Barrow for 2026,” We say it with Confidence, Evidence, and Conviction

By Yaya Dampha

NPP Diaspora Coordinator

Fellow Gambians at home and abroad,

As we step into a new year filled with hope, promise, and renewed determination, it is only fitting that we pause to reflect on how far our beloved nation has come under the leadership of President Adama Barrow—and, more importantly, where we are headed together as one people with one destiny.

Since January 2017, President Barrow has presided over a historic turning point in The Gambia’s journey. He restored what no project can be priced to buy: freedom, peace, and democratic governance. These priceless foundations have allowed development to take root across every sector of our economy and society.

Guided first by the National Development Plan (NDP) 2018–2021, and now by the forward-looking Recovery-Focused National Development Plan (RF-NDP) 2023–2027, “YIRIWAA”, President Barrow has provided a clear national vision—one that is planned, monitored, and accountable. Development under this administration is not accidental; it is deliberate and strategic.

Across the length and breadth of our country, roads, bridges, and connectivity are redefining national integration. From the transformative URR Roads and Bridges Project, to the OIC Roads, the ongoing nationwide road expansion, and the landmark Hakalang Road, rural communities are no longer cut off from opportunity. These roads are not just asphalt; they are pathways to markets, schools, hospitals, and national unity.

In the energy and water sector, President Barrow confronted decades-old challenges head-on. Through the Electricity Restoration and Modernisation Project, the OMVG regional interconnection, grid densification, and the 23MW Jambur Solar Power Plant, The Gambia is steadily building a reliable, diversified, and green energy future. The launch of the Greater Banjul Area Water Supply Project (WASIB) further demonstrates a commitment to dignity, public health, and urban resilience.

The health sector stands as a testament to leadership in times of crisis and beyond. From the decisive COVID-19 Preparedness and Response, to the renovation of EFSTH, the construction of the 1500-bed National Treatment Centre in Farato, expanded diagnostic services, strengthened laboratories, and new health facilities across rural Gambia—healthcare delivery has been fundamentally strengthened so that no Gambian is left behind.

Education and skills development remain at the heart of President Barrow’s human capital agenda. Scholarships for UTG excellence, Islamic higher learning, the National TVET Policy, Ndemban Skills Centre, RISE Project, SIE Fund, Zero Out-of-School Children Initiative, curriculum reform, student loans, and the ultra-modern UTG Faraba Banta Campus all point to one truth: this administration is investing in the future of Gambian youth.

In agriculture, the backbone of our economy, the President has moved beyond subsistence to transformation. Through NAIP II, rice and horticulture value chains, ROOTS, climate-smart agriculture, mechanisation, youth agribusiness programmes, and fertiliser subsidies, food security and farmer incomes are being strengthened with resilience and sustainability in mind.

Tourism—our window to the world—has rebounded strongly with post-COVID recovery plans, diversification, eco-tourism, MSME support, licensing reforms, and investment promotion. At the same time, youth and sports, entrepreneurship and trade, social protection, and security sector reform have all benefited from coherent policies, financing mechanisms, and institutional reforms that empower citizens and protect the state.

From NAFA cash transfers to MSME financing, from youth revolving funds to women enterprise support, President Barrow’s development agenda is inclusive, people-centred, and pro-poor.

Fellow Gambians, this record speaks for itself. And this is only some of what has been achieved.

That is why, when we say “Barrow for 2026,” we say it with confidence, evidence, and conviction. Continuity is not a slogan—it is a necessity. The foundations have been laid. The systems are working. The vision is clear.

Let us move into this new year united, hopeful, and resolute in our support for a leader who has delivered peace, stability, and development—and who is best positioned to take The Gambia even further.

May the New Year bring progress, prosperity, and peace to our nation.

May God bless President Adama Barrow.

May God bless the Republic of The Gambia.

Tears and Tributes as GFF Celebrates Dedicated Finance Boss Kemo Ceesay

By JarranewsTV Staff Reporter

Banjul — The Gambia Football Federation (GFF) has bid farewell to its long-serving Finance Director, Mr. Kemo Ceesay, following a formal send-off ceremony held in his honor. His tenure officially ends on December 31, 2025.

