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GAMBIA REGISTERS 117 RAPE CASES IN 2023
The Gambia has recorded a staggering 117 rape cases between January and July this year, according to a situation report issued by Gender Management Information System.
The report, issued yesterday at a press conference at the Bakoteh Orange Center, also revealed the country registered 310 survivors of Gender-Based Violence across the 8 operational One-Stop Centres in Kanifing, Banjul, Bakoteh, Bundung, Brikama, Basse, Bansang, and Bwiam.
The cases include 49 physical and 47 sexual assaults, 37 Intimate Partner violence, 6 FGM, 5 psychological, 5 defilement, 4 denial of resources, 3 emotional, 2 harassment, and 2 child marriages.
According to the report, the physical assault and IPV cases are mostly common among people aged 18 years and above, while survivors range from the ages of 10-14 and those aged 15-17 are mostly rape, sexual assault and defilement
Most FGM survivors, the report said, are between 5-9 years. It added that 100 percent survivors who reached out to the One-Stop Centres received support ranging from health care service to psychosocial support and that all survivors who wanted their cases to go further were all linked to the police and received appropriate legal support.
However, the report said most survivors did not pursue police or legal support. It indicated that of the cases reported for the period, 50% of perpetrators are between the ages of 20-35, while the average age of rape perpetrators is 25.
It is also reported that out of the 32 percent of the cases reported to police, over 70 percent preferred not to go to police or court.
According to the report, deeper analysis indicated that physical assault cases were mainly reported in Bansang One-Stop Centre while rape cases are mostly reported in Brikama One-Stop Center.
The Minister of Gender, Children and Social Welfare, Fatou Kinteh, said proper recording of GBV cases is critical for the government’s response and programming. She said the government is working on establishing a special court on gender-based violence and a forensic lab. Minister Kinteh said the government has a number of programs geared towards addressing issues of GBV. She commended the level of awareness that has been created to encourage reporting cases of GBV but raised concern over victims’ families withdrawing cases which is hindering prosecutions.
“The withdrawing of cases has been a big concern but I want to assure you that henceforth we will not allow the withdrawal of cases especially rape cases,” she said.
The UNFPA country representative, Ndeye Rose Sarr, said the number of cases recorded is appalling and called for more advocacy and action from all stakeholders to address the root causes of GBV. She urged victims to take advantage of the 199-emergency number to report all forms of violation for assistance.
A representative from the civil society, Fallu Sowe, commended the social and case workers in different GMIS centres across the country for their sleepless nights.
“We also have volunteers in communities who ensure that cases are reported and properly recorded at the regional level,” he said.
The GMIS centre was made operational in January 2023 to facilitate the delivery of quality services in line with global standards and GBV guiding principles and strengthen referrals in a timely and most appropriate manner. It is supported by the UN Systems in partnership with the Gambia Government.
Credit to: standard.gm
NNPP’s Suspension Of Presidential Candidate, Kwankwaso Is Nollywood Joke – Buba Galadima
Afounding member and a chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Alhaji Buba Galadima, has described the purported suspension of the party’s presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso as a “Nollywood and Hollywood joke”.
Galadima who said this to ChannelsTV during a programme noted that NNPP was not suffering from any internal crisis as projected to the public.
He added that Kwankwaso did not commit any anti-party activities and was not in any time suspended by the party.
Recall that a faction within the party suspended Kwankwaso, the party’s presidential candidate for the February 25, 2023, election, alleging “material evidence” in public that the former Kano state governor was involved in “anti-party activities in various meetings” on Tuesday.
The faction further alleged that Kwankwaso had political meetings with President Bola Tinubu, then candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) competitor, Atiku Abubakar, and Labour Party (LP) candidate Peter Obi without the party’s permission.
Galadima, on the other hand, has dismissed the allegations.
“When I saw it on social media, I thought it was like a Nollywood or Hollywood joke,” Galadima said in reference to Kwankwaso’s suspension on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday night.
He claimed that the leaders of the said group had been expelled from the NNPP.
“Now let me make a small correction, those that were expelled were Boniface Okechukwu Aniebonam and Gabriel Agbor Major,” he maintained.
“All of them who were expelled were called to a disciplinary committee. They were drilled and they accepted their sins and it was on the basis of their acceptance that they were recommended to the Nation Working Committee for expulsion.”
Galadima also accused political opponents of orchestrating internal squabbles within the party, but emphasised that the NNPP remains strong.
“A lot of people are interested in this party in the sense that the other parties felt that they could only survive if they destroy this party.
“But unknown to them we are as solid as the Rock of Gibraltar,” he said.
