IBM TO EXTEND MARKET WINGS TO GAMBIA

In what is seemingly turning out to be a fruitful partnership between Unique Solutions, an internet provider, and the International Business Machine (IBM), an American multinational technology and consulting corporation, the latter sees huge possibility of extending its market outreach in the West African country, after a seminar held at the Coca Ocean hotel, Bijilo.
In his remarks, Papa Yusupha Njie, the Chief Executive Officer, Unique Solutions, said the seminar gives IBM the opportunity to “extends its market reach through the dynamic partnership” with his conglomerate to bring first class innovative technological services directly to the doorsteps of Gambian businesses.

IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas ranging from mainframe computers to nanotechnology. As of December 2011, IBM was the third-largest publicly traded technology company in the world by market capitalization.
Founded in 1911 as the Computing Tabulating Recording Corporation through a merger of three companies: the Tabulating Machine Company, the International Time Recording Company, and the Computing Scale Corporation, the worldwide conglomerate is celebrating over hundred years of innovation and providing of first class hi-tech solutions and services to its vast clientele and partners all over the world.
“We believe that this partnership is what we are witnessing today and we do hope that the benefits to the Gambia will be seen in the coming days, months and years,” says Mr Njie, the winner of the 2011 ‘Africa Award for Entrepreneurship’.
He believes the year 2012 will be astounding one, given the nature of technological development in the offing. “The relevance to the Gambia is indeed very clear as 2012 promises to be an exciting year in the ICT industry with the commissioning of the ACE [Africa cable to Europe] submarine cable.”

The advent of undersea fibre optic cables has changed the game at all levels in our continent and we hope that this will be the case for The Gambia in 2012, he adds.
Whilst he underscores hope that IBM would take advantage of the ACE project, he unveiled that plans are afoot to test Unique Solution’ s 4G service, prior to the official launching during the second quarter of 2012.
“We believe that this partnership with IBM coupled with our existing and upcoming infrastructure will go a long way in providing the required recipe for success needed for IBM to call [The] Gambia a hub of innovation and excellence in the services and solutions to be provided to all.”

IBM Country General Management for Senegal, Mamadou Ndiaye, says the partnership between them intends to build a win-win-partnership, where both partners could work together in solving all the issues facing their customers.

“Everybody is aware of what IBM can offer in term of product and service,” he says.
However, IBM was stereotype for what others called ‘Hardware Company’, but this, Njie explains has changed for the past decades. “We have become a service company. As you can see in my presentation, 60% of our revenue come from services,” adding that IBM is a value-driven company.

GOVERNMENT TO EMBARK ON NEW TAX SENSITISATION CRUSADE

Banjul// GAMBIA Barely ten months to go before the implementation of the Value Added Tax (VAT) is effected, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs has unveiled that plans are afoot that would ensure a massive sensitisation campaign on the implementation of the VAT law, which was recently validated by the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) at a two-day conclave held at the Paradise suites hotel.

Unveiling this to stakeholders at the meeting, the Permanent Secretary (1) at the ministry of finance and economic affairs, Mod T Secka noted that “There will be a comprehensive sensitization campaign”, which he adds, will start very soon.
You all know that VAT is a comprehensive tax and it requires that all stakeholders are adequately informed about the details and expectations that the Authorities would have on tax payers, he says.

VAT has been introduced by the government of the Gambia in 2011 as part of several public financial management reforms, but it will be implemented in January 2013 to replicate the income tax and sales tax.
“Income and sales tax, which have been a major legislation on income tax have been modelled to accommodate this kind of tax [the VAT],” he says, adding that all that the meeting needs to do is to make amendments on the income and sales tax, which will become income and Value Added Taxations.

The Gambia Revenue Authority house

“Other processes that are also involved would be capacity building, because the introduction of VAT is demanding in terms of capacity. This is why capacity at the level of the GRA has to be greatly enhanced during the course of the remaining months of the year, so that they can also gear up towards the challenges that have been assigned to them by the introduction of VAT.”
Mr Secka explains that comprehensive data is a necessity that is required prior to introducing VAT.