The ceremony, chaired by GFF President Lamin Kaba Bajo, brought together members of the Executive Committee and staff of Football House. Mr. Ceesay was applauded for more than two decades of committed service to Gambian football. He was presented with a certificate of service along with a token of appreciation as a gesture of gratitude for his remarkable contribution.

President Bajo hailed Ceesay as an exemplary and selfless leader who has played a vital role in the growth of football in the country. He described the moment as both emotional and proud, highlighting Ceesay’s loyalty, dedication, and willingness to always defend his team. Despite stepping down from his role at the federation, President Bajo noted that Ceesay’s journey in football will continue, particularly through his involvement with the Gambian Dutch Lions and their newly established sports complex in Faraba Banta.

Reflecting on his years of service, an emotional Mr. Ceesay expressed deep appreciation to the GFF leadership and staff, acknowledging their trust and support. He extended gratitude to past GFF presidents and paid special tribute to President Bajo for his leadership, humility, and support throughout his career, including opportunities for professional development and spiritual fulfillment.

Several speakers, including Executive Committee Member Arret Njie Jah, General Secretary Lamin M. Jassey, Technical Director Sang Ndong, Finance Officer Alagie Dawda Barrow, and Communications Director Baboucarr Camara, also paid glowing tribute to Ceesay. They praised his professionalism, humility, integrity, and team spirit, recounting their positive experiences working alongside him and recognizing his outstanding service to Gambian football.

The ceremony concluded with heartfelt applause, marking the end of an era for one of GFF’s most respected administrators.

Lamin Kaba Bajo Makes History as FIFA Committee Chair

By JarranewsTV Staff Reporter

Doha Ceremony Marks Landmark Achievement

President of The Gambia Football Federation (GFF), Lamin Kaba Bajo, has been officially inaugurated as the Chairperson of FIFA’s Grassroots and Amateur Football Committee. The ceremony, presided over by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, took place in Doha, Qatar, on December 16, 2025, marking a proud milestone for The Gambia.

A First for The Gambia

Bajo’s appointment—made just over two months earlier—represents the first time a Gambian has been named Chairperson of a FIFA Standing Committee, although Gambians have previously served as committee members. His term runs from 2025 to 2029, underscoring FIFA’s trust in his leadership and experience.

Global Football Role and Responsibilities

In addition to leading The Gambia’s football administration, Bajo currently serves as:

• President of WAFU Zone A
• Member of the Players’ Status Chamber of the FIFA Football Tribunal, where he has served since 2021

The Players’ Status Chamber oversees global compliance with regulations on the status and transfer of players, while ensuring fair competition structures across FIFA tournaments.

Championing Grassroots Development

Grassroots and amateur football remain essential pillars of global football development. Bajo’s appointment is seen as particularly significant given his role in steering what many describe as the Golden Era of Gambian football, during which the country has made historic strides on the African and global stage.

First Meeting and High-Level Participation

Following his inauguration, Bajo chaired his first Committee meeting. It was attended by FIFA legends and senior officials including:

• Arsène Wenger
• Steven Martens
• Natascia Prieto
• Bernd Neuendorf, President of the German Football Federation and FIFA Council Delegate
• Michael Ricketts, Vice Chairperson and President of the Jamaican Football Federation

Gambia’s Growing Influence in FIFA

The ceremony also highlighted another Gambian achievement. Maimuna Kanteh, GFF Executive Committee member, was inaugurated into the FIFA Youth Girls’ Competitions Committee. She will work alongside Chairperson Anya James of The Bahamas and Deputy Chairperson Naziah Ali of Fiji.

Profile: Lamin Kaba Bajo

Lamin Kaba Bajo is a seasoned football administrator and respected regional leader whose influence extends beyond national football governance. As President of the GFF and WAFU Zone A, he has contributed significantly to the development and professionalization of football structures in The Gambia and West Africa. His new global leadership position reinforces The Gambia’s rising stature in world football administration.

This historic appointment not only honors Bajo’s dedication but also reflects The Gambia’s growing voice in international football affairs.

From Fear to Freedom: A Diary Of An Investigative Journalist

A former investigative journalist who survived detention, exile, and threats under Yahya Jammeh reflects on a transformed Gambia—where journalists now speak freely, critics thrive, and democracy breathes without fear.