He continued: “As a politician, we can meet with anybody.
“He took permission from us,” the party chieftain argued. “Whatever the case, Kwankwaso had permission from the party to meet with President Tinubu and talk to any other political group. So, he didn’t do this on his own.”
Credit to: saharareporters.com
Burna Boy is biggest ‘fraud’, most uninspiring artiste, says Lerin Nicodemus
Media personality, Lerin Nicodemus, has labelled Grammy-winning singer, Burna Boy as the biggest fraud and the most uninspiring artiste following his controversial statement about Afrobeats.
Nicodemus accused Burna of both tarnishing and trying to undermine the very foundation that propelled him to international fame.
She argued the ‘Love Damini’ singer has over time tried to infuse the style of the legendary Fela Anikulakpo Kuti who is well-known for pan-Africanism, into his craft.
However, she argued that, unlike Fela, Burna tends to avoid addressing the challenges affecting his fellow countrymen and the continent, opting instead to criticize his own people whenever he chooses to voice his opinions.
She said: “I said Burna Boy is the biggest fraud and most uninspiring artiste in Nigeria and this is why. She follows up with an excerpt of Burna Boy’s controversial interview where he noted: “Afobeats as most people call it is mostly about nothing, literally nothing. There’s no substance to it. Like nobody is talking about anything. It’s just a great time.”
“Like how do you shit on a movement that has taken years to build by our pioneers? Tons of people worked really hard to make sure that Afrobeats got the global recognition and respect it has now which he has greatly benefitted from by the way. And now it’s his turn to push it even further. And here he is tearing it down. If that’s not witchcraft, I don’t know what is.
Comparing Burna to his colleagues, she added: “Other artists like Wizkid and David try to shine a light on upcoming artistes at every given opportunity whether it’s putting them on an album or inviting them on global stages.
“But that can never be Burna Boy. He would rather just shit on people because that’s what he’s good at and it’s so uninspiring.”
Concerns continue to mount over expired foodstuffs in town
Concerns have been raised by citizens amid the circulation of expired drinks that were believed to be imported into the country without notice.
Reports have been making round on social media that some expired soft drinks were served at a local ceremony on Saturday, fueling suspicion that some extra expired food stuffs and drinks could be on sale in the corner shops and supermarkets. This has raised debate in the public domain with some questioning the pro-activeness of the Food Safety and Quality Authority (FSQA).
The FSQA came to being by an Act of Parliament in 2011 but started its operations in 2013 in the area of food and feed. Since then, the Authority has only 36 inspectors
Recently, hundreds of bags of expired rice were intercepted at the border post, expired chickens were disposed and unhealthy production of oil was also detected. Many expired foods were found at the country’s biggest market, Serrekunda.
The data obtained from FSQA indicated that from last year to date, five business entities were fined, 17 closed, eight prosecuted and five mega disposals were carried out.
The Point has engaged a concerned citizen and a resident of Bundung, Babou Jobe, who expressed his dissatisfaction with the current state of food items imported into the country. He said expired foods are mostly circulated by wheelbarrow vendors, saying enforcement should be done to save the lives of the people.
“A huge number of our population cannot read or write. Therefore, they can buy expired foods without knowing. So these people are at risk of consuming those products. It is the duty of the regulatory body to promise an environment free from expired foods,” he stated.
Aji Astou Njie, also expressed her fear of buying certain products, arguing that many products are imported into the country without knowing their origin or being checked by Food Safety.
She said: “I cannot dwell more on the matter but I know something has to be done if we are really serious as a nation to save our people from health complications.”
Marabi Amfaal Hydara, FSQA’s communications officer, told this medium that in order to make so that the food that enters the country is safe, his institution deploys inspectors across all the borders including the airport. He added that this is to ensure all foods and feeds coming into the country are inspected.
He said: “We have a scientific department to ensure that anything people complaint is checked before making any conclusion. We also have the food control department that normally goes out every day to inspect. We have the regulatory department that is more of enforcement in case of someone violating the act.”
Dwelling on how inspectors determine consumable food, he explained that they have a checklist that usually guides them and checks if the food is fit for human and animal consumption.
Giving his reaction to the expired foods circulating on social media, he reiterated that when their inspectors get to the field, they don’t see such foods people complain about.
“We cannot do anything about things we cannot see. We normally reach out anytime we see something on social media. There is a junction named Expired Junction at Serrekunda, but the things they sell are actually not expired, it is mostly six months before the expiry date,” he said.
He emphasised that their inspectors are trying to trace the origin of the alleged expired drinks, while noting that finding the sole proprietor is the problem. He added that they don’t make decisions without finding the actual person responsible.
