Ministry of Energy recently convened a stakeholder forum that seeks the removal of customs and taxes on energy-saving technologies, such as saving lighting fixture and hybrid cars, in a bid to reduce or limit Green House Gas (GHG) emissions.

The forum discussed the National Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) and actions that should be taken at the policy level to help in mitigating the risk of climate change.

The NAMAs are voluntary country engagement proposals of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which are a set of government prioritised actions aimed at reducing or limiting greenhouse gas emissions.

The forum brought together stakeholders from various ministries and departments of the Gambia government, who are funding the project in conjunction with the African Development Bank (AfDB).

According to Bubu Pateh Jallow, national consultant of the project, the concept of NAMA emerged during the preparation of the Bali action plan as part of the Bali roadmap agreed upon at the United Nations climate change conference in Berlin in December 2007.

“The Bali action plan recognises the need for developing countries to fully participate in the efforts at achieving global emission reduction goals,” said Mr Jallow, who described the plan as a step in the right direction.

Mr Jallow told MarketPlace that it was when the AfDB realised that developing countries are not making enough submissions of NAMAs to the UNFCCC that it came with a proposal suggesting ways to support Regional Member Countries (RMCs) in developing and implementing the NAMAs.

The forum observed that at the policy level, actions should be considered on increasing Natural and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (NLP & LPG) supply and distribution, as well as on increasing their share in the national energy system.

The consultant observed that there is the need to “develop a low-carbon growth plan and low-carbon strategy, in particular through the use of renewable energy investments and global cooperation”.

On renewable energy consumption, Mr Jallow said policies should be marshalled to offer subsidies for electricity generation from renewable energy resources such as wind, solar photovoltaic (PV), biogas and biomass, establishing tax exemptions to incentivise investment in the sector.

He also calls for the promotion of production and use of biofuels as transport fuel.

Experts at the forum also discussed the establishment of a national plan for the integrated management of urban solid waste for the construction of sanitary landfills and landfill gas capture, as well as the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from burning of waste through composting.

GREENTECH LEADS THE WAY TO THE USE OF BIOFUEL BRIQUETTES

Green Tech environmental solutions will on Tuesday November 2nd launch GreenTech’s briquette and fuel-efficient stove aimed at reducing cooking costs, emissions and the exploitation of the forest. The event will take place at the Green Mamba Garden restaurant, Senegambia.

Managing our forest is a general responsibility

Green Tech is a newly established company in The Gambia, dedicated to provide sustainable environmental solution to households, industries and institutions.
Since July 2010, GreenTech produces high quality fuel briquettes from groundnut shells and promotes fuel-efficient stoves for cooking and heating purposes in households, restaurants and industries.

FUEL BRIQUETTES Also termed ember briquettes

As the combine briquette/stove unit needs less fuel input than common cooking units, it helps reduce cooking costs, emission and the exploitation of forest materials.
The event will avail attendees the opportunity to see how briquettes are produced and use in fuel-efficient stoves. A heavy-duty machine, producing 800kg/h, presses the briquettes, while local welder men produce the stoves with recycled metal.

GAMCOTRAP MAKES MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH IN THE CRUSADE AGAINTS FGM, EARLY MARRIAGE

The Gambia Committee on Harmful Traditional Practices (GAMCOTRAP) has once again strengthened its belt for the long-standing battle against female genital mutilation, early marriage and women’s right.

GAMCOTRAP – the women’s right group -- was able to reach about three hundred youths in a three-day sensitisation campaign that started on last Friday. The programme was centred in three areas in the Greater Banjul Area: its head office at Kanifing, Wellingara Cinema hall, and the Sukuta hospital.
Speaking at the event, Dr Isatou Touray said, “GAMCOTRAP is committed to the promotion and protection of women and girl children’s political, social, educational and sexual reproduction and health rights.”

Dr Isatou Touray, Executive Director, GAMCOTRAP



According to her, why her institution targets the youth cohort, is because they are the custodians of the future. “Youth are very important in development, because they are the future leaders of every country,” she said, adding that her NGO is committed to creating and raising the awareness of girl children and women about traditional issues that affect their wellbeing.

The scheme, in which GAMCOTRAP engaged this youth, is sponsored by the UN Trust fund for women and Save the Children Sweden. The only multilateral grant-making mechanism exclusively devoted to supporting local and national efforts to end violence against women and girls, the UN Trust Fund works with partners across the world to secure much-needed services for women and girls affected by violence. Through its partners, the Fund also invests in long-term solutions for a world free of violence.

Dr Touray urged that in order to free Gambia off the scourge of traditional practices, the right information must be provided to the youth who constitute about 60% of our population. She said women in our geographical context have languished many years in abject poverty and practicing harmful traditional practices, because of ignorance and misinformation of the text of the holy books by so-called scholars – who claimed FGM, is obligatory in Islam.

She informed reporters that the work of GAMCOTRAP is having impacts in the country, as people’s attitude towards the practice is also changing. “Somebody called me this morning and informed me of a scenario, where someone leaves Senegal and comes to Basse to get his child circumcise.
As soon as the women we engaged over the past years heard about this news, they stood firm that the woman will not perform this act in their village. Therefore, you can see how people’s mindsets are changing. They [the youth] need to be informed of the effects attached to the practice, so that they can use their conscience and act wisely,” Dr Isatou said.

She pointed that by few years ahead; there is a possibility that the Gambia will be declared an FGM free state, citing the availability of the possible wherewithal to boost the campaign. “We are confident that by 2020 Gambia will be free from female genital mutilation, if the possible resources are available in our disposal,” she added.

LINKING FGM TO DEVELOPMENT

The development of a nation cannot be sustainable if the health situation of the women folk remain a risk. The unaccounted deaths as a result of FGM is a cause for alarm, as research papers have indicated that Gambia is among the countries that are rated high in maternal mortality.
For Dr Touray, some of these deaths could have been avoided, if only the right information and knowledge have been marshalled.

In this context, development could not be possible without creating a possible socio-environment for women, she noted. She challenged that it is high time those in the echelon of power pay heed to the women’s bill, which is still hanging in the balance.

She underscored GAMCOTRAP’s commitment to sensitise and lobby decision and policymakers about socio-cultural practices that are harmful to the health of girl-children and women.