By Yaya Dampha – Sweden 

As someone who once walked the dangerous corridors of Gambian journalism under the Yahya Jammeh regime, I write not from hearsay, not from partisan imagination, but from memory, personal scars, and lived experience. I have been threatened, hunted, beaten, detained, and eventually driven into exile—simply because I dared to investigate and publish facts. I traversed the length and breadth of The Gambia and even crossed into Southern Senegal’s Casamance region in pursuit of truth. I entered military barracks, police stations, and the feared National Intelligence Agency without invitation to uncover the realities Gambians were forced to whisper about.

Under Yahya Jammeh, journalism was a risk to life. Detention without trial was routine, torture under custody was real, enforced disappearances were not fiction, and extrajudicial killings claimed innocent Gambian lives. Journalists were assaulted, humiliated, jailed, and some never returned home. My writings on unlawful arrests, property confiscations, and security brutality earned me the wrath of regime insiders. The feared Junglers did not hide their hatred. APRC supporters attacked me physically more than once, and finally, I was arrested with Amnesty International staff and forced into exile for more than a decade. That was the Gambia of yesterday—ruled by fear, silenced by brutality, and shadowed by dictatorship.

Today, some voices—especially among certain media practitioners and self-styled “analysts”—try to downplay the transformation The Gambia has undergone under President Adama Barrow. But honesty demands acknowledgment, and integrity requires truth. We must tell Gambians and the world the reality: President Barrow presides over the freest era of speech in the nation’s history.    

Under President Barrow, Gambians speak without fear of midnight knocks. Journalists criticize government openly, sometimes harshly and irresponsibly, yet they wake up free the next day. Media outlets publish stories without intimidation from state security. Protesters take to the streets under lawful permits, political opponents campaign nationwide, and critics insult the President publicly—yet they remain unharmed. In Jammeh’s time, such acts would have meant arrest, torture, disappearance, or worse.

There are journalists today who publish unverified claims, rely on gossip rather than investigative discipline, and still enjoy peaceful coexistence with the very government they criticize. Some dine with the President after attacking him in articles; others secure lucrative contracts despite repeatedly condemning his administration. That alone demonstrates not weakness—but extraordinary tolerance, maturity, and democratic conviction.

President Adama Barrow has demonstrated patience, humanity, and commitment to democratic values. His administration has allowed:

A vibrant private media space to flourish

Open criticism of government without retaliation

Strengthening of civil society and human rights advocacy

Judicial independence and constitutional processes to function

Political plurality with opposition parties freely operating

These are not favors, they are democratic rights—but they must also be acknowledged honestly. Freedom of expression in The Gambia today is not only protected; it is lived, exercised, and enjoyed daily. That reality should not be blurred by partisan bitterness or sensational journalism.

Those who benefited from the sacrifices of journalists who suffered under dictatorship should not trivialize how far The Gambia has come. Media houses and commentators must be honest enough to say: The Gambia under President Barrow is fundamentally different from the Gambia under Yahya Jammeh. It is fair to critique government policies, but it is dishonest to deny that this administration opened the doors of freedom and kept them open.

As a former investigative journalist who risked life and freedom to expose injustice, I state confidently: President Adama Barrow stands as one of Africa’s most tolerant leaders in respecting press freedom, human rights, and democratic accountability. He has allowed dissent, nurtured political freedom, and resisted the temptation of authoritarianism.

History will judge leaders, but it will also judge journalists. Our responsibility is truth—not propaganda, not bitterness, not distortion. If we fought dictatorship yesterday, we must defend democracy today.

And in that judgment, President Barrow deserves acknowledgment, respect, and commendation.

A Champion of Press Freedom and Human Rights: Why President Adama Barrow Deserves Global Recognition

Since The Gambia gained independence in 1965, successive governments have spoken of empowering the media and safeguarding human rights, but none have taken bold, tangible, and institutional steps equal to those of His Excellency President Adama Barrow and the National People’s Party (NPP) government.

President Barrow has not only upheld democratic values — he has transformed them into action.

His latest landmark decision to allocate land for a permanent headquarters for the Gambia Press Union (GPU) stands as an historic and unprecedented milestone. For the first time since independence, a Gambian government has demonstrated practical commitment to media empowerment by creating the foundation for a sustainable, independent, and professional press infrastructure. This is not symbolism; this is state support anchored in respect for independence, integrity, and freedom of expression.

