– Advertisement – By Omar Bah President Adama Barrow has emphasised his readiness to face any opponent, including his main rival, Ousainou Darboe of the United Democratic Party (UDP, in the 2026 presidential elections. “I want to tell them (UDP) that I will be the candidate in 2026 and let me see whether they will be able to remove me. Gambians are not stupid, they know who is working and who is not. The UDP is advocating for a term limit when they know very well that there is no term limit in The Gambia.  If you are a player, and I am a player, it is only the referee that can decide, based on the rules.But you cannot be a player just like me, and wants to say I will not play in the game. You cannot decide for the NPP who they should choose as their flagbearer, that...

– Advertisement – The division of evening meals had been a blow to Borogie, a wound that Nata had witnessed up close. Life had always been a struggle for Borogie, trying to feed her children on the little they had. When the family meals were shared, at least there was the relief of knowing everyone ate from the same pot. But Neneh Dado’s decision had upended that fragile peace. Now, Borogie was left to manage her own pot of rice, her own vegetables, her own cooking, without the support of the family. It didn’t take long for the strain to show. Nata watched her mother labor daily, stretching whatever meager provisions she had to make sure her children didn’t go to bed hungry. Their neighbours, including Mbassi, who had welcomed them when they first arrived from Fulladu, had been very helpful. They would share the little they had and all...

– Advertisement – With Aisha Jallow …but most of the power belongs to the men. Is there a strategy behind holding women back, or is it just an old habit? I think this is an adequate question to ask, because old habits can be hard to change. It is not until someone challenges old habits, or traditions, or codes of conduct even, when they can change. Enough people have to demand a change, it will not be enough with one or two. A revolution has to happen before a whole society will change its ways of treating half its population. The word ”revolution” comes from the ancient language latin, and it means upheaval or return. Does that make you any wiser? Didn’t think so, so let us analyze this and try to find a conclusion. – Advertisement – According to a dictionary, the word upheaval means a violent or sudden...

– Advertisement – Since 2017, Gambians and the press continue to enjoy the highest degree of freedom than at any period in our entire history. Those of us who experienced the 1st Republic as active student unionists and young activists, repeatedly arrested, detained, tortured and were also forced into exile during part of the brutal years of the Jammeh era, are better placed to make practical comparison. It is absolute incontrovertible fact that throughout Gambia’s entire political history, President Barrow is the most politically tolerant Head of State and under him The Gambia has become a leading democracy in terms of human rights in Africa. – Advertisement – I will further assert and support President Barrow’s UN Speech that since 2017, no politician, activist or journalist was jailed by the Barrow administration. Admittedly, a number of politicians, activists and few media persons were arrested and detained but none were convicted...

– Advertisement – In west Africa, it’s common for families to foster children informally. This helps ease the burden on parents and can give children from poorer families a chance to improve their lives. An estimated 20% to 40% of mothers in the region have sent at least one child to live with another household for an extended period. That household acts as a “social parent”. Education is one of the leading reasons for the practice: children can be in households with more resources for schooling or closer to schools. – Advertisement – Whether this fostering is beneficial or harmful depends on how much the host families are willing to support and invest in the fostered children. A weekly email for Europeans by European scholars The practice of child fostering differs from the formal foster care systems that are common in many parts of the world. Fostering arrangements in sub-Saharan...