SHE DESERVES CARE!! – THE MENTALLY CHALLENGED

THIS ARTICLE IS WRITTEN BY OMAR DIBBA, A RESPONSIBLE CITIZEN WHO SAW THE NEED TO CATER FOR THE MENTALLY ILLED - ESPECIALLY WOMEN; FOR THEIR DIGNITY

Omar Dibba, the Author

Pedestrians, commuters and residence of the Kanifing Municipality are witness to the unspoken plight of a woman; who, on a daily basis walks unconsciously naked on the Tallinding/Churchill town road and no support is provide as at now.
First, she is human and deserves genuine attention and recognition of her right to care and protection (rights are not for the ‘sane’ only). It is quite touching and sad to see this woman lying under the sweltering sun everyday; while people who see themselves as sane and civilize pass her every day without making efforts to change her life and preserve her dignity. She deserves care.

Where is our humanity? Where is the moral justice, the love and care that we profess? What do we tell our children (that we are a people who care more for ourselves and less for others). She would have changed her situation if she could…but she can’t. That is the difference. She deserves care.
Second, she is a woman, who has suffered enough to go through such humiliation in life.

Her leg was broken at one point, and now her dignity is shattered and society is not responding to restore it for her. Who will mend it? I ask Gambia.
She would have certainly put on decent clothing and move around town like all other women…but she cannot at this point in time, because she is disabled. Who will enable her now and safe womanhood? She deserves care.
The difference between us and her would just be a thin line if we fail in our responsibility. If we assume to be sane, we should not fail in utilizing our faculty to help a person who is incapable.

Nothing will change in her life if we neglect. But we may choose to neglect her as if nothing is happening, but this will only indicate our lost of wisdom which would be insanity. She deserves care.
Our children must see us taking care of one and other, even if they appear to be different by virtue of their conditions. I can’t imagine how comfortable Gambians can watch a woman with her nakedness on the street and everyone ignores. Our children will also learn not to care for others because the society they grew up has lost its sense of support and care. God (Allah) will judge us for what we do or fail to do.

I am sure this woman dislikes her current condition, but can she change that condition for better on her own right now? Where are the stakeholders responsible? What are they doing for her and for many like her? From public to private establishments, to the community and the family, and individuals, do not neglect your child, do not throw away a woman, a mother, a sister, a niece and above all a human being. She deserves care.

I wish to call on the Ministry of Women’s affairs, the Women’s Bureau, The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare – department of social welfare, the Ministry of Interior and other departments and offices – Tanka Tanka and NGOs, to come forward and support the woman, give her treatment (medical or spiritual whatever) and let her situation be changed. She and many like her are Gambians who have a right under the law to be cared for. She deserves care.

It will not be human and it can never be accepted for society and stakeholders to allow the streets to watch her nakedness and her bodily dignity and integrity to be lost.

Let our conscience judge.

RIGHT GROUPS NARRATE ORDEALS OF MIGRANTS IN WEST, SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA -- CALL FOR MORE SUPPORT FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

Justice Without Borders for Migrants (JWBM) has convened a meeting in Banjul recently that gave opportunities for human rights groups engaged in the course for migrants rights to voice out their commitments with stakeholders in their defense of fundamental human rights of migrants.

JWBM is a multinational bloc that seeks to combat violations of migrants’ rights linked to deportations through transnational action that combines utilization of legal mechanisms, advocacy, and documentation and reporting of abuses, capacity building, and strengthening collaborations and communication between partners.

Migrants in Libya

However, JWBM project also aims to defense the fundamental human rights of migrants when they are deported, and to develop an advocacy scheme in favor of policy changes in countries that are involved in numerous issues surrounding asymmetrical immigration. Since its inception, the agency has weathered so many storms in West Africa and Africa in general.

Speaking to Gambian journalists at a tete-a-tete meeting, the President of Malian Association of Displaced People who also doubled as the president of JWB said, the importance of having a non-governmental organization advocating for the rights of migrants could not be over-emphasised, saying, his agency is open to all aspiring and committed individuals or agencies.

However, he maintained that even Member States that have ratified the ECOWAS protocols and other international laws that called for the protection of the rights of migrants workers and travelers, have fallen under the net of human right violators. “The human rights violations suffered by deported African migrants were committed in Africa [by Africans],” he adds.

Despite commitments made by Member States of the African Union to promote the respect of the human rights guaranteed by the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights and other international legal instruments on the protection of human rights ratified by these States, a number of African States blatantly violates rights of African migrants who have settled in their respective territories, he said.

Alassan Dicko, also a member of the Malian Association of Displaced People, said his country has witnessed over the past years the plights of migrants trekking to other parts of Africa or Europe to seek for greener pastures. He said most of the human rights violations occurred between the borders of Mali and other countries.
He explained that migrants have also suffered in the borders between Mali and Mauritania; and further attributed the general plight of migrants in Africa to racism, saying, “And the act seriously constitutes the violation of human rights”.
Aboubacry Mbodi and Sadikh Niass respectively, both representative of ‘Recontre Africaine pour la Defense des Driotes de L’Homme (RADDHO)’ – based in Dakar – added their voice to the situations of migrants in Africa.

Alioune TINE -- RADDHO President

For Mr Niass, youth unemployment and lack of paying considerable efforts to development of rural Senegal, has become a factor contributing to migrations to other parts of the world. Whilst he said migration from Senegal is booming, he also highlights that RADDHO has amongst other things, engaged stakeholders in capacity building workshops to sensitise them on their rights.

Francis Ekwere from the Nigerian Bar Association Human Right Institute also expressed sentiments of the predicaments faced by Nigerian migrants in other countries. He stated that about 350 Nigerians have been deported from Libya, and more seriously, these people’s rights were blatantly abused.

The Association Mauritanienne des Droits de l’Homme (AMDH), Groupe antiraciste d'accompagnement et de défense des étrangers et migrants (GADEM), Comisión Española de Ayuda al Refugiado (CEAR), and La Cimade, all are NGOs in the crusade against the discrimination of migrants and deported persons.

GAMBIA TO HOST JUMBO NIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

The Gambia will play host to an international entertainment galore that will garner together international participants come December 17 this year.
The event will bring together internationally celebrated individuals, fashion designers, renowned musicians and television personalities from across the world.
The event, which is organised by ‘Gambia Fashion Night’, will be first of its kind in The Gambia, if not in Africa, a move Mr Joachin Lielesch Producer of Gambia Fashion Night described as a good venture in marketing The Gambia to the outside world.
Mr Lielesch was speaking at a press conference held at the Sheraton hotel, during the course of last week, when he commended the sponsors of the event. He expressed happiness for seeing Comium and Sheraton hotel be at the forefront of sponsoring the event.
However, both those in the fashion designing corridor and the financial institutions respectively played their part in hosting the event, by feeding the kitty at the sponsorship board.
The Gambia Tourism Board and the Association of Tour Operators respectively, both expressed optimism about the success of the event.
The event is expected to be attended by television personalities such as Cecilia Dutsch, a German TV presenter, and a host of other seasoned media personalities from Belgium, UK, and Poland.

