Barrow assented to 2023 Appropriations Bill: Jatta
Mar 7, 2023, 11:12 AM
The Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Fabakary Tombong Jatta, has announced that President Adama Barrow has signed the Appropriations Bill 2023.
Addressing the nation on the 56th independence anniversary at the McCarthy Square in Banjul, the Gambian leader assured his government working with various arms and security sectors to defend the national sovereignty of The Gambia.
This comes amid numerous allegations that he is trading the country to neighbouring Senegal while others are calling for an end to the presence of regional troops ECOMIG in the country to demonstrate full flegded sovereignty.
“Working with the various arms of government and the security sector, my administration will continue to defend the sovereignty of the country, and protect the freedoms and liberties of the people,” President Barrow assured.
He said: “Sovereignty, as a key focus of this address, entails government engagement in circumstances wherein the state and people are one unified, solid entity.”
“Within this framework, our identity as a nation is characterised by our cultures, which are informed by our individual beliefs, principles and actions.”
President Barrow assuring to defend the sovereignty of The Gambia will raise eyebrows among sections of the population who still see Senegalese soldiers walking the corridors of the State House flanking the head of state on a daily basis.
Opposition leaders have been very critical of the president for having Senegalese security men as his most trusted bodyguards.
Political leaders, ordinary Gambians and Civil Society groups have called on the Gambian leader to restore his full trust and protection to the Gambia Armed Forces and end the presence of ECOMIG forces, Senegalese soldiers included in the country.
The regional forces have been in The Gambia since they helped to oust former President Yahya Jammeh in January 2017.
Their stay in the country has been extended on numerous occasions by the ECOWAS Heads of State, the latest in Niamey, Niger in October 2020.
Barrow, however, continued to insist on his trust in the army while claiming the security sector reform process is in progress to address all the security issues.
Recently, the commander-in-chief of The Gambia Armed Forces, President Barrow promoted four army chiefs as a demonstration of his trust in his men and women in uniform.
Read Other Articles In Headlines
Works minister calls for BCC strong partnership
May 31, 2022, 10:47 AM
The minister for Transport, Works and Infrastructure, Hon. Ebrima Sillah, during his regional tour, visited the construction of Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara Mausoleum; the Banjul Rehabilitation Project (drainage, roads and sewage) and the Gambia Ports Authority (GPA) respectively.
Gov't recovers D1B from ex-president Jammeh’s assets
Dec 6, 2022, 11:45 AM
Dawda A. Jallow, the attorney general and minister for Justice has told lawmakers that over one billion dalasis was recovered after selling 44 assets belonging to former President Yahya Jammeh and his close associates.
CBG says Standard Chartered Bank to continue normal operations
Apr 19, 2022, 2:00 PM
Amidst several publications that Standard Chartered Bank will end its services in the country after hundred years plus, the Central Bank of The Gambia (CBG) released a statement urging the bank’s customers and the public to be mindful of messages going around in the social media regarding the divestiture process, asserting that Standard Chartered Bank Gambia Ltd. will continue to operate normally.