Molamin Jammeh, a public health officer, shared his thoughts with this medium, while reiterating that public health is the art and science of preventing disease promoting health and prolonging life through organised effort.
He explained that consuming expired food affects health, saying public health officers are driving to make sure people do not fall sick by preventing diseases from occurring. He said if someone falls sick from consuming expired foods, it has undermined the goal of public health.
“Expired foods in the market threaten public health. We should ensure that the food that is imported is safe and of quality and that we will be able to prevent the population from any safety issues. The consequences of consuming expired food products depend on the composition. Some expired food pose significant health threat which include food poisoning, diarrhoea, stomachic and muscle ache,”
He said some of the chemicals used to preserve the food may be toxic to humans when consumed after the expiry date.
Credit to: thepoint.gm
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.”
~ Thomas A. Edison
EPL: Man United lose injured Shaw for Forest, Arsenal games
Manchester United and England international left-back Luke Shaw was on Thursday ruled out of the next two Premier League games after picking up a muscle injury, the club announced.
“Manchester United defender Luke Shaw has sustained an injury which will rule him out of forthcoming games,” said a club statement.
“The muscle issue is still being assessed but the England left-back is expected to be out of action for a number of weeks.”
The 28-year-old defender started the first two Premier League matches of the season but will now miss Saturday’s Old Trafford encounter against Nottingham Forest and next weekend’s trip to Arsenal.
He is also likely to sit out next month’s round of international matches.
Credit to:
ECOWAS hasn’t declared war on Niger, citizens – Omar Touray
The President, Economic Community of West African States Commission, Omar Touray, has said the sub-regional body has not declared war on the people of Niger Republic nor is there any plan to invade the country.
Touray said this on Friday at a press conference on developments in Niger and ECOWAS Member States in transition at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
Leaders in the Economic Community of West African States Commission bloc said that they would keep all options on the table for a peaceful resolution to the crisis and ordered the activation of an ECOWAS standby force to restore constitutional order in Niger.
President Mohamed Bazoum was ousted July 26 in a military coup led by the former commander of Niger’s presidential guard, Abdourahamane Tchiani.
Former colonial ruler France and the European Union suspended security cooperation and financial aid to Niger following the coup, while the United States warned that its aid could also be at stake.
Britain had condemned attempts to undermine democracy, peace and stability in Niger and said it stands by ECOWAS in their efforts to restore stability in Niger.
Buttressing his point, Touray stated that there have been misrepresentations of ECOWAS decisions or actions in restoring democracy in Niger Republic.
He stated that the ECOWAS will employ all measures including the use of standby force to restore civil rule in Niger Republic.
Also, Touray noted that Niger Republic as part of the West African region bloc subscribed to its rules and regulations to deploy measures to support its fight against terrorism to ensure the restoration of democracy, peace, and security in the community.
The President noted that preparations are on top gear to deploy the standby force to Niger, urging the Niger junta to listen to ECOWAS as it will not accept coup d’etat.
Touray stated that ECOWAS will not allow Nigeriens suffer in the hands of Niger junta.
Credit to: Punchng.com
Al-Ittihad have ‘concrete interest’ in signing Mohamed Salah from Liverpool
Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad have a ‘concrete interest’ in signing Mohamed Salah from Liverpool this summer, according to reports.
Teams from the Middle Eastern country have been on a spending spree, paying huge wages to superstar players in order to tempt them into leaving Europe.
Al-Ittihad alone have already brought in former Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, ex-Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante and Liverpool’s Fabinho.
But they are not the only club in the country splashing the cash with players like Neymar joining Cristiano Ronaldo in the Saudi Pro League this summer.
Liverpool have done business with multiple Saudi teams, selling Jordan Henderson to Steven Gerrard’s Al-Ettifaq, while Roberto Firmino joined Al-Ahli on a free transfer.
The Athletic now report that Al-Ittihad have reignited their interest in a move for Liverpool’s Salah.
It is unclear how likely a transfer would be given that Salah’s agent dismissed links to a Saudi Arabian team earlier this month.
But given the massive wages and huge transfer fees that Saudi teams are willing to pay, Liverpool could potentially be tempted into a sale if Salah wants the move.
Salah is regarded as one of the best players in the world, registering 187 goals and 80 assists across 307 games for Liverpool and is under contract until 2025.
The 31-year-old Egyptian has won a number of trophies at Anfield including the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup.
Credit to: metro.co.uk
Grammy’s Best African music performance category created for me – Burna Boy
Pop star singer Burna Boy, has argued the newly created “Best African Music Performance” category by Grammys was because of his unbeatable talent.
D5 Creation