“There are preconditions that are needed before you introduce Value Added Taxation; some of which is filing by tax payers, because you would need to have a comprehensive data base, wherein you will know each of the operators, where they are located and then you have some forms of communications to get to them when it comes to payment of taxes,” he says.

“The introduction of VAT is so demanding that it requires all hands on deck, so that we have the desired outcome come January 1st [2013],” he notes.
Government has undertaken several public financial management reforms; some of which have been ongoing, but the most important one would be the introduction of the VAT, which is scheduled for Jan 2013; and another one, which is the Medium Term Expenditure Framework amongst other reforms.

For the IMF resident representative, Meshack Tunee Tjirongo, recent improvements at the tax administration corridor have provided a solid foundation for successful VAT come 2013. IMF Country rep for Gambia

He pointed that efforts to ensure “filing compliance of the large tax payers” have yielded positive outcomes, resulting in the rise to 78% of would-be tax compliers; thus more than three third of tax payers are expected to comply with VAT, thanks to IMF assistance.

Bakary Sanyang, GRA commissioner general, hails the event, describing it a “historic” one. He adds that the private sector’s involvement in the validation of the VAT law does come accidentally, saying it is parts of efforts put in train to enhance public-private partnership.

Essa Jallow, Director Technical Service, GRA, chaired the meeting.

The event brought together stakeholders from both the public and privates sectors, who are the suppliers and consumers of the new tax.

International human rights defenders experts to launch new reports on Latin America

United Nations and Latin American human rights experts will come together in March to launch new reports on the conditions of human rights defenders working in the Americas.
The launch will feature the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights’ (IACHR) {GlossaryDef::Special Rapporteur} on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders, together with the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the same issue.

It is being organised by the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) as a side-event to the 19th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, and will take place on Tuesday 6 March at Palais des Nations in Geneva.

human rights violations of such nature is not unusual during conflict

The IACHR’s Special Rapporteur, Mr José de Jesús Orozco, will present the regional body’s latest report on human rights defenders in the Americas. The report highlights an increase in assassinations, extrajudicial executions and enforced disappearances of human rights defenders in the region since 2006.
It shows this problem to be particularly true in those countries where democratic rule is interrupted, where there is internal armed conflict, or where clashes occur between defenders and organised crime groups or powerful economic actors.

In response, the IACHR has ordered many American States to take specific action to protect defenders. These protection measures have been issued primarily to Colombia (27 percent), Guatemala (24 percent), and Honduras (9 percent).
IACHR Executive Director, Mr Santiago Cantón will also speak at the side-event, and will present the recent work of the IACHR in furthering the concerns of human rights defenders. At the same event, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders, Ms Margaret Sekaggya will present ISHR’s report on the situation of defenders in Colombia.

The findings are the result of research into whether recommendations made by the Special Rapporteur have been effectively implemented in Colombia, following her visit to the country in 2009.
The report portrays a Colombian Government showing a more constructive attitude in its dealings with human rights defenders. However, it also identifies a failure to mainstream this attitude among local authorities, a worrying increase in attacks on human rights defenders in the past year, and the limited success of State authorities in investigating and addressing such attacks.

Executive Director of the Colombian Commission of Jurists, Mr Gustavo Gallón will go on to provide a civil society view on the ISHR report and the situation of defenders in Colombia.

CENTRAL BANK SHOULD ACT IMMEDIATELY

Before January 2011 there were fourteen banks operating in the country, with less than 25% of a bankable population. When the capital requirement was augmented on grounds: that banks are better equipped to withstand period of economic and financial stress and therefore support economic growth; help maintain market confidence in the solvency of the banking system; and impose market discipline and provide a large cushion to protect taxpayers from the quagmire of a bailout process, unexpected capital flight gripped Oceanic bank.

To some extents, the other thirteen banks went on wearing veils of smiles, with the ubiquitous euphoria of grabbing Oceanic’s clients, who have enjoyed the service of that bank since it entered the banking industry.
They did not close down at that, but others, perhaps went on to snatch some of Oceanic bank’s staff, while a pocket of other staff alas felt within the line of redundancy. Oceanic bank’s mysterious saga paradoxically brought respite to the remaining banks, some of which were seemingly bailout by their parent bodies elsewhere on earth.

