– Advertisement – Police have arrested two persons who acted as sureties in the bail of former National People’s Party (NPP) member Mbemba Drammeh, who was arrested last month after alleging on television that he took part in rigging the 2021 elections. The sureties, Musa Kanteh from Tabokoto and Saidou Bayo of Wellingara told The standard that they were invited to Kairaba, Kanifing, and later Banjul police headquarters where they were being held as of last night. They said they have been told by the police that Drammeh failed to report on bail after requesting two-day permission to travel to Basse. – Advertisement – The sureties claimed that the police suspected that Mr Drammeh has jumped bail and might have gone out of the jurisdiction of The Gambia. He has since called to say he is back in France. “In fact, little later Mbemba Drammeh himself called to say that...

– Advertisement – West Africa, 13th January 2025 – SeamlessHR, Africa’s leading Human Resource technology company, announced today that it has raised $9 million in its latest funding round from the Gates Foundation and Helios Digital Ventures as it continues to revolutionize the future of workforce productivity in Africa with cutting-edge technology. The new investment will drive the HR-Tech company’s plan to expand its reach across Africa, enhancing workforce productivity, and accelerating business performance through innovative solutions including Embedded Finance offerings, and AI-driven workforce management technology. The investment comes on the back of an impressive run of five years withSeamlessHR’s eponymous software being used by nearly 2000 businesses to manage HR and Payroll processes for about 300,000 employees across 20 African countries. Commenting on the announcement, SeamlessHR’s Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Emmanuel Okeleji, shared his excitement about the round of funding and the pivotal role SeamlessHR is playing...

– Advertisement – Ahead of the draw for the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 that will be staged in Rabat on January 27, here is a roundup of the numbers on the continent’s greatest footballing show. 0 – There will be no debut nation at these finals in Morocco. All 24 teams have competed at least once before in the continental showpiece, though Botswana and Comoros will be making a second appearance. 1 – Former Zambia goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene is the only gloveman to score at the AFCON when he netted a penalty in a 1-1 pool stage draw with Nigeria in 2013. Zambia were defending champions but could not hold onto their crown. – Advertisement – 2 – Ex-Egypt striker Hassan El-Shazly holds the record for most hattricks at the AFCON after he scored two – one in 1963 and another in 1970....

– Advertisement – By Bruce Asemota Justice Ebrima Jaiteh of the High Court has urged the National Assembly to review the desirability of section 18(3) of the 1997 Constitution which touches on the abolition of death penalty in The Gambia. Justice Jaiteh made this declaration whilst delivering judgment in a murder case involving the state, against one Famara Kanteh. – Advertisement – Kanteh was found guilty of causing the death of one Omar Ceesay by stabbing him with a knife at Manjai Kunda on the 9 January, 2020. In passing judgement, the trial judge declared that section 2 of the 1997 Constitution permits the imposition and execution of the death penalty. However, according to him, upon assumption of office, President Adama Barrow in 2018 placed a moratorium on the death penalty in honour of the Gambia’s commitments under the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political...

– Advertisement – At thirteen, Nata was already wiser than many of her age mates, her experiences crafting a maturity that made her seem years beyond her age. The weight of responsibility had settled on her small shoulders like a mantle she had learned to bear in silence. The tasks of the house were numerous and demanding, and Nata had grown adept at managing them all. From the early morning chores of sweeping the compound and fetching water to the endless cycle of cooking, cleaning, supporting her mother in her garden, and caring for her younger siblings, she was the pulse that kept the household running. Her role was indispensable, and she carried it with a quiet strength that spoke volumes of her character. But her life had become infinitely more complicated since the arrival of Mbentoung Mballow, her granduncle’s new wife. The shift in dynamics was jarring, like the...

Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETP) have been introduced in recent years to provide financial support to developing nations as they transition away from fossil fuels. In 2021, during the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), South Africa became the first nation to sign such a deal. Senegal and the International Partners Group (IGP) signed a JETP in June 2023. I have said before that the best way for Western countries, and the developed world at large, to help Africa transition from fossil fuels is through investment and collaboration, not patronisation. This is precisely what the JETP programs seek to do, assist energy emerging economies that are dependent on coal to transition away from fossil fuels while leaving room to address the associated social consequences. That is investment, that is collaboration, and above all, it is respectful of the reality that Africa can move only on its own...

– Advertisement – ‘Expedition to Banu Fazarah & Killing of Abu Rafi’ After reciting Tashahhud, Ta’awwuz and Surah al-Fatihah, His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad(aba) said that he would continue mentioning the expeditions during the life of the Holy Prophet(sa). Was Umm Qirfah Really Killed By the Muslims? – Advertisement – His Holiness(aba) said that in relation to the Expedition of Banu Fazarah, there is mention of the murder of Umm Qirfah. Upon analysing historical accounts, it becomes evident that this is a false incident. His Holiness(aba) quoted Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad(ra) who writes: ‘In place of the above-mentioned Sariyyah of Hazrat Abu Bakr(ra), Ibni Sa’d has mentioned a Sariyyah wherein Zaid bin Harithah(ra) was the commander. In other words, Ibni Sa’d mentions Zaid bin Harithah as the commander of this Sariyyah instead of Hazrat Abu Bakr(ra). Moreover, differing in details as well, he writes that this expedition was to...

– Advertisement – Press release The Gambia Secondary Schools Sports Association (GSSSA) is introducing a transformative change to its prize distribution framework by shifting the focus from school-based awards to individual prizes for outstanding athletes. This progressive move aims to celebrate and reward individual excellence during the national athletics championship. – Advertisement – Under the new system, individual athletes who deliver exceptional performances in their respective events will be recognised and awarded prizes directly, rather than aggregating accolades for schools. This approach is designed to motivate students to push their limits and strive for personal success, ultimately raising the competitive standard of the championship. The GSSSA leadership believes that this change will inspire young athletes by giving them a sense of ownership over their achievements and placing the spotlight on their dedication and hard work. It also aligns with the association’s goal of nurturing talent and preparing athletes for future...

– Advertisement – The quarter-final line-up of this season’s TotalEnergies CAF Champions League will be completed this weekend, as Africa’s premier club competition enters its final round of group matches. This season’s edition has been nothing short of exceptional, with upsets, thrills and goals that have characterised the continent’s biggest club competition over the years. Following another exciting round of clashes last week, five clubs joined Al-Hilal SC (Sudan) in securing passage into the quarter-finals with a game to spare, leaving two slots to be decided this weekend. – Advertisement – Al-Hilal were the first side to secure their place after Match Day 4 before being joined by defending champions Al Ahly (Egypt), AS FAR (Morocco), Orlando Pirates (South Africa), Esperance (Tunisia) and Pyramids FC (Egypt). The remaining two slots will be decided from Group A and B, with Ahly and Pirates already qualified from Group C, and Esperance and...

– Advertisement – By Jarga Gigo I believe in blessed ways more than blessed land. Every land on earth is blessed in some ways, but is there a land without challenges, or where is the most blessed land vs where have the most blessed ways? The Abrahamic religions tend to claim ‘blessed land’ in very questionable unverifiable ways. We all know Abraham (pbuh) lived in a land that cannot be called great in climate sense and his prayer for fruits means a blessed land should be measured by how many fruits it can grow and/or import? The people around Abraham, Jesus, and even Muhammad (pbut) were terrible in ways and it is only fair to dream for a better place and even better people? In a dream or in pictures, I will easily choose Africa as the most blessed land, but Africans lack blessed ways so far… Ok! People are...