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.

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.

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.

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.

After Askanwi posted about an unidentified lady around Kerr Serign junction on 19th November 2024, who was behaving erratically towards people in the streets, our reporter and some passersby assisted her to access medical attention, where she was later taken by the Police to Nemban Clinic.

More in this report.

Our observation shows that work is still ongoing as streets like Lancaster and Perseverance are still yet to have new pavement. Therefore, Hon Minister Ebrima Sillah’s claim that President Barrow’s government paved all the streets in Banjul is deemed misleading.

The author of this story shares their experience of visiting the country’s only mental health care facility, Tanka Tanka, which needs significant attention and support from the government to provide adequate care to patients suffering from mental health disorders in the country. Read this article to go inside Tanka Tanka.

High Court Judge Justice Ebrima Jaiteh announced on Thursday, 14^th November 2024 that the trial for the Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) will begin on 21^st November 2024, pending the submission of crucial documents from the Ministry of Health to support the plaintiffs' claims.