UPR of Lithuania: progress on gender equality but concerns over prison conditions

On 11th October 2011, Lithuania presented its report on its human rights situation to the UPR Working Group. The delegation of nine was headed by the Minister of Justice of Lithuania, Mr Remigius Simasius who provided most of the comments, with input also from Vice-Minister of Culture, Mr Stanislav Vidtmann.

In his opening statement, Mr Simasius noted a range of stakeholders including the Minister of Health, the Minister of Education and Science, and human rights NGOs contributed to the preparation of the Lithuania report. He particularly highlighted Lithuania’s achievements in human rights, placing them within the context of Lithuania gaining independence in 1990 and its challenges in modernising the legal system and establishing a number of institutions to counter the legacy of the Soviet regime in denying basic rights and freedoms. Mr Simasius drew particular attention to the establishment of three independent ombudsmen to protect human rights, including an Ombudsman for Children’s Rights and an Ombudsman for Equal Opportunities, and the progress made in ensuring gender equality.

In 2008 Provisions on non-discrimination based on gender were added into the Law on Equal Opportunities and according to Mr Simasius women now hold two of the top three administration posts (President, and Seimas [parliament] Spokesperson), and account for 40% of all managerial staff. Mr Simasius also acknowledged the need for improvements in prison conditions, especially modernising prisons and reducing overcrowding.

Mr Simasius regretted that he was not able to answer all questions posed by States. Responding to numerous concerns, Mr Simasius observed that Article 4(1)(14) of the Law on the Protection of Minors Against the Detrimental Effect of Public Information, which prohibits the dissemination of information promoting homosexual, bisexual, or polygamous relations on the grounds of having a ‘detrimental effect on the development of minors’, had been removed in the recently revised version of the law. In response to concerns about discrimination of Roma in Lithuania, Mr Vidtmann (Vice Minister of Culture) noted the complexities of integrating the 2,500 Roma in Lithuania and drew attention to the draft Inter-institutional Action Plan for Roma Integration into the Lithuanian Society currently awaiting approval. Mr Simasius further denied the Russian Federation’s allegation that Lithuania was falsifying history and rejected its recommendation to Lithuania to stop attempts to revise interpretations of the outcomes of the Second World War and its persecutions of anti-fascist veterans.

A secret prison in Lithuana where suspected Alqai'da islamists may have been held.


During the adoption of the report, 43 recommendations out of a total of 120 were accepted by Lithuania, with a further 53 recommendations already considered as being implemented or in the process of being implemented. Only one recommendation was rejected and the remaining 23 recommendations were pending further consideration and would be decided upon prior to the 19th session of the Human Rights Council. Mr Tomas Vaitkevicius, Lithuania’s Vice Minister of Justice, provided the concluding remarks and stipulated that the UPR can only be a meaningful process if it is conducted in a transparent, non-confrontational, and non-politicised manner.

Ghana Former Vice President Warns African Heads of States

Alh Aliu Mahama, the former vice president of one of Africa’s most respected States, has made his voice heard about the status quo of the African continent, saying, “We cannot harness and utilize our resources effectively when intra Africa trade remains dismally low on the continent.”

The former subordinate to President John Kuffour, who along him, led Ghana’s government from 2001 to 2009, pointed to a consortium of political leaders, security analysts and experts, saying Africa has the potential in both human and natural resources to generate wealth and end the poverty of our people.
His Excellence Aliu Mahama was speaking at a high-level gathering, aimed at recognising African leaders and Statesmen who have taken a giant stride in developing the continent through their expertise, altruistic political position, and selfless service to creating a stable buzzer zone for human lives to blossom, held at the Sheraton hotel, The Gambia.

Alh. Aliu Mahama, former Vice President of Ghana; from January 2001-January 2009


Whilst it is true that we have increasingly become responsive to the needs of our people on the continent, we must continue to be assertive in engaging in the bold decision that enhances regional and continental integration, he cautioned. “At both economic and political levels, we must work towards more integration of our collective efforts.
“I am absolutely convinced that such integration efforts will also enhance and give meaning to compliance with ECOWAS regional political principles and protocols.”
He observed that peace – which is a catalyst to the development of Africa – is very critical to our accustomed discussion that we often garner ourselves to converse about the development of our African continent.
The Ghanaian former vice president said, for Africa to realise part of its dream, it needs a good leadership that will inspire the broader understanding and application of human security with the focus on human life and dignity.
He argued that an egocentric Head of state who is apathetic to the cause of his people, is far beyond the need of the continent; rather the African people hanker for a leader who will free them from intellectual slavery and the nuisance of despotism. “Indeed [we need] the type of transformative leadership that is selfless, but very inspiring to lift and motivate our people and turn around the fortunes of our continent.”
“As Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, I made my contribution while in government and continue to do so at the level of leadership and governance outside government. From my experience over the years, I am deeply convinced that we must continue to work hard to address the leadership question.”
As regards developing the continent, he observed that the most important issues that must continue to capture our attention include enhancing good governance and democratic practice, transparency and the fight against corruption, respect to the rule of law, and creating the enabling environment for private sector led development.
“We, in Africa hold the key to our own security and development and must galvanise the political will to make peace [and development] happen on our continent.
“We have to step up educational strategies to bring home to our leaders that the discourse about security in Africa has moved on to embrace human security. This involves the security of the individual [including food security] with respect to the satisfaction of the basic needs of life,” he explained.
For him, these are not the only mechanisms, rather “It also encompasses the creation of the social, political, economic, military, environmental and cultural conditions necessary for the survival, livelihood, and dignity of the individuals.”
He asked: “How do we build a security architecture or infrastructure from the State level to the Continental level to ensure the practice and application of human security?”
In providing a universal panacea to this question, he maintained that the Continent must make efforts to build capacities to protect the state and citizens.
He advised African governments to take with good fate advises from independent bodies on issues surrounding security and human development.
“Another area that we can consider is, encouraging independent organisations to assess and advise governments on issues relating to peace and security within Africa. Such bodies should also continue to educate the larger population on the causes of insecurity and suggested remedies to overcome these lapses as part of their research,” former Vice President Aliu Mahama who also chaired the gathering, said.

UPR of Thailand: Concerns over handling of migrant workers and situation in the south of the country

On 5 October 2011, the Working Group on the UPR examined the human rights situation in Thailand. The delegation was led by Mr Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Special Envoy of the Royal Thai Government, and Ambassador to the UN in Geneva.

