FactSheet, Constitution, Parliament, Politics Askanwi Gambia FactSheet, Constitution, Parliament, Politics Askanwi Gambia

FactSheet: How Parliamentarians Voted Down Gambia’s 2024 Draft Constitution

After lawmakers in the Sixth Legislature voted down the 2024 Draft Constitution during its Second Reading, The Gambia’s constitutional reform process has suffered its second major setback under President Adama Barrow’s administration. This FactSheet breaks down how each Member of Parliament voted and explains the significance of the Second Reading in the legislative process.

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WAVE, TRRC, Transitional Justice, Human Rights, CSO Askanwi Gambia WAVE, TRRC, Transitional Justice, Human Rights, CSO Askanwi Gambia

WAVE Uses Cultural Storytelling to Foster Healing and Justice in Post-TRRC Gambia

Over the past several months, the Women’s Association for Victims’ and Women Empowerment (WAVE), a transitional justice organisation, has been harnessing the power of storytelling—interwoven with fire, traditional folklore, music, and dance—to create a profound communal space for healing. More in this report.

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GAMTEL, Business Economy, Debt Askanwi Gambia GAMTEL, Business Economy, Debt Askanwi Gambia

Who Will Pay? GAMTEL Faces Privatisation While D197M in Public Debt Remains Unpaid

The Gambia Telecommunications Company Limited (GAMTEL) is on the brink of privatisation, but critical questions remain unanswered—chief among them: who will settle the D197 million debt owed to the company by government institutions and state-owned enterprises? As the government moves to finalise a contract with an unnamed private partner, a damning audit report reveals years of unpaid arrears, political interference, and systemic failures that have left the national telecoms provider financially crippled and structurally adrift. More in this feature report.

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MCA, AKI, Children, Health, Ministry of Health, High Court Askanwi Gambia MCA, AKI, Children, Health, Ministry of Health, High Court Askanwi Gambia

Conflicted MCA Director Admits Listing Medicines Without Full Testing Amid Child Deaths

The Executive Director of the Medicines Control Agency (MCA), Mr. Essa Marenah, has admitted under cross-examination that the agency approved medicines through a process called “Listing”—which does not require laboratory testing—due to the country’s limited testing capabilities. His testimony came during the ongoing civil trial over the Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) scandal, in which more than 70 children died after consuming contaminated syrups. Counsel for the plaintiffs argued that the four deadly medicines were never officially registered but merely listed, raising serious questions about regulatory oversight before and after the tragic deaths. More in the report.

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MCA Director Faces Intense Cross-Examination at AKI Trial, Confronts Journalist Over Photo

The Executive Director of the Medicines Control Agency (MCA), Mr. Essa Marenah, came under sharp scrutiny during a tense cross-examination at the High Court on Thursday, as part of the ongoing lawsuit over the deaths of children linked to contaminated medicines. The courtroom tension later spilled outside, where Mr. Marenah confronted a journalist for taking his photo and allegedly attempted to force its deletion. More in the report.

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D13.4M Missing: Financial Irregularities Exposed Amid Gamtel/Gamcel Job Cuts

As more than 700 employees of Gamtel and Gamcel brace for redundancy under a World Bank-backed reform plan, newly obtained documents reveal over D13.4 million in unremitted staff contributions to the Gamtel Credit Union—exposing deep financial irregularities within the state-run telecom giants. The missing funds, deducted from employee salaries but never transferred, have fueled growing outrage among workers already facing delayed pay and uncertain futures. More in the report.

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Finance Minister Grilled in Parliament Over Incomplete Budget Report

The Gambia’s Finance Minister, Hon. Seedy S. Keita, came under intense pressure from lawmakers to deliver a more comprehensive budget implementation report, including detailed expenditure breakdowns for each Ministry. However, Speaker Fabakary Tombong Jatta appeared to shield the Minister from deeper scrutiny and failed to demand an overdue budget implementation report on the 2024 budget, which should have been presented during the First Ordinary Session. More in our feature report.

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FactCheck, GAMTEL, GAMCEL, Staff, Business Economy, Budget Askanwi Gambia FactCheck, GAMTEL, GAMCEL, Staff, Business Economy, Budget Askanwi Gambia

FactCheck: Did the World Bank Approve $6.4M or $10M for the Gamtel/Gamcel Social Plan?

President Barrow’s recent claim that the World Bank allocated $6.4 million to compensate laid-off Gamtel and Gamcel staff contradicts an earlier statement by the Finance Minister, who cited a $10 million bailout—raising fresh questions about transparency and the true scope of the government’s restructuring plan. More in this factcheck report.

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Imports from Senegal Surge, Deepening Gambia’s Record Trade Deficit

The Gambia’s trade deficit reached a record D64.6 billion in 2024, driven largely by a dramatic 70% surge in imports from neighboring Senegal, which rose from D8.5 billion to D14.4 billion, according to the Gambia Bureau of Statistics. The data highlights deepening cross-border trade ties but also signals growing economic dependence on external markets. More in the feature report.

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Religion, Human Rights, Politics, Elections Askanwi Gambia Religion, Human Rights, Politics, Elections Askanwi Gambia

When the Pulpit Aspires for Presidency: Gambians Debate Religious Leadership in Politics

The recent announcement by a Muslim religious leader, Imam Musa Jallow, of his intent to contest the presidency in the upcoming 2026 election has ignited widespread public debate across The Gambia. Central to the controversy is a delicate question: Can a religious cleric legitimately and effectively seek the nation’s highest political office without compromising the secular foundations of the state? More in the report.

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Askanwi is dedicated to bridging the gap for reliable, balanced, and citizen-centered news that directly impacts the lives of its readers.

By closely monitoring the progress of the country's transitional process, Askanwi continues to lead with powerful human interest stories, including the ongoing coverage of the Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) crisis, the drafting of the new Constitution, and the rollout of the Transitional Justice Program—just to name a few.

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