Another Major Endorsement: Jarra News Echoes My Call for Media Reform.

By Alagi Yorro Jallow 

 I am humbled to see Jarra News join the growing national conversation sparked by my recent commentary on the state of journalism in The Gambia. Their detailed analysis affirms what many of us have been warning for years: the crisis in Gambian journalism is internal before it is external.

Jarra News highlights critical issues that can no longer be ignored: the collapse of standards, the rise of untrained voices, the politicization of newsrooms, the erosion of ethics, and the dangerous normalization of defamation and misinformation. Their conclusion is clear and uncompromising: reform is no longer optional; it is necessary for the survival of the profession.

This endorsement follows the earlier editorial support from the Daily Observer, signaling a broader awakening within the media landscape. The message from both institutions is unmistakable:

Accreditation, professionalism, and ethical discipline are essential if journalism is to reclaim its dignity and public trust.

 welcome this growing alignment and hope it inspires deeper reflection, honest dialogue, and meaningful reform across the sector. The future of our democracy depends on a credible, responsible, and principled Fourth Estate. The unified essay, The Rain That Beat Us: A Manifesto for Redeeming Gambia’s Fourth Estate, is now available for publication and public engagement.

DEFENDING THE CRAFT: WHY PROFESSIONALIZATION OF GAMBIAN JOURNALISM CANNOT WAIT

By JarranewsTV Staff Reporter

The commentary by Alagi Yorro Jallow is not just timely—it is a necessary intervention in a profession that is rapidly losing its soul. What we are witnessing in The Gambia today is not merely a debate over accreditation; it is a full-blown collapse of standards, discipline, and identity within journalism.

1. The Collapse of Standards Is Real, Not Imagined

There is no denying it: journalism in The Gambia has shifted from a disciplined profession to an open marketplace where anyone with a smartphone claims authority. The absence of editorial control, fact-checking, and ethical restraint has turned many platforms into channels of confusion rather than sources of truth. This is not press freedom—it is professional decay.

2. Journalism Has Been Hijacked by Activism and Partisanship

The line between journalism and political activism has not just blurred—it has disappeared. Many who present themselves as journalists are openly aligned with political interests, acting as spokespersons rather than watchdogs. When journalists become political griots, public trust inevitably collapses.

3. Former Guardians of the Profession Have Abandoned It

It is deeply troubling that individuals who once led the Gambia Press Union now contribute to the very decline they should resist. Instead of defending standards, some have embraced propaganda, partisanship, and sensationalism. This moral inconsistency weakens their credibility in opposing reforms like accreditation.

4. Untrained Individuals Are Dominating the Media Space

A dangerous trend has emerged where comedians, entertainers, and social media influencers now occupy spaces meant for trained journalists. Without knowledge of media law, ethics, or verification, they produce content that misleads, defames, and inflames. Journalism is a discipline—not a hobby or a side hustle.

5. Social Media Has Become a Lawless Newsroom

Facebook “journalists” now publish anything—from private conversations to abusive audio recordings—without consent, context, or verification. The rights to privacy and dignity are routinely violated in the name of “breaking news.” This is not journalism; it is digital vigilantism.

6. Defamation and Character Assassination Are Becoming Normalized

The reckless publication of insults, especially targeting families and parents, reflects a dangerous erosion of ethics. Freedom of expression does not include the freedom to defame, insult, or destroy reputations without accountability. A profession that tolerates this loses its moral authority.

7. Absence of Regulation Has Turned Journalism into a “Dustbin Profession”

Without standards or entry requirements, journalism has become a dumping ground for individuals rejected by other professions. This lack of structure invites mediocrity and drives away serious practitioners who once upheld the dignity of the field.

8. Accreditation Is a Necessary Filter, Not a Political Weapon

As rightly argued by Alagi Yorro Jallow, accreditation is a global norm. It does not silence journalists; it distinguishes professionals from opportunists. It ensures that those who inform the public are trained, accountable, and ethically grounded.

9. Public Trust in the Media Is Rapidly Eroding

When misinformation, bias, and unverified claims dominate headlines, the public loses confidence in all media—both credible and non-credible. This erosion of trust is dangerous for democracy, as citizens can no longer distinguish fact from propaganda. 

