The attention
of the High Command of the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) is drawn to several media
publications and reports as regards the self-isolation undertaken by the Chief
of Defence Staff (CDS), Major General Yakuba A Drammeh.
The Gambia
Armed Forces wishes to state that Major General Yakuba A Drammeh had travelled
on an official mission to France from 9 – 14 March 2020 together with another
senior officer of the GAF. At the end of their mission General Drammeh together
with others returned to The Gambia via Cassablanca, Morocco and arrived in
Banjul early morning on Sunday 15 March 2020 onboard a Royal Air Maroc flight.
All passengers on board the flight, including the CDS were screened at the
airport upon arrival in line with laid down medical protocols and all were
found to be negative with no signs and symptoms of the COVID - 19 virus.
It may be
pertinent to state that Major General Yakuba Drammeh reported to work on Monday
16 March 2020 to take over office as Chief of Defence Staff of The Gambia Armed
Forces following his appointment by His Excellency the President and
Commander-In-Chief of The Gambia Armed Forces on 5 March 2020. He was to, among
other things, prepare for the formal Handing and Taking Over of office with his
predecessor, Lieutenant General Masanneh N Kinteh on Tuesday 17 March 2020 at
the Defence Headquarters in Banjul. The in-coming CDS was further tested on two
different occasions by a qualified medical doctor after resuming office, all in
bid to confirm his status as regards the pandemic, and all the tests results
were negative.
The formal
Handing and Taking Over of Office, Baton of Command and Pulling - Out ceremony
was held on Tuesday 17 March in the form of a colorful parade with outgoing
CDS, Lieutenant General Masanneh N Kinteh, dressed in ceremonial uniform with
white hand gloves like all members of the parade. Lieutenant General Kinteh was
dressed in this attire because the ceremony was about him and not a preventive
measure by the outgoing CDS against the COVID-19 virus (as reported by some
media outlets); the white gloves are part of the ceremonial dress in the
military. After the Pulling-Out ceremony of the outgoing CDS, Major General
Yakuba Drammeh took effective command of the Armed Forces and immediately
commenced work.
However,
before close of business on Wednesday 18 March 2020, the Chief of Defence
Staff, Major General Yakuba A Drammeh
received an official from the Ministry of Health who informed the CDS
that they had information suggesting that a 21 – year old Gambian lady from the
United Kingdom who had reported to the Medical Research Council with signs and
symptoms of the Corona Virus (COVID-19) and tested positive was, apparently or
coincidentally, also on board the same flight with him as well as several other
people. It has to be stressed that any other Gambian or non-Gambian could have
been on board this flight either by circumstance or mere coincidence.
The Chief of
Defence Staff was then advised that, in accordance with WHO protocols on COVID
– 19 virus prevention, all those on board the flight including him have to
self-isolate themselves for a period of 14 days as a preventive measure. Without
hesitation, Major General Drammeh complied with the advice and started the
self-isolation immediately.
However, it
has to be made categorically clear that the decision by the Chief of Defence
Staff to self-isolate was to show not only strict adherence to statutory health
protocols but more importantly exemplary leadership on his part.
Notwithstanding, the decision was also taken at a critical moment following his
assumption of office as the Chief of Defence Staff but also at a time when the
Gambia Armed Forces started sensitizing her personnel on the preventive
measures against the Corona virus. The Armed Forces was also galvanizing
resources in readiness to come to the aid of civil authority, at their request
to confront the global pandemic. It does not and should not, therefore, in any
way be construed as a deliberate attempt on his part or the Armed Forces not to
adhere to medical advice.
The Gambia
Armed Forces, under the command and leadership of the Chief of Defence Staff,
Major General Yakuba Drammeh wishes to assure the general public of its
readiness and commitment to fulfilling its constitutional mandate and other
assigned roles at all times.
Major LAMIN K
SANYANG
for Chief of
Defence Staff