In his introductory statement Mr Phuangketkeow stated that Thailand’s human rights record is one of the strongest in the region but that the situation for vulnerable groups, especially migrant workers and their families, needed further improvement. This view was shared by a number of countries, particularly those from the same region. States suggested that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) should make increased efforts in this regard, and that Thailand should cooperate further with its neighbours to improve the situation.

The dialogue largely focused on issues such as the situation of vulnerable groups, the ongoing security issues in the south of the country, and alleged restrictions on freedom of expression.

Clean hands save lives: Global Handwashing Day 2011 celebrated worldwide

On 15 October 2011, people across the globe will celebrate the 4th annual Global Handwashing Day aimed at increasing awareness and understanding on the importance of handwashing with soap as an effective and affordable way to prevent disease.

Last year’s global celebration was hugely successful with 200 million people and 700,000 schools in more than 70 countries celebrating the event. This year promises to be even bigger with more children, teachers, parents, celebrities and Government officials planning to motivate millions to lather up to prevent life-threatening diseases such as diarrhoea and acute respiratory infections.

Children suffer disproportionately from diarrhoeal diseases – with more than 2 million children under five dying every year from diarrhoea and pneumonia-related illnesses. The simple act of washing hands with soap at critical moments (such as after using the toilet and before handling food) is a key cost effective and lifesaving intervention. Research has shown that handwashing with soap can reduce the incidence of diarrhoea among children under five by almost 50 per cent, and respiratory infections by nearly 25 per cent.

In many developing countries, it is not the lack of soap that is usually the barrier – with the vast majority of poor households having soap in the home – rather, the problem is that soap is rarely used for handwashing. Creating lasting behavior change and ensuring handwashing with soap becomes a social norm are key components of UNICEF’s hygiene and sanitation programmes worldwide.

Governments around the world have now adopted Global Handwashing Day as a national celebration – the event is more than just a day and aims to ensure that handwashing with soap is practiced and promoted throughout the year. For example in 2010, all schools (18 million children) across Bangladesh participated in the celebrations which included mass handwashing demonstrations and nationwide media coverage. The event was used as a platform to launch the Government’s National Hygiene Campaign which aims to promote long-term behavior change, particularly handwashing with soap.

Global Handwashing Day was initiated in 2008 by the Global Public-Private Partnership for Handwashing with Soap, and it is endorsed by a wide array of governments, international institutions, civil society organisations, NGOs, private companies and individuals around the globe.

Everyone can get involved in this year’s Global Handwashing Day celebrations.

Courtsey of UNICEF Gambia

Security Watch Africa Holds Lectures, Award Ceremony

Security Watch Africa – an international organization that envisages a security-conscious African society ¬¬– has held its eighth lectures and awards function in The Gambia between the 13-14 October, respectively.

The event that was held at the Sheraton five-star hotel, Brufut, garnered together high profile personalities, such as Ghana’s former vice president, Gambia’s Interior Minister, and other dignitaries from across Africa.

The lecture series that was first included in the organisation’s functions in 2005, aims at identifying security problems affecting Africa and her people, discuss these problems and proffer actionable solutions.

Speaking at the occasion, His Excellence Alhaji Aliyu Mahama, former vice president of Ghana, applauded Security Watch and the theme – ‘Can Africa get its security and infrastructure right?’ – selected for the occasion, saying it provides an interesting opportunity to stimulate reflection during the course of the two day engagement.

“The timing of these lectures is also most appropriate at a time our continent continues to confront and deal with major security challenges within the state in some African continent.

“Going back a bit into the history of events on our continent, it is worthy to note that since the establishment of the African Union [….] and the development of the Africa Peace and Security Architecture, the continent has been undergoing a paradigm shift from state-centric functionality of security to the broader understanding and application of Human Security with the focus on human life and dignity,” H.E Aliyu Mahama emphasised.

His Excellence Alhaji Aliyu Mahama, former vice president of Ghana

He said that the materialization of democratic practices and good governance as well as poverty obliteration is a dimension that calls for the improvement of security and safety measures in the continent.

“It is also worthwhile to mention that democratic practices, good governance, development and poverty eradication are mutually reinforcing imperatives that give meaningful to security and infrastructure in Africa today.”

He underscored that African states should ensure safety and protective measures are imposed on the continent for the wellbeing of the continent’s children.
“It is therefore important for our African States to continue to enhance capacities to protect the state and to protect citizens,” he said, adding that this requires re-training and resourcing state security apparatuses adequately while deploying modern technology in the fight against violent crimes and terrorism.

He noted that this process could not be done in isolation to each other. Rather “It has to be integrated in a human security approach in which the well-being of our citizens creates the environment for a better security infrastructure that is sustainable.”

Ghana’s former vice president explained that in his country, a national consensus was started around a broad policy framework on national architecture for peace, which has the objective of enabling and facilitating the development of national mechanisms for cooperation among all the relevant stakeholders for building peace, enhancing security and promoting cooperative problem solving.

“We have gradually institutionalised these processes with a functioning National Peace Council that complements the National Security mechanisms to engage in conflict transformation, social, political and religious reconciliation through dialogue,” the former vice president of one of Africa’s most powerful nations,” said.

His part, Hon Ousman Sonko, the Minsister of Interior, who represented the president, said “Without peace and stability, there can be no meaningful development.”

According to him, crimes nowadays are taking transnational and intercontinental dimension, and the magnitude of illicit drug trafficking and the movement of small arms is also a cause for alarm.

Whilst he said every nation should beef up security to counter potential threats, he pointed out that the continent should develop its own strategies and means of bringing about peace and security based on it realities.

Honorable Osman Sonko



He applauded Africa Security Watch for the giant steps it has taken over the past years, and called on governments around the continent to support the organization.

Patrick Agbambu, International Coordinator/CEO for Security Watch also highlighted some hitches affecting security in Africa, saying “lack of intelligence gathering, is affecting security in Africa.”

He said the mission of Security Watch Africa is to bridge the gap of information that exists between security providers and security users, between government and the governed; provide avenue for meaningful cross-fertilization of ideas by security stakeholders, and be an agent of motivation and encouragement.

The Award ceremony was Initiated and inaugurated in 2004, with the aim to recognise, appreciate, encourage and celebrate individuals, governments, agencies, brands and companies who have excelled in security administration, practice and governance in Africa. It has remained a truly credible and glamorous international event.

The lecture series, which was introduced in 2005, is aimed at identifying security problems affecting Africa and her people, discuss these problems and proffer actionable solutions.
“We identified the need to draw from the wealth of experience of security decision makers and professionals, both within and outside the continent to facilitate the lectures, making it an opportunity for new discoveries to the attendees,” Mr Agbambu said.