CENTRAL BANK BUILDING

As the ever-burgeoning financial market enters new revolution, – a revolution of giving back to the people – only a very little number of these banks in the country are exercising the revolution: many of these banks are fattening their ‘Deposits’ back home; leaving the country reeling with domestic debts for the sake of its 1.8 million-population. It is not encouraging to learn that domestic debt alone is consuming 25% of national budget.

Only few banks are fulfilling their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), whilst the rest insulate behind in all areas of CSRs. Thus, the need for the Central Bank – the last resort for the banking industry – to question the nitty-gritty of what some of these banks are doing has become necessary.
As a business journalist, I keep abreast of some of the developments that are rolling in my related areas of focus; and I am confident to note that some of the banks in the country are of no use to our people vis-à-vis ploughing back to them.

By calculatingly continuing to stockpile growth and redirecting it to their parent companies without fulfilling a grain of their corporate citizenship in the country they operate, these banks are blatantly abusing the policy of CSR, which functions as a built-in, self-regulating mechanism.
It is part of banks’ responsibility to give back to societies they operate. This is done to embrace responsibility for their actions and encourage a positive impact through their activities.

It is not written in Mandarin to say it is comprehensive to only a few people; but for the past years, only few banks are fulfilling their CSRs: building clinical services; renovating school edifices; saving souls at ‘Save our Soul’; rewarding outstanding customers; sponsoring students; reinvesting in sports etc. The banks that are doing so do not even make up a half of the thirteen banks.

What are other banks doing? If they feel that CSR is merely a window-dressing or an attempt to pre-empt the role of government as a watchdog over powerful multinational corporations, the Central Bank should intervene to remind them of their obligations.
Whilst this debate continues, a prominent human right activist holds the belief that there is more to it than meet the eye.

GOVERNOR AMADOU KOLLEY

“For me the issue Gambians need to raise first and for most is about the number of banks in the country and the usefulness of these banks in terms of local investments and entrepreneurial development,” says Madi Jobateh, a programme manager at TANGO and a human right activist.
Mr Jobateh argues that having a large number of banks in a relatively emerging economy like The Gambia, and yet still being faced with high interest rate, is ridiculous.

“If you have so many banks in a small economy like The Gambia, yet local investment is limited, yet entrepreneurs are finding it difficult to get loans because interest rates are high, then what is the purpose [of their existence]? What is the use of these so many banks in an economy?” he rhetorically asks.
Jobateh, who has enjoyed prominence for his unwavering stance for an open society, did not fail to accentuate that thirteen banks amidst a population of 1.8 millions are expected to spur colossal economic growth, by stimulating local investments and entrepreneurial development.

Banks may not be blamed
However, the untoward phenomenon that is at present striking the backyard of the banking industry is not merely the fault of banks that are failing in their CSRs; but tax authorities also have a stake in it, because some of these banks are accruing a meagre progress in the financial market.

Madi argues on the other side of the coin: “People have to have the proper perspective [that] banks are not charity organisations that have come to do us a favour. A very important issue that need to be asked in that area is: what incentives are there to make a bank or a private enterprise donate? I am saying this to reflect on the tax issues in The Gambia. Our tax system is such that it does not augur well for CSRs to be fulfilled.”

STANDARD CHARTERED BANK IS AMONGST THE BANKS DOING WELL ON CSR

For many economic analysts, some banks could not fulfil their CSRs, because the tax quotient laid on them is high. Whilst they believe that wherever there is a will, there is a way; government should have a modus operandi that would create a level-playing field for all banks to plough back to communities.
He elucidates: “If a bank donates D100, 000 to a hospital, when we come to tax that bank’s profit, that D100, 000 is part of the taxable income. It is not exempted. So you cannot have a situation where a bank donates money yet it is taxed on that money. If we want to promote CSRs in The Gambia, it is necessary that the government reviews the tax systems to make sure that philanthropy donation to social development courses are not taxed.”