10. Government Regulation Is Now Inevitable and Necessary

Given the current chaos, government intervention—if properly structured—is no longer optional. Regulation must not be confused with repression. Instead, it should

Establish minimum standards for practice

Enforce ethical codes

Protect citizens from defamation and privacy violations

Restore credibility to the profession.

Without such frameworks, the media space will continue to deteriorate into an uncontrollable информационный battlefield.

11. Freedom Without Responsibility Is Anarchy

Press freedom was fought for with sacrifice, including the ultimate price paid by Deyda Hydara. To misuse that freedom today through recklessness and indiscipline is a betrayal of that legacy. Freedom must be matched with responsibility, or it becomes self-destructive.

12. The Silence on Past Reform Failures Is Hypocrisy

It is valid to question why past reform efforts—such as those linked to Ndey Tapha Sosseh—were never implemented or defended. Those who ignored reform yesterday cannot convincingly oppose professionalization today.

13. Editors and Newsrooms Have Failed Their Gatekeeping Role

The disappearance of strong editorial oversight has allowed misinformation to flourish. A newsroom without standards is not a newsroom—it is a rumor distribution center. Editors must reclaim their role as custodians of truth.

14. Professional Journalism Requires Training and Discipline

Journalism is not defined by access to a microphone or camera. It requires mastery of language, understanding of context, commitment to verification, and respect for ethics. Without these, what exists is not journalism but noise.

Conclusion: Reform or Ruin.

The position advanced by Alagi Yorro Jallow is clear and justified: the crisis in Gambian journalism is internal before it is external. The profession is collapsing under the weight of indiscipline, politicization, and neglect.

The choice before The Gambia is stark: either restore standards through professionalization and accreditation, or allow journalism to disintegrate into irrelevance and public distrust.

This is not about silencing voices. It is about saving a profession that has lost its direction. The time for denial has passed. The time for reform is now.

Driving Justice Forward: Government Coordinates Nationwide Push to Implement TRRC Reforms

By JarranewsTV Staff Reporter

The Government of The Gambia has intensified efforts to translate the recommendations of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) into concrete reforms, with a coordinated approach that now spans dozens of public institutions.

Ida Persson, Special Adviser on Transitional Justice and head of the Post-TRRC Unit at the Ministry of Justice, revealed that the implementation process is being carried out in collaboration with 59 institutions across the country. Her remarks came during a recent interview with investigative journalist Mustapha K. Darboe, where she shed light on the scale and complexity of the ongoing reform agenda.

According to Persson, her office plays a dual role—providing high-level strategic advice to the Minister of Justice while also steering the operational coordination of post-TRRC activities. She emphasized that beyond government structures, civil society actors remain key stakeholders in shaping public discourse and sustaining momentum around the reforms.

At the core of the initiative is a structured implementation plan managed by a dedicated team tasked with ensuring that responsible institutions are equipped with the financial and technical resources required to deliver. This includes mobilising funding through grants and fostering partnerships to maintain steady progress.

The reform agenda itself is extensive. It is anchored on critical pillars such as reparations for victims, justice and accountability mechanisms, institutional restructuring, legislative changes, and the promotion of national unity. In total, the plan encompasses 39 distinct activities and proposes reforms to more than 22 pieces of legislation.

Persson further disclosed that plans are underway to establish a Special Prosecutor’s Office to handle cases related to international crimes committed under the former regime. She noted that while an international tribunal could cost up to $16 million, pursuing domestic prosecutions presents a more viable option at an estimated cost of $2.5 million—offering a pragmatic pathway toward justice.

As implementation efforts gather pace, the government’s approach signals a determined shift from recommendations to action, with stakeholders across sectors expected to play a role in shaping a more accountable and just society.

Binta Jallow Nabbed in Drug Smuggling Attempts at Mile 2 Prison

By JarranewsTV Staff Reporter

Authorities have raised alarm over a growing trend of individuals attempting to smuggle prohibited substances into the Mile 2 Central Prison under the pretext of delivering food to inmates.

In recent weeks, security officials have intercepted multiple cases involving concealed drugs. Notably, a young man from the Yundum area was apprehended after allegedly attempting to sneak a prohibited substance locally known as “kush,” hidden inside packets of instant noodles.