Nigeria loses N1.6tr annually from non-export of agric commodities - Adesina

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Akinwunmi Adesina, said on Tuesday in Abuja that Nigeria loses N1.6 trillion annually from the non-export of oil palm, cocoa, groundnut and cotton.

Adesina, who gave this indication while presenting the Agriculture Blue print to the House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture, said that the reverse would have been the case if Nigeria had maintained its 1961 export volume.

The House, at plenary session, had requested for a blueprint from the executive to address the challenges in the sector.

According to him, countries competing with Nigeria in the production of these commodities maintained their dominance due to the strong marketing organisations that linked the farmers to markets and provided inputs.

He noted that Nigeria had the lowest usage rates in terms of usage of agricultural inputs as it ranked at the bottom of agriculture indices.

The minister also expressed regret that Nigeria imported more than N1 trillion worth of wheat, rice sugar and fish annually, adding that food imports grew at an unsustainable rate of 11 per cent annually.

``Nigeria is importing what it can produce,'' he stressed, adding that the dependence on imported foods was detrimental to local farmers just as it created unemployment.

``Import dependency is hurting Nigerian farmers, displacing local production and creating rising unemployment.

``Import dependency is not acceptable or sustainable fiscally, economically or politically,'' he stressed.

He stressed that any shock in global markets would put Nigeria's national security at risk.

Ealier, Rep Tahir Monguno (ANPP-Borno), the Chairman, the House Committee on Agriculture, said that the sector remained the largest contributor to the Nigerian economy, generating about 70 per cent employment for the nation's active workforce.

``Although agriculture has witnessed so much neglect in recent times, its importance in providing the much needed food and employment cannot be overemphasised.

Monguno maintained that in spite of the growing dependence on oil, the country remained largely an agrarian economy with agriculture accounting for a significant share of the GDP.

He noted that in spite of the improved budgetary allocation in recent times, the sector had yet to witness any commensurate changes.

West African health administrators meet in Banjul

The minister of Health and Social Welfare, Fatim Badjie, Tuesday presided over the opening ceremony of the 8th Ordinary Session of Health administrators of the West African Colleges meeting, organised by West African Heath Organisation (WAHO) at the Paradise Suites Hotel in Kololi.

Addressing the forum, Minister Badjie said the objectives of the meeting is to review the activities of the colleges, adding that the relevance of these activities to the health needs of the countries would be put into consideration in planning programmes and activities.

She urged participants to deliberate on strategies to decrease the high incidence of maternal and infant mortality and morbidity, and put in place programmes that encourage good sanitation and structures that would facilitate access to portable water supply for the sub urban and rural communities.

She stated that the West African Health Organisation (WAHO) is doing a lot in human resource development and capacity building for Member States but still more needs to be done for these efforts to have more impact on the motivation and retention of the health workforce. She called on participants to come up with pertinent decisions and resolutions for the enhancement of the health systems.

The Gambia’s health minister also called for collective efforts so as to lead the country towards to achieving the Millennium Development Goals that concern the health and well being of our people with the ultimate aim of improving the health status of the ECOWAS people.

Source: Observer.gm

West African Malaria Regional Network meeting opens

The West African Malaria Regional Network (WARN) meeting opened Tuesday at the Kairaba Beach Hotel. The meeting is being presided over by the Gambia minister of Health and Social Welfare, Fatim Badjie.

Fatim Badjie, Health Minister of The Gambia


Officially declaring the meeting open, Minister Badjie said the government of The Gambia is highly committed to malaria control and prevention, as it is an active member of all regional and sub-regional networks. She added that The Gambia coordinates the malaria component of the Health for Peace Malaria Initiative (HIP) and is also the current alternate roll back malaria board member in the sub-region.

She noted that the meeting will also avail WARN countries and partners the opportunity to critically review progress, share experiences and best practices as a malaria community. “This meeting will further give chance to all stakeholders in the fight against Malaria to take stock of the progress made by respective countries towards the implementation of the road maps and towards achieving their set targets and it will also accord them the opportunity to share success stories and best practices in the fight against malaria,” she added.

She disclosed that currently, there are compelling advances in malaria endemic countries but with support from international partners, malaria cases and deaths have reduced and hundreds of thousands of lives have been saved across the continent. She disclosed that in The Gambia, research in 2008 showed a general decline in malaria incidence in the country by 85% and admission due to malaria also dropped by 74%. She noted that malaria attributable deaths have also dropped by 90%. The Health minister then called on the international community to ensure sustainable funding to meet the targets for malaria control as part of the drive to reach the health-related MDGs by 2015.

Speaking earlier, the Programme manager of the National Malaria Control Programme of The Gambia, Mrs Adam Jagne -Sonko said today, many countries in Africa including The Gambia are attaining higher coverage of their populations with effective malaria control interventions. She stress that the will to sustain the gains countries have made in malaria must not only come from global health leaders, but also from communities. She opined that if communities can know the true burden of malaria and can see the results of prevention and control efforts, then the will to eliminate malaria and ultimate eradication of malaria will never fade.

Other speakers at the occasion included the director general of the West African Health Organisation (WAHO) Dr Placido Cardoso and WHO representative in The Gambia, Dr Thomas Sukwa.

Momodou Fall Observer reports.

Trusts Bank, NAWEC Partnered For Sale of Cash Power

Trust Bank Gambia Ltd -- Gambia’s second largest bank -- has once again demonstrated the solid partnership that existed between it and the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC), by making a landmark shift into the cash-power-sale system.

Captains of the two conglomerates met on Tuesday 11 October to formalise the deal, which came after “months of negotiations and trials”.

“Today we are truly honored to announce that after months of negotiations and trials we are ready to launch the Trust Bank sale of cashpower for NAWEC.”

The deal, which was struck at the bank’s head office in Banjul, would enable consumers of the NAWEC cash power system to buy their cash power at three of the bank’s branches in the country.

“From today it will be possible for members of the public to buy their cashpower from three Trust Bank branches in exactly the same way that they would [buy] at any NAWEC outlet. As this is a new venture, we are starting of[f] with three branches, namely Banjul, Serrekunda – Saho Kunda, -- and Latrikunda,” says Oremi Joiner, General Manager of Trust Bank.

However, he was sanguine that as the clock moves with progress, there is hope that the newly introduced product will be rolled out to all the branches across the country.