Many analysts subscribed to the idea that government should give some banks concession on their incomes, based on the ground that they have performed well in their CSRs. This would kindle banks’ interest to exercise CSRs and further divest from the Irredeemable syndrome of ‘se croiser les bras’ (French for ‘to fold one's arms’).

Banks are important institutions in nation’s building; therefore policy makers should not thwart possibilities of having the drivers of our economy exercise their corporate citizenship.

“If that is not happening, then we will have a situation where banks will make incredible profit; because interest rates are high, but they are not going to plough back that much to the society,” the human right activist observes.

GOV’T PROJECTS REDUCTION IN LENDING RATES

Despite the slump in economic growth in 2011, The Gambia’s banking sector remains sound, with an average capital adequacy ratio that is “significantly higher than the minimum requirement of 10 per cent”. After a thorough consideration, the Central Bank of The Gambia has decided to reduce the policy rate by 1.0 percentage point to 13 per cent.

Amadou Colley, governor of the Central Bank of the Gambia (CBG), has said there are high expectations that banks’ interest rates, particularly lending rates, would be reduced, adding that this is due to some considerations in preceding years.
Governor Colley, who took over the mantle of leadership of the bank less than two years ago, was speaking on Tuesday at the CBG’s board room, where he said the Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of The Gambia has decided to reduce the policy rate by 1.0 percentage point to 13 per cent, adding: “The expectation is that other interest rates, particularly lending rates, would be reduced.”

Economic players, including bankers and entrepreneurs could see this move as timely, owing to events dictating the sovereign debt crisis that battered European countries and handicapped international businesses.
“Although, growth in emerging and developing economies remains robust, it is expected to moderate somewhat due to contagion from the European crisis as well as policies aimed at curbing domestic demand pressures,” Mr Colley said.

AMADOU COLLEY
He added that the decline in headline inflation is steady with the cutback in money supply and the stability of the Dalasi, saying inflation is expected to remain in single digit in 2012 predicated on prudent implementation of monetary and fiscal policy as well as the easing of global food prices.
However, core inflation, which excludes the price of energy, utilities and unpredictable food items, also decline to 4.3 per cent from 5.7 per cent in the previous year of 2010.

According to the CBG governor, in emerging and developing economies like Gambia’s, “Inflationary pressures are also expected to decline slightly from 7.3 per cent in 2011 to 6.3 per cent in 2012,” saying three factors will determine the path of inflation: energy and food price, output gaps, and the credibility of policymakers.

Despite the country’s economy growing by 5.4 per cent in 2011, compared to 5.5 per cent in 2010 and 6.7 per cent in 2009 respectively, agriculture, which is the mainstay of the economy and highest contributor to the GDP, grew at a slower pace this year, compared to 12.1 per cent last year.
“Industry value-added is estimated at 1.3 per cent, lower than the 2.6 per cent in 2010 attributed to the decrease in the output of mining and quarrying and electricity, gas and water to 1.6 per cent in 2010. Construction output shrank by 2.9 per cent on top of the contraction of 3.7 per cent in 2010,” he added.

However, all the service sub-sectors grew strongly, with the highest growth rates recorded by communication (14.0) and wholesale and retail: 9.7 per cent. On the other hand, service value-added grew by a robust 8.5 per cent compared to the 1.2 percent in 2010.
The target for broad money did not meet expectations, as it was projected to grow at 13.1 percent, coming out with unexpected 11.0 percent lower than the 13.7 per cent of 2010.

He pointed out that the Net Foreign Assets (NFA) and the Net Domestic Assets (NDA) – which are the determinants of broad money – of the banking sector - grew by 13.1 per cent and 10.1 per cent compared with 3.9 and 19.0 per cent respectively in 2010; thus, while the NFA increased colossally, the NDA declined steadily.
Reserve money also increased by 12.3 per cent, higher than the 10.5 per cent in 2010 and the target of 5.0 per cent. Provisional data indicated an improved government fiscal position in 2011, while revenue and grants increased to D5.2 billion (16.1 per cent of GDP), higher than the D5.0 billion (17.1 per cent of GDP) in 2010.