This monumental gesture is a bold testament that The Gambia under President Barrow is no longer a country where journalists live in fear, where dissent is silenced, or where press freedom is a privilege. Instead, The Gambia is steadily becoming a beacon of democratic progress in Africa — a nation where journalists can operate freely, safely, and confidently.

The annual Presidential Media Dinner at the State House has become more than a formality — it is a bridge of dialogue and mutual respect between the presidency and the fourth estate. By engaging directly with journalists, President Barrow has nurtured a climate of trust and openness, reinforcing the message that government and media are partners in nation-building, not adversaries.

Why the GPU, ECOWAS, AU, and Global Media Institutions Should Recognize President Barrow

President Barrow’s leadership embodies principles championed by regional and international democratic institutions. His administration has:

Restored dignity to journalism in The Gambia after years of repression.

Strengthened legal and democratic space for free expression and accountable governance.

Promoted transparency, dialogue, and institutional collaboration between the state and the media.

Encouraged responsible journalism, ensuring press freedom goes hand-in-hand with national development.

Created a safer environment for journalists, free from intimidation, harassment, and political persecution.

Aligned The Gambia with international democratic standards, reinforcing its global standing as a rights-respecting nation.

President Barrow’s commitment deserves not only national applause but global recognition. The Gambia Press Union, ECOWAS, African Union, international media bodies, and human rights institutions such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Reporters Without Borders, and UNESCO should acknowledge him as a Champion of Human Rights and Press Freedom.

Under his stewardship, The Gambia has rewritten its democratic narrative — from fear to freedom, from silence to speech, and from suppression to empowerment.

Today, The Gambia stands tall as a shining example of what visionary leadership, respect for rights, and democratic conviction can achieve. President Adama Barrow has done what no government dared or managed to do since 1965 — and history will remember this era as a defining chapter in The Gambia’s democratic journey.

Written by:

Yaya Dampha

NPP Diaspora Coordinator

UK Jarra Association Rings in New Era With Fresh Board Leadership

By JarranewsTV Staff Reporter

The UK Jarra Association (UKJA) has ushered in a new chapter in its history following the election of a new Board of Trustees at its Annual Congress held on 6 December 2025.

At the heart of the new leadership is Mr. Yaya Fulo Fofana of Jarra Karantaba, who takes over as Chair of the Board, while Mr. Mustapha Darboe from Jarra Bureng has been elected Secretary General. Their appointment signals renewed momentum for the association at a time of strategic growth and institutional reform.

Notably, the election also marks the return of several respected pioneers of UKJ⁸A, bringing decades of institutional memory back into leadership. Among them are Mr. Lamin Manjang, the association’s founding Chairperson; Mr. Kebba Lang Sanneh, its first Secretary General; Mr. Mustapha Sanneh, a former Welfare Officer; and Fatou Ndow Ceesay, who previously served as Deputy Treasurer and Internal Auditor. Their comeback is widely seen as a vote of confidence in unity, experience and continuity.

Governance Reforms Take Centre Stage

The newly elected board will operate under a restructured governance model designed to align the association with modern charity management standards. The reforms introduce a clear division between strategic oversight and daily administration, in line with guidelines from the UK Charity Commission.

Under the new framework, the Board of Trustees will focus on policy direction, accountability and long-term planning, while a professional administrative team—headed by the Secretary General—will manage day-to-day operations. The move is expected to enhance transparency, efficiency and sustainability across UKJA’s programmes.

A Decade of Service to Jarra

Established on 15 August 2015 by Jarrankas living in the United Kingdom, the UK Jarra Association is a registered charity in both England and The Gambia. Over the past decade, it has become a key driver of educational, health and community development initiatives across Jarra and the wider Lower River Region.

The association’s impact is visible through landmark projects such as the establishment of science and computer laboratories in Soma and Bureng, the renovation of the Soma Upper and Senior Secondary School library, and the expansion of the Soma Maternity Ward. UKJA has also supplied vital medical equipment and created a scholarship scheme to support outstanding students from the region.

Eyes on the Future

With a blend of seasoned leadership and fresh perspectives, the new Board of Trustees is expected to steer UKJA into a period of strengthened governance, deeper community engagement and more impactful development projects.

As the association looks ahead, expectations are high that UKJA will continue to build on its strong legacy while positioning itself to meet the evolving needs of the Jarra community at home and abroad.