Mr Joiner who was officiating the launching of the new cash payment system on behalf of the Managing Director, argued that NAWEC “[…. obviously] is the most important organization in this country, by virtue of the uniquely important role they play in national development, business success, foreign direct investment, security and at a basic level, happy citizenry.”

According to him, the rapport that existed between the two institutions, has taken a multi-faceted dimension, citing the introduction of the Electronic Bill Payment system – which has enabled consumers to pay their NAWEC-due bills to the bank --; a move he applauds.

Speaking impromptu for NAWEC Managing Director in absentia, the Commercial Director, Nani Juwara applauded the initiative, saying Trust Bank has always being there for NAWEC.

It is a partnership by both and cherish by all, he said, noting that any panacea to the long queue at NAWEC’s outlet is a step in the right direction.

LONG QUEUE: seen by many as enemy to money-making. Trust Bank aims to suppress it


According to him, Trust Bank has always been on its shoe, solving some of NAWEC’s heart-touching predicaments. He adds that Trust Bank being one of the best banks in the country, NAWEC has bestowed a high degree of confidence on the bank, saying he was “Satisfy with the existing partnership [between us].”

He underscored the importance of the move, saying it is a high rated step for mitigating financial lost.
Speaking on the increase in volume for financial transaction in NAWEC’s outlets, Juwara was not vacillating to state, “this is one way of mitigating the risk.”

“I hope that Trust Bank will come out with other solutions to help [NAWEC] mitigate some of the challenges. If NAWEC wins, Trust Bank wins,” he quipped.

Dodou Nyang Trust Bank Marketing Manager, who also chaired the event, said Trust Bank is not going to charge anyone during the process of buying a cash power using the bank designated post. He adds that various products have been rolled by the bank and went on for free charges.

Media Revolution: GIABA: Gambia Not a Known Money Laundering Hub

Media Revolution: GIABA: Gambia Not a Known Money Laundering Hub: The challenges of the West African sub-region especially on money laundering and the financing of terrorism activities is a cause for alarm,...

GIABA: Gambia Not a Known Money Laundering Hub

The challenges of the West African sub-region especially on money laundering and the financing of terrorism activities is a cause for alarm, as all countries in the region have been posited as vulnerable to the scourge of money laundering. However, The Gambia has been credited for being a non-money laundering precinct, but words of caveat remain. Amat JENG writes explicitly.

The Inter-Governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering (GIABA) has absolved The Gambia from the vicious circle of money laundering that has gripped many countries in the sub-region, saying the Western Africa nation is not a known money laundering (ML) hub in the region.

GIABA – the ECOWAS created money-action group -- releases its 2010 annual report, where it stated that the country “Is not a known ML hub in the region”.

“It is unknown to what extent ML is related to narcotics proceeds,” the report highlights, but cautions that the influx of foreign banks and the increased in number of national financial institutions in the country is a cause for alarm.
“The increasing number of local and foreign banks in The Gambia has raised some questions as to whether they may not be providing additional risk if regulation is not enhanced.”

The Gambia is not a regional financial centre, although it is a regional re-export centre. Goods and capital are freely and legally traded in the country and as the case in other re-export centres, smuggling of goods occurs; and the lack of wherewithal hinders law enforcement’s ability to combat possible smuggling, even though there is the political commitment to do so, the report explains.

However, the report does not exempt The Gambia from those countries it listed as susceptible to crimes derived from money laundering and it vices. “The Gambia is vulnerable to the activities of organized crime and drug trafficking,” it states, citing the 2007 Annual Report of the Gambia Drug Control Agency, which highlights about 1270 mg of drugs that were seized from the 54 cases reported in 2007.

However, in The Gambia, proceeds of crime are mainly derived from drug trafficking, bribery and corruption, the tourism industry, foreign exchange transactions, and other related acquisitive crimes, the report highlights.

It further states that the magnitude in which these misdemeanors are committed remains difficult to determine.

“The porous borders, weak controls, prevailing poverty, dominance of cash transactions, poor Know Your Customer (KYC) compliance culture, massive inflows of tourists and anecdotal evidence of increasing drug-related and other criminal activities are all factors contributing to an increase in the ML risk environment in the country,” says the GIABA’s report.

Some of the challenges plunging the nation into the vulnerability of money laundering and other related crimes include the lackadaisical implementation of laws criminalizing corruption, and public officials not being subjected to financial disclosure requirements.

In its report, GIABA did not single out the real estates and tourism sectors as well as forex exchange bureaus and other financial agencies in its list of vulnerable institutions.

DR SHEHU SPEAKING TO JOURNALISTS


HOW GAMBIA IS COMBATING MONEY LAUNDERING AND RELATED CRIMES?
When the issue of money laundering, financing terrorism and related crimes is raised in a milieu of discussion, in unrestricted gatherings and academic institutions, questions tend to crop up regarding how and what institutional apparatuses Gambia have in place to combat this nuisance, as there is no specific government agency responsible for pulverizing down corruption.

Unlike Nigeria, -- where the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) – has been netting perpetrators and suspected plutocrats in jails; and confiscating suspected assets to the state’s benefit --, The Gambia does not create a specific bureau to nap suspects of such, but established a Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) within the Central Bank Financial Supervision Department to probe into potential cases of such nature.

However, GIABA observes that this unit “Is not an independent entity”, and initially went on to observe some deficiencies in the capability of this unit: such as deficient capacity building and the inability of the Central Bank to “meet its desired examination scheduled because of personnel constraints”.

Nevertheless, with all these cavities, the country has developed a legislative and institutional framework through the enactment of the Money Laundering Act 2003. The Act states that ML is a “criminal offense” and establishes the following as “predicate offenses”: narcotics trafficking as well as blackmail, counterfeiting, extortion, false accounting, forgery, fraud, illegal deposit taking, robbery, terrorism, theft, and insider trading.

Henceforth, the “Act requires banks and other financial institutions to know, record and report the identity of clients engaging in significant and/or suspicious transactions,” whilst also requiring banks to maintain records for at least six years.

Like Nigeria in this case, the current reporting threshold for cash transactions is US$10, 000. Thus, any amount greater than this in enormity is subjected to scrutiny by the responsible authorities. The Act further empowers the government to identify and freeze assets of a person suspected of committing the act.

“The Customs Department is tasked with investigating when sums of money exceeding US$10, 000 are brought into the country. However, Customs officials have not been properly trained,” the report, reveals.

The report, in amplification to why the country is free from the scourge of ML and terrorist financing, yet vulnerable to it, stated that there has not been documentation of ML over the past eight years.