CENTRAL BANK
The Central bank boss observed that: “Domestic revenue, comprising tax and non-tax revenue rose to D4.6 billion, or 6.9 percent. Tax receipts amounted to D3.7 billion of which D1.8 billion was on account of international trade taxes. Non-tax revenue also rose to D499.6 million, or 7.4 per cent.
“Total expenditure and net lending amounted to D6.1 billion compared to D6.0 billion in 2010. Current expenditure totaled D4.4 billion or an increase in 13.3 per cent. In contrast, capital expenditure contracted to 1.7 billion, or 20.8 per cent from 2010.”

Whilst the year 2011 was challenging for the country, as IMF mission concluded that the country was in ‘debt crisis’, the overall budget balance including grants of that year was a deficit of D910.0 million (2.8 per cent of GDP), lower than the D1.04 billion (3.5 per cent of GDP) in 2010.
“As at end December 2011, the gross international reserves of the Central Bank of The Gambia was US$182.50 million, equivalent to 5.1 months of import cover,” Colley said.
Despite the contraction in the volume of transactions in 2011, activity in the domestic foreign exchange market continues to be vibrant. In the year to end-December 2011, the volume of transactions totaled US$1.43 billion, which is lower than the US$1.67 billion in 2010.

As regards the financial landscape of the country, the CBG governor said the banking sector remains sound. Although the average capital adequacy ratio decreased slightly to 25.4 per cent in 2011 from 25.9 per cent in 2010, it was significantly higher than the minimum requirement of 10 per cent.
Despite domestic debts consuming 25% of national budget year on year, as at end December 2011, the “outstanding debt increased to D9.4 billion or 8.6 per cent from 2010”. This is a cause for alarm; thus prompting the IMF mission to visit the country to issue a warning that the country should reduce its dependency on domestic borrowing.

GAMBIAN ECONOMIST AUTHORS ANOTHER BOOK

Momodou Sabally, an economist and author, has just published a new book entitled 'The Way to Happiness: Inspirational Essays’.
Sabally, who currently works as Budget Director at the Gambia’s Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, said the new book is a collection of inspirational essays that “is the culmination of more than ten years of writing.”
The essays cover a variety of material: self-help and motivational articles, commentaries on social issues, political discourse, and sports as well as his (Sabally’s) encounters with inspiring personalities like Barack Obama, drawing from their lessons for successful inspiration.

Diverse as the subject matters may be, Sabally said they are all tied together in one thread and that is his desire to inspire individuals and society.
“Against the backdrop of a world of economic and financial turbulence, this book shows a path to a happy and successful life,” Sabally, who is also a motivational speaker, said. The book was published by Fulladu Publishers, a local publishing firm in the country.

Apart from his latest book, Sabally has authored and published three books, namely Jangi Jollof: A Memoir on The Gambia’s First University Programme; Secrets of The World Champions; and Instant Success: Ten Keys to Personal Achievement.
The young author promised to continue to write books and articles that inspire and motivate people.

Before his current appointment at the Ministry of Finance, he worked as Research Economist at the Central Bank of The Gambia from 1999 to 2009. He has a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and a Masters in Economics.

Lamin Jahateh reports

VP LINKS MDGs ACHIEVEMENTS TO FOOD SECURITY

The country’s vice president has underscored the importance of food security to the achievements of the country’s development blueprints and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), saying “without food security, we cannot achieve the MDGs”.
Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy was speaking at the Ocean Bay Hotel on Wednesday on the occasion of the fourth regional conclave on ‘food security and commercialization of agriculture’, organised by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), under the
Italian government-funded project for food security.

The meeting that brought together top FAO officials from the West African region, Gambian ministers, and various stakeholders of the agriculture chain was, among other things, aimed at sharing knowledge and best practices that are designed to make a paradigm shift from subsistence agricultural practices to commercialization practices. Regional gatherings of such nature are essential, the vice president said, adding that given the commitment of the government to uplift the socio-economic status of its 1.8 million people, adding that food security is very apt to the newly formulated blueprint – the Programme for Accelerated Growth and Employment (PAGE).