In a similar development, on Monday, 16 March 2026, prison authorities arrested Miss Binta Jallow, a resident of Brikama Newtown, for allegedly attempting to smuggle drugs into the facility. According to officials, the suspect had visited the prison to deliver food to a remand prisoner when a routine security screening uncovered a plastic bag containing suspected cannabis and pills concealed inside a food bowl.

She was immediately detained and subsequently handed over to the Drug Law Enforcement Agency, The Gambia (DLEAG), for further investigation and possible prosecution in accordance with national drug laws.

Prison authorities, working in close collaboration with DLEAG, have reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining strict security measures and ensuring that correctional facilities remain free from illegal substances. They have issued a stern warning to the public that any attempt to smuggle contraband into prisons constitutes a serious criminal offence and will be dealt with decisively.

Editorial Note: A Call to Youths

The increasing involvement of young people in drug smuggling and trafficking is deeply troubling. What may appear to be a quick way to make money or assist acquaintances is, in reality, a dangerous path that leads to arrest, prosecution, and long-term consequences that can permanently damage one’s future.

Young people must understand that engaging in drug-related activities—whether as users, couriers, or dealers—comes with severe legal and social repercussions. It is not worth sacrificing your freedom, reputation, and opportunities for short-term gains.

Jarranews urge youths across the country to resist peer pressure, avoid criminal networks, and channel their energy into productive and lawful ventures. The fight against drug abuse and trafficking is a collective responsibility, and the future of the nation depends on the choices its young people make today.

Say no to drugs. Choose a better path.

Exposed in Broad Daylight: How Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang’s False Claims Collapsed Under Facts and Accountability

By Yaya Dampha, NPP Diaspora Coordinator

Alagi Yorro Jallow’s recent commentary stands as a timely and necessary intervention in a political climate increasingly threatened by misinformation and reckless public discourse. His analysis does not merely challenge a claim—it exposes a dangerous pattern that undermines democratic integrity and public trust.

The allegations made by former Vice President Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang regarding the supposed diversion of European Union funds to the National People’s Party (NPP) were not only unverified but demonstrably false. As clearly outlined in Jallow’s fact-based critique, these claims lacked evidence, documentation, and any attempt at verification through established channels such as the Freedom of Information framework. In a democracy, such conduct is not just irresponsible—it is deeply damaging.

Both the NPP and the European Union swiftly and categorically refuted these allegations. The EU clarified its institutional position: it engages exclusively with the Government of The Gambia, not political parties. The funds referenced by Tambajang were not EU disbursements but voluntary contributions from supporters. Yet, despite these clarifications, the misinformation had already circulated widely, illustrating how quickly falsehood can distort public perception before truth catches up.

At a time when the nation requires sober reflection and responsible leadership, it is troubling that a figure of such seniority would choose speculation over facts. Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang, with her vast political experience and generational influence, carries a responsibility not only to her peers but also to her children, grandchildren, and the wider Gambian society. Public trust is not a tool to be manipulated—it is a duty to be preserved.

Contrary to her claims, the NPP’s funding model is transparent and rooted in grassroots mobilization. The party relies heavily on membership dues, diaspora engagement, and voluntary contributions from supporters. On November 4th in Bañola, Spain, NPP diaspora groups organized a fundraising event that raised an impressive 24 million dalasis in a single day. Additional initiatives within The Gambia generated over 6 million dalasis, complemented by efforts from the party’s central committee. These are verifiable, people-driven contributions—not the product of any misappropriated international funds.

What makes this episode particularly concerning is its resemblance to past political behavior that Gambians have already rejected. The use of emotional rhetoric, religious overtones, and unverified claims to shape public opinion is not new. It is a strategy that has previously eroded trust and credibility in governance. The re-emergence of such tactics only reinforces the urgency of demanding higher standards in public discourse.

Alagi Yorro Jallow’s article methodically dismantles Tambajang’s assertions, exposing not only their inaccuracy but also the broader implications of such “shenanigans behavior” in our politics. When influential figures present conjecture as fact, they do more than misinform—they weaken the very institutions that sustain democracy.

This moment must serve as a turning point. Politicians must verify before they speak. Journalists must rigorously fact-check before they publish. Citizens must engage critically with the information they consume. Truth must not be optional; it must be foundational.

Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang’s claims have been tested against facts—and they have failed. What remains is a clear lesson: misinformation may travel fast, but truth, when pursued with diligence and courage, will always prevail.

The Gambian people deserve leadership grounded in honesty, accountability, and respect for truth. Anything less is a disservice to the nation and a threat to its democratic future.

Hypocrisy, Habitual Negativity, and the Politics of Opposition for Opposition’s Sake

By Yaya Dampha, NPP Diaspora Coordinator

The reaction of some supporters of the United Democratic Party to the government’s purchase of a modern state-of-the-art ferry is yet another embarrassing display of political hypocrisy and blind opposition.

For years these same voices have screamed that the ferries serving the Banjul–Barra Ferry Crossing are old, unreliable, and constantly breaking down. Every mechanical fault was turned into propaganda against the government. Every delay was framed as proof of incompetence.

Now that President Adama Barrow has taken the practical step of acquiring a modern ferry capable of carrying 800 passengers and multiple trucks, the same critics are suddenly outraged.

So which is it?

Were the ferries too old and unreliable, or should the government refuse to modernize them?

This is not criticism. It is pure political bad faith.

1. The Ferry Hypocrisy

UDP supporters complained relentlessly that ferries were outdated and unsafe.

Now that the government invests in a modern replacement, they complain again.

If government does nothing — they complain.

If government solves the problem — they complain louder.

That is not accountability; that is politics of sabotage.

2. The Electricity Hypocrisy

When rural electrification projects began under President Barrow, the same critics said:

“Those poles will never see electricity.”

But when electricity finally reached those communities, the narrative suddenly changed to:

“Those people are hungry; they need food more than electricity.”

So the question is simple:

Are rural Gambians not entitled to electricity and development?

Electricity powers schools, clinics, businesses, refrigeration, irrigation, and communication. Only those who have never experienced development planning would pretend otherwise.

3. The Road Development Hypocrisy.

When highways and rural roads are constructed, the UDP chorus repeats the same tired slogan:

 “Are we going to eat roads?”

This is perhaps the most economically illiterate argument in modern Gambian politics.

Roads are the arteries of development. They allow farmers to move crops to markets, traders to move goods, ambulances to reach hospitals, and businesses to expand into rural areas. Without roads, there is no commerce, no tourism expansion, and no regional trade.

Anyone who claims development should happen without roads clearly does not understand development.

4. Opposition That Opposes Everything

At this point, one must agree with a friend who once said:

 "It is dangerous for a political party to remain in opposition for too long"

The United Democratic Party has become so accustomed to opposing that it now opposes everything — even progress.

This is the same party that, while part of the coalition government from 2017 to 2019, organized protest marches against its own leadership. Imagine that level of confusion — protesting a government you are part of.

That is not responsible politics. That is political addiction to chaos.

5. The Bridge Argument Is Another False Narrative

Now they claim that because President Adama Barrow promised to build a bridge across the Banjul–Barra Ferry Crossing, he should not buy a ferry.

This argument ignores the basic reality of governance.

Major infrastructure projects take years of planning, financing, and construction. Governments must manage short-term needs while preparing long-term solutions.

The same logic applied to the Senegambia Bridge at Yelitenda–Bambatenda.

The idea of that bridge was first declared more than forty years ago by former president Dawda Kairaba Jawara. Yet it remained unfulfilled through his administration and for 22 years under Yahya Jammeh.

It was President Adama Barrow who finally delivered it.

That is the difference between talking about development and actually implementing it.

6. Development Requires Planning, Not Noise

Governments plan for the future through short-term, medium-term, and long-term strategies. Buying a ferry to solve immediate transport challenges does not contradict the vision of building a bridge.

Only those who deliberately refuse to understand governance would pretend otherwise.

Conclusion

At this stage, the pattern is obvious.

When development is proposed — the UDP attacks it.

When development begins — the UDP mocks it.

When development succeeds — the UDP changes the argument.

This endless negativity does not help Gambians. It only exposes a political culture that has become so obsessed with opposing President Barrow that it now opposes progress itself.

Gambia deserves constructive criticism, not reflex opposition driven by bitterness and political desperation.