“The Central Bank circulates lists of terrorists and terrorist entities designated by the US government under Executive Order 13224 among Gambian banks and other financial institutions, including insurance companies. There have been no arrests and/or prosecutions for money laundering or terrorist financing since 2003. Only banks and insurance companies are currently subject to MLA requirements.”

In recognising the importance government attaches to preventing its financial system from being misused as a conduit for the transfer and retention of illicit funds, GIABA urges that building the capacities of anti-money laundering agencies and providing the possible wherewithal could not be off the hook.

Despite weathering so many storms in the financial sector, the Central Bank and its financial unit have been branded by GIABA as “Lacking the required technical and operational personnel to supervise financial institutions’ compliance with the ML Act,” which is another deficit for combatants of ML.

It continues: “The financial supervision department [at the Central Bank] is understaffed and is not likely to function effectively as the FIU [Financial Intelligence Unit] since its primary role of supervising financial institutions and non-banking financial institutions [in the country] for prudential purposes is consider a priority at the moment.

“With 14 staff members, the Department is barely meeting its primary obligation to supervise the financial institutions effectively.”

In its unwavering effort to create a buzzer zone of harmony, The Gambia further went on to ratify 11 of the 13 UN Conventions against Terrorism. However, the Convention for the Suppression of Financing of Terrorism is yet to be ratified. The Anti-Terrorism Act 2002 provides for the measures to combat terrorism and for other related matters.

Terrorist financing is criminalised under Sections 6, 11(a) and 11(2) (b), 12, 13, 14, 16, 18, and 21 of the Anti-Terrorism Act 2002. The National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the police are responsible for gathering intelligence on terrorism and terrorist financing, while the Attorney General is accountable for the prosecution of reported cases.

Stakeholders Set To Gain From Trade Policy Course

Stakeholders from various English-speaking countries in West Africa are prepared to gain expertise on enhancing their regional and multilateral trade policy design and implementation, after the end of a four-day capacity-building course on trade policy organised by the ECOWAS Commission in collaboration with the African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC) – a syndicate based at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).
The course was aimed at strengthening the analytical capacities and knowledge of ECOWAS Member States on market analysis tools for trade flow analysis and interpreting the outcomes of trade negotiations modeling, in order for them to enhance their regional and multilateral trade policy, a Communiqué from the bloc reads.

Senior Government official from the Trade Ministry [The Gambia] posed with trainers and trainees

Mr Kola Sofola, Principal Programme Officer, ECOWAS Trade Directorate, who briefed journalists on the thematic issues discussed at the training, said the member states of the regional bloc are signatory to a number of Preferential Trade Agreements, and are currently engaged in a number of negotiations with other third party countries.

He highlighted the importance of the training to these negotiations, saying “Robust trade analysis will be an important factor in the decision making process.”
An extraordinary piece of software for trade analysis called TradeSift was designed to help trainees in providing them with robust and consistent analysis of trade and trade policy choices without requiring sophisticated modeling.
Dr Michael Gasiorek, TradeSift Managing Director said: “TradeSift was developed in response to the perceived lack of capacity in developing countries to engage effectively in trade negotiations and analysis of trade policy options.
TradeSift allows for rapid and easily comprehensible analysis of trade based on economic principles and provides a low cost solution to trade policy capacity building in developing countries.”

He explained that using the TradeSift software enables the accessibility of users to readily available international data and national databases that are crucial for researchers, academic institutions and journalists. It is a very valuable resource tool for people worldwide and there is a great scope for the use of TradeSift in understanding trade and commerce policies of countries around the world.

“Engaging international trade is really part of our focus. Trade is a significant part of development,” Dr Gasiorek, who also a Senior Lecturer in Economics at the University of Sussex UK, said.

Participants at the training hailed the work of TradeSift, saying, “Access to useful information in free of charge is indeed a commendable step.”
Fifatin Dominique, Trade Directorate ECOWAS Commission, who also spoke to journalists on the importance of using TradeSift, said, “Our region is new to analyzing trade. We do not have enough capacities in our region [to analysis trade policy]. Our region insisted on [the side] of the development aspect only.”
He applauded the ECOWAS Commission for the support and commitment it attaches to trade, saying the training is “very helpful and useful to the region; both at the multilateral and bilateral level.”

Senior government officials from various countries in the ECOWAS member states attended the training. Sarah Ollerenshaw, Economic Operations Manager of TradeSift as well as Maximiliano Mendez Parra, Executive Director of Iteas Consulting -- A multicultural and multilingual consortium of experts aim to providing innovative solutions that push the boundaries of international trade analysis -- also shared their expertise with participants during the course of the four-day capacity building exercise.

The 50th Session of the ACHPR: a new opportunity to assess the human rights situation in Africa

The semi-annual session of the African Commission on Human Rights and People’s Rights (ACHPR) will be held in Banjul at the end of this month (October 24 to November 7). It will be preceded by the regular NGO Forum (19 – 21 October), where human rights defenders and other civil society actors will come together and identify priority areas which will be communicated to the ACHPR through resolutions and recommendations. In preparation for these two events, the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) Co-organized in partnership with the African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights studies, the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights, and Conectas; a training workshop for African civil society actors on the regional and international human rights mechanisms for civil society actors in Africa (14-18 October).

This session takes place when the continent celebrates the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (1981-2011). During the regular session of the ACHPR, the focus will be on celebrating that 30th anniversary. The challenge of this session will be to assess the situation of human rights in Africa 30 years after the adoption of the Charter. ISHR will organize, during the NGO forum, a workshop on this point with the special rapporteur on human rights defenders to evaluate the protection of human rights defenders in Africa 30 years after the adoption the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights.

A number of other issues will be dealt with during the session of the ACHPR including the democratization process in North Africa and the accompanying violence, the situation in North Africa, the African Union's response to these questions, and the question of human rights defenders.
In addition, three countries will have their state reports reviewed namely Burundi, Nigeria, and Togo. ISHR will support human rights defenders from these countries for the submission of their reports and liaison with the Commissioner.

ISHR’s advocacy work will focus on the protection of human rights defenders. The focus will be on the issue of retaliation that the defenders who work with human rights mechanisms of the African Union are subjected to. ISHR will intensify its efforts towards the adoption of the resolution on this issue.

Given the increasingly important role played by NationalHuman Rights Institutions (NHRIs) in the promotion and protection of human rights on the continent, ISHR will increase its advocacy on their effectiveness, especially those that have the affiliate status with the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights.

Finally, ISHR in partnership with Conectas and AJPD will launch a Roadmap on the engagement of civil society in the process of preparing and submitting the state report to the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights.