“Strengthening the agricultural sector makes sense,” VP Njie-Saidy said, adding that the agriculture sector is the backbone of the country’s economy, contributing 24% of GDP and creating 70% employment opportunities, especially for rural women, who are the most vulnerable victims of poverty.
However, Dr Njie-Saidy reminded the meeting of President Jammeh’s economic philosophy of ‘back to the land’, saying this is “resonating in the minds of Gambians”.

Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy
When the food crisis occurred, Gambians did not take to the street, she said, adding that if it were not for the shortage of the rains, the nation could have had a bumper harvest.
She said combating food crisis includes non-dependence on rains; rather the nation has to strategize for year-round farming, which will include building drainage and irrigation systems.

She believes that not all sectors in the country can leverage growth, thus some sectors should complement the “leveragers of growth”, in order for growth to be realised.
The vice president also underscored the importance of putting in place mechanisms that would help counter contingent liabilities of food crisis, saying: “We cannot continue to rely on international markets.”

Dr Babagano Ahmadu, FAO country rep

Musa Saihu Mbenga, FAO sub-regional coordinator, believes the Italian government-sponsored programme provides opportunities for participating countries to receive technical support from its pool of experts.
Mr Mbenga, who was a former minister of Agriculture in The Gambia, spoke on the importance of “packing and processing” of products, noting that these could serve as added impetus to market access.

In his remarks on the occasion, Dr Babagano Ahmadu, FAO country rep, said the project has impacted positively on the lives and socio-economic development of rural women, who represent the highest figure of poverty.
While the project winds up this year, the FAO-Gambia boss pleads for the expansion of the Italian-initiated project, giving its meaningful contribution to poverty eradication in the country.

He said discourse on agriculture-related issues provides platforms for devising strategies of transforming subsistence agriculture to a market-oriented entity, adding that he is confident the region would excel in its strive to achieving commercialization of agriculture.

JOB MARKET EXPECTED TO TIGHTEN AS IBC GRADUATES DOZENS OF YOUTHS

As increasing number of young Gambians graduate, the job market becomes tighter. However, as Amat JENG writes, there is always an exit point, especially if one studies professional subjects like business management and marketing.

Hon Fatim Badjie

Despite expectations that the unemployment rate will simmer down, with government’s introductions of new employment schemes, doubts are in the air that this could not be easily realised as more young people with required qualifications continue to queue for employment opportunities.

Added to this situation, is the recent graduation of more than hundred young people with Higher National Certificate (HNC) and Higher National Diploma (HND) qualifications obtained at the International Business College (IBC) of The Gambia. These young college graduates have now been ‘let loose’ to go on looking for employment opportunities, especially white-collar jobs, armed with their HNCs and HNDs - two educational prerequisites that are vital to winning employment chances in the country.

But as the Minister for Health and Social Welfare, who was the guest speaker at the fifth graduation of IBC held at the Paradise Suites Hotel on Saturday said, young people should be ready to take up the challenge posed by life amidst “our struggle for socio-economic development”.

Hon. Fatim Badjie was referring to a motivational chronicle she gave earlier in the ceremony on why ‘education is a key to one’s personal development’.

“Education is supposed to develop or evolves into the level of knowledge of understanding; and that is really what will help you after you graduate,” the health minister said.

“Some people say life is hard, because the test comes before the lesson; but in school, is the other way round: the lesson comes before the test.”

Hon. Badjie commended the students for their efforts in trying to learn the meaning of self-management, which is key.

Years ago, when it comes to higher education, it all depends on the government, but with more institutions like IBC producing responsible citizens who are expected to drive the country’s economic growth, young people are expected to hunt for knowledge and understanding of the issues that circumvent their lives.
This is why, the minister made it clear to these new graduates: “When you have a degree you normally think you can have a job, but what I have learned is that when you have a degree, is like a ticket to an interview,” the minister says.

“When you get there for the interview, you must be able to articulate; you must be able to show that you can apply yourself; you must be able to show the advancement you have been able to gather over the years.”

She urged the graduands to be able to look at their behaviour and mannerism in order to cut through some of these job markets, especially for those of them who have studied business and marketing.
Minister Badjie said institutions such as IBC should be expanded to reach rural communities, for those there to increase their chances of enjoying the same learning opportunities.

