Banjul, The Gambia — The Managing Director of Atlantic Pharmaceuticals, Mr Suman, faced intense cross-examination in the High Court as legal proceedings continued over the deaths of more than 70 children allegedly caused by contaminated medicinal syrups imported from India. Plaintiffs’ counsel accused the company of negligence and collusion with Maiden Pharmaceuticals, raising serious questions about regulatory compliance and corporate accountability. More in the report.

Witchcraft accusations remain a pervasive issue across Africa, often resulting in serious human rights violations, including violence, social exclusion, and, in extreme cases, death. These accusations disproportionately affect vulnerable groups such as women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. In the Gambia, a particularly disturbing incident occurred in 2009 when nearly 1,000 individuals were detained and forced to confess to witchcraft under duress. More in this factsheet.

The Director of Atlantic Pharmaceuticals, Ali Suman, came under intense cross-examination at the High Court in Banjul on Tuesday, as legal proceedings continue into the deaths of over 70 children allegedly caused by contaminated cough syrups imported by his company. Facing pointed questions from the plaintiffs’ legal team, Mr. Suman defended his company's practices as scrutiny mounted over expired import documents and discrepancies in certification claims. More in this report.

This publication interrogates the question of whether Parliament and the Executive have violated the law with regards to budget implementation by making reference to legal provisions and highlighting instances when this legal requirement has been ignored. This leaves the door open for waste, fraud, and abuse to continue unabated in The Gambia.

The ongoing Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) legal battle between some 27 bereaved children against the government and two pharmaceutical companies saw more moving testimonies from parents on how “bad medicines” killed their children. More in the report.

During the continuation of the AKI Court Case hearing on the afternoon of 23rd January 2025, witnesses narrated how their children died soon after ingesting paracetamol syrups prescribed by doctors from the hospital. More in this report.

Our latest publication on the marathon AKI Court case hearing, which took most of 23rd January 2025, highlights how Justice Ebrima Jaiteh accepted the substitution of two witness statements. The AKI Court case has seen some 27 bereaved parents file a lawsuit against the government and two pharmaceutical companies. More in Askanwi’s first publication from the whole day’s court hearing.

This FactCheck interrogates a misleading headline by a leading newspaper, Foroyaa, claiming that Hon. Njai won a case against the PPP and it’s leadership. After getting hold of the judgment, our reporters brought out the facts and highlighted that the headline was indeed misleading. More in the report.

Four Gambian Civil Society Advocates have filed a lawsuit against the state in the Supreme Court against the Finance Minister’s alleged failure to table the 2025 budget as mandated by the amended 1997 Constitution today, 19th December 2024.

Since the TRRC recommended prosecution of those bearing the most responsibility, President Barrow’s government continues to tout it’s commitment to prosecution. However, back in 2021, President Barrow’s NPP attempted to go into an alliance with former President Jammeh, which failed, leaving the President in alliance with the APRC, led by Speaker Jatta. These mixed messages have necessitated this review of the government’s efforts to complete it’s implementation plan on prosecution on time.