Terrorism Financing, Money Laundering Undermine Economic Development

The financing of terrorist activities and money laundering severely undermines sustainable economic development through the erosion of human capital, political and social instability and corruption, said the Permanent Secretary (1) at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs.

Mod T Secka made this remarks at the opening ceremony of a three day conclave on Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Combating Financing Terrorism (CFT) for non-regulators and supervisors in the ECOWAS member states, held on the 4 to 6 October respectively, at the Coco Ocean Spa and Resort, Kololi. The three-day extensive seminar was organised and sponsored by the Inter-Governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering (GIABA) in West Africa.

The event, which brought together participants from all ECOWAS member states, capacitated attendees with good regulatory and supervisory framework for combating the looming act of money laundering and terrorist financing. “Therefore, any effort to eliminate or purge our economies off” the scourge of money laundering and financing terrorism is a step in the right direction, he said.

He salutes the significant headways that GIABA – the money-action group – has been able to accomplish by helping West Africa and by extension other African countries get rid of the menace of money laundering and its vices.

Speaking further, he said, “Notable strides have been made in the fight against ML & CFT,” but added that there are still challenges that remain to be surmounted.
According to him, weak criminal system to help prosecutes convicts and the capacity of some member states to utilise the technical support and funding being made available to them are some of the challenges that are holding the arms of advocates engaged in the crusade against ML & CFT.

Emphasising on the importance of holding seminars of such nature, the Finance Ministry PS said “We are all aware of the significant role the private and informal sector play in the socio-economic development of our nations. The informal sector especially cannot be ignored and including them in the fight against money laundering cannot be over-looked.”

“Given that our economies are cash based, including the informal sector in decision-making process will encourage them to report any suspicious action and transaction. This is because they would be aware of the consequences of not reporting and the incentive of doing so. Taking a holistic approach, in a cohesive manner will ensure that the impact of the menace is limited, if not eliminated,” he explained.

According to his elucidation, capacitating these actors could be carried out by implementing some of the recommendations, in the likes of “Building the capacities of Designated Non-financial Businesses and Profession (DNFBPs); demonstrating the AML & CFT supervision undertaken effectively across the financial, private and non-formal sector; establishing a fully operational and effectively functioning Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), and developing on-going employee training program to help them effectively” join the battle against ML & CFT.

“Helping to build the capacities of non-formal, non-state actors by equipping them with the relevant tools will help the region in its war against the plague that is money laundering and FT,” he said.

Explaining the genesis of GIABA, Dr Abdullahi Shehu, the agency’s Director General said: “In response to the devastating effects of money laundering and related criminal activities on West African countries, the Authority of Heads of State of the ECOWAS established GIABA as a specialised institution with the objective to protect the national economies and the financial and banking systems of Member States against abuse through the laundering of proceeds of crime and the financing of terrorism; improving measures and intensify efforts to combat money laundering and terrorism financing in West Africa; and strengthening cooperation amongst its members.”

Since the money-action group was established in 2000 and took up in 2005 as an effectual functioning bureau, it has weathered so many tempests just in half a decade.

The 2007-2009 Strategic Plan of Action that was approved by the ECOWAS council of Ministers and which was clustered around various strategic objectives, amongst them the promotion of strategic partnerships with the civil society, including awareness raising and support to the private sector to effectively comply with acceptable AML/CFT standards; promotion of regional and international cooperation and collaboration to combat these phenomena, among others, ended in December 2009 with vivid grades.

“In compliance with the ECOWAS Ministerial Council Regulation adopting measures for the improvement of the efficiency of ECOWAS institutions, an independent evaluation of the implementation of the Action Plan was carried out in 2010. The outcome of that evaluation formed the design of another Strategic Action Plan for 2011-2014,” he elucidated.

For his part, Bassiru Njai, the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of the Gambia, “Money laundering is simply a process of disguising illegal sources of money so that it looks like it came from legal sources. Aside from associated predicate crimes, money laundering is strongly linked with terrorism financing.

The methods by which money may be laundered are varied and can range in sophistication. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) – an inter-government body established to combat money laundering --, admits that although its is absolutely impossible to produce a reliable estimate of the amount of money laundered, what is not in doubt is that they run in the billion of dollars year and poses a significant policy concern for government.”

He revealed that in 2003, FATFI identified galaxies of non-financial businesses and professions, such as lawyers, real estate agents etc that could fall prey of being used by design or naively to conceal the proceeds of crime.

On a final note, the Central Bank deputy governor commended GIABA for its untiring efforts, and reaffirmed Gambia’s government unwavering commitment to ensuring that the necessary legislation to fight ML & CFT both meet international standards and effective implementation.

MULTIFACETED APPROACH TO MONEY LAUNDERING AND FINANCING TERRORISM

Dr Abdullahi Shehu went on to explain to journalists at a press conference that the battle for creating a money-laundering free zone requires a multifaceted approach that would involve people from all works of life.
According to him, the lack of political will from any other country in the sub-region will serious hinder the efforts of those soldiers engaged in the battle against ML & CFT.

With the political will, the cooperation of relevant stakeholders and the inclusion of stakeholders in decision making process will catapult the fight against the act to the forefront of our economies, he said.

Dr Shehu who rejoined all questions thrown at his direction said “GIABA’s outreach has gone beyond the traditional beneficiary institutions or agencies to include relevant public and private sector institutions, such as the financial institutions, designated non-financial businesses and professions, legislatures and the mass media.

“As you may be aware, some financial institutions have collapsed as a result of money laundering activities associated with their operations. Therefore, in the global fight against money laundering and terrorist financing, financial institutions become the first line of defense and are now under increasing pressure to demonstrate genuine commitment to implement AML/CFT,” he remarks.

He advised institution to place robust measures in place to safeguards their reputation, by upholding to the internationally recognised system of ML & CFT measures, adding, “Non-compliance with AML/CFT laws and regulations by financial institutions may lead to loss of reputation, loss of customers and business relationships, and even lost operating licence.”

He revealed to reporters that ML has now been criminalised in all Member States, noting that a network of financial intelligence units is in place to provide financial acumen that facilitates investigation into any inkling relating to the act.

Whilst ML always strive to be ahead of law enforcement, exploiting any existing loopholes, deploying sophisticated gadgets and complex methodologies to beat the law, GIABA DG said states should among other measures, “Demonstrate high political commitment to the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing, and keep abreast of emerging developing on AML/CFT requirements, including directives of G-20 to FATF on corruption and those Recommendations that undergoing revisions, as well as jurisdiction that are classified by FATF as high risk.”

He called on the information disseminators to use the mightiness of their pen and educate and advocate for a society free from money laundering and financing terrorism.