For Modou Ceesay, the CEO of the college, his institute has paddled through hard times to be able to achieve what it does today. This, he said, is as a result of all the stakeholders’ endeavours to making the college a valuable learning institute where everyone takes pride in learning.
The school has introduced a ‘Graduate Diploma’ course for its students; which will enable under-privileged students who could not make their way through the job market or travel abroad to do this programme in the school.

“Like every institute or university, we also have the legal right or mandate to offer a BSc [Bachelor of Science], but now we are walking on that together with the University of The Gambia,” he added.

He advised the general public to be wary of the institutions they enroll their children, saying there are institutions offering professional studies, rather than academic studies.

“Most schools are running professional qualification courses - I am not saying professional qualification is bad. If you look at the difference between professional and academic: the academic will teach you all that you need to know; give you the definition, and all the rules you need to know at the workplace. The professional [qualification] will only teach you what you need to do in the office.

“At the end of the day all your mental focus is going to be on what to do, but not on what you can do. You cannot try to realise your potential with this professional education.”

International Business College was established in 2003, but clouds of absolute transformation and development began to rain in the school in 2007, when Ceesay and few others took the mantle of affairs. Today is a different ballgame altogether.

GAMBIA EXCLUDED IN FIVE W/AFRICAN COUNTRIES TO FACE FOOD CRISIS

Millions of people in about five West African countries will face food crisis in early 2012 if early warning systems are ignored, the United Nations aid officials have said.
The UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), together with the World Food Programme (WFP) and British charity Oxfam, said failed harvests and low food reserves in the Sahel, particularly the countries of Chad, Mauritania, Burkina Faso and Mali, would affect up to 11 million people.

Protective measures need to be put in place as a matter of urgency, Oxfam reports.
Early estimates indicate that six million people in Niger and 2.9 million people in Mali are vulnerable, while up to a quarter of Mauritania’s population – about 700,000 people - is reported to be at risk of severe food insecurity. In Chad, 13 out of 22 regions are expected to be affected adversely.
Early warning systems indicate that estimates for the 2011 harvest point to a dramatic decrease in cereal production in the Sahel, estimated at 25 per cent. But erratic rains and extended dry periods are expected to exacerbate lower production and lead to higher food prices.
Even though poor weather conditions, including volatile rains, have affected productions, The Gambia stands out this African phenomenon, thanks to economic philosophies.

According to estimates, the ‘lean season’, when food availability is at its lowest, is likely to start two to four months earlier than normal, while in parts of Mauritania as early as January.
"Pastoralist farmers will certainly be hard hit, but there will be strong impacts beyond this group too," Stephen Cockburn, Regional campaign and policy manager at Oxfam, said.

Cockburn said the positive thing in West Africa now is that the governments most affected by the crisis have publicly recognised the severity of the coming calamity, and most have developed or are developing emergency response plans.
"There is in general a degree of responsiveness that provides the political space to act, and must be built on to ensure all countries develop plans that are supported also by outside actors.

"Among these, women, small livestock holders, poor households with limited access to productive means, households who used to rely on seasonal migration in conflict-affected areas and communities living in areas affected by insecurity are likely to be the most affected.
"High food prices - up to 40 per cent higher than the five-year average - will have a more general impact across the region."

scope of food crisis exaggerated

Even though reports by UN agencies present scaring facts about the scope of food crisis in the region, other school of thoughts and concerned agencies give a different picture of the situation.

Seif Sow, regional representative of Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET), a USAID-funded organisation that monitors food security issues, including strengthening early warning systems, told Al Jazeera the warnings of an impending crisis in the region "are exaggerated".

"Crop failures are localised, meaning that some parts of the countries are affected. But in other parts, there has been decent rainfall and so it’s a mixed situation. The overall production is average.

"They have exaggerated the numbers and the scope of the problem. Response has already started, herders are moving and countries are stocking up. They need to take into account that people have coping strategies, and yes, there has been a decrease in production, but it is not a catastrophe," Sow said.
"If nothing is done, then yes it could be a crisis, but people are acting, through protective programmes and people are developing survival mechanisms…This is not a war situation. A one-year food deficit will not translate into famine.”

However, Cockburn said the fact that herders are already moving as a means of surviving, illustrates that serious problems are likely if protective action is not taken. He added that the figures used by Oxfam are widely accepted figures "taken directly from national warning systems and validated by the CILSS".
"We should remember too that this region is chronically vulnerable to food crisis - major crises were felt here in 2005, 2008 and 2010 - and even in a 'normal' year, 300,000 children die of malnutrition-related causes.

"When you start from this base, even moderate shocks can have huge impacts on the most vulnerable - and the shocks experienced this year are significant. Levels of global acute malnutrition in the Sahel region are consistently above what UNICEF recognises as emergency levels, even outside 'crisis years'."

NGOs BRING TO LIGHT THEIR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ENDEAVORS

Non-Governmental Organisations in The Gambia have been working tirelessly to contribute to national development, an effort which to a large extent has not been brought to light over the years. This culture has now been given a paradigm shift through the newly institutionalised NGO Week that showcases the work of NGOs in The Gambia. Osman Kargbo reports.

After so many years of active service in complementing the efforts of The Gambia government in its socio-economic development agenda, Non-Government Organisations in the country have decided to institutionalize a week of celebration called NGO Week to celebrate NGO and NSA contribution to The Gambia’s national development.
“TANGO, its members, African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), and the Non State Actors Strengthening Programme (NSASP) would therefore like to celebrate their contributions to development in The Gambia with the First NGO Week 2012,” says The Association of Non-Government Organisations (TANGO).Funded by ACBF and the European Union, the NGO Week 2012, which commenced on Saturday 11 February, is observed to help raise awareness of NGO work; enhance partnership, cooperation and information-sharing; and promote best practice.

GOVI SCHOOL - THE ONLY SCHOOL FOR THE BLINDS - ALSO RECEIVES SUPPORTS FROM NGOs IN THE GAMBIA

This year’s event also reflects on the financial assistance provided for Non-State Organisations and Networks from 2010 to 2012 by the European Union through the NSASP.
“The aim is to showcase the role of NGOs and other NSAs in national development,” TANGO says, adding that the event is open to all Development Partners and The Gambian communities.

TANGO has served to enhance NGO contribution to national development since 1983, and its membership base now “sits at over 70 organisations”.
The weeklong activities commenced on Saturday with a parade from Westfield to TANGO office followed by an opening ceremony at TANGO with a launching of the exhibition and NGO stalls.

The week’s activities include thematic presentations and discussions on Human Rights and Governance; Agriculture and Environment; Gender Poverty; Policy Dialogue Session on ‘PRSP to PAGE’; Interactive NGO Consultative Forum; and other enlightening activities.

ACCESS BANK COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF FORMER INTERCONTINENTAL BANK

Access Bank Plc on Tuesday announced the conclusion of its acquisition of the assets and liabilities of the former Intercontinental Bank Plc, following regulatory, judicial and shareholders’ approvals.

Mr Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede

Reacting to the news, Access Bank Gambia informed MarketPlace that “The business combination meant that Intercontinental Bank Plc would be dissolved without being wound up as its assets and liabilities had been transferred to Access Bank.”
Mr Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Group Managing Director, Access Bank, had earlier said that the transaction created a formidable financial institution positioned among the top four Nigerian financial institutions.

"The statement put the current asset base of the bank at N2.02 trillion or USD12.6 Billion, capital adequacy ratio at 18.55 per cent, while liquidity ratio stands at 76 per cent.
“The merger has repositioned the Nigerian banking sector on the African continent as the combined entity has the potential of ranking the bank amongst Africa’s top 10 banks,” he said.

Access Bank, one of Gambia’s leading banks, has weathered so many storms in the country’s financial sector, being one of the first banks to always meet Central Bank’s financial requirements.
Access Bank’s Group Managing Director said the current 5.7 million customers of Access Bank would benefit from a product range of both banks, adding that customers would benefit from an expanded network of 309 branches along with 1,600 Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) spread across the country.