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Sunday 13 July 2008

68 ministers in 14 years


When one takes a serious look at the July 22 military coup that brought President Yahya Jammeh and his AFPRC/APRC government to power, one would no doubt see that the regime has completely lost its bearings and is just going round and round in circle.

The revolution, which I have always described as illegal and criminal, has eroded our basic civil liberties, including the right to freedom of speech, assembly and movement. The much talk about revolution has failed woefully. The revolution was supposed to change the country for the better as well as improve the living conditions of the ordinary Gambian. Instead, it has made us poorer and poorer.

The Jammeh regime has hijacked the country and is ruining the hopes and aspirations of the Gambian people. It is tearing our country to shreds. It has brought nothing meaningful but suffering, hardship, starvation and retrogression. The level of poverty is increasing by the day with a large number of Gambians finding it hard to meet the rising cost of living. And while the population struggle everyday to afford their three square meals, the president has millions of Dalasis to waste on cultural festivals. The president, who was no where near the property ladder before the coup is today richer than a king and with a salary of less than £800, he boast of fleets of cars, an aircraft, oversea bank accounts and properties in and outside the country. During his annual meet the people's tour, he could be openly seen dishing out packets of money to school children and village elders. He has even admitted that he has enough amount of money which cannot be exhausted even by his great grand children.

The July 22 military coup cannot be described as a revolution. It was not designed to improve the living conditions of Gambians. The coup was not also conducted to make the country a better place to live for Gambians and non Gambians. Instead it was fashioned to fulfill the long term ambitions of some power hungry and money grapping soldiers, who does not have the interest of Gambians at heart.

The regime has a pointless leadership that does not have the slightest idea of how to govern a country. The leadership is more confused than ever and the current situation in the country can only be described as sad and sorry.

Bribery, corruption, favouritism and nepotism is the order of the day and the country's finance is being blundered reckless by the chosen few in power. Development is politicised and many of the development projects have failed to improve the conditions of the local people.

There is no job security when you work for Jammeh. Since 22 July 1994, President Yahya Jammeh has hired 68 cabinet ministers and fired 60 without telling the Gambian people why. This frequent hiring and firing has left Gambians wondering what direction the revolution is taking. And as he is about to celebrate his 14th year in power, Allgambian hereby produce a list of men and women who have occupied various ministerial positions in the Jammeh regime since July 1994.

Mass Axi Gai
Angela Colley
Kanja Sanneh
Neneh Macdoual-Gaye
Therese Ndong-Jatta (resigned)
Maba Jobe (before even taking office)
Momodou Lamin Sedat Jobe (resigned)
Joseph Henry Joof (resigned)
Satang Jow (retired)
Yankuba Kassama
Margaret Keita
Ousman Badjie
Samba Bah
Lamin Kaba Bajo (re-instated, again fired)
Musa Bittaye
Amie Bensouda
Fatou Bom Bensouda
John P. Bojang
Momodou Bojang
Nyimasata Sanneh
Bojang Mamat Cham
Ebrima Ceesay
Momodou Nai Ceesay
Ousman Koro Ceesay (killed)
Sulayman Massaneh Ceesay
Bakary Bunja Dabo
Fasainey Dumbuya
Samba Faal
Omar Faye
Sadibou Haidara
Sheikh Tijan Hydara (re-instated, again fired)
Blaise Jagne
Balla Garba Jahumpa (re-instated, again fired)
Momodou Sarjo Jallow
Dr Amadou Scattred Janneh
Manlafi Jarju
Tamsir Mbowe
Dominic Mendy
Alieu Ngum
Bakary Njie
Omar Njie
Susan Waffa-Ogoo
Hawa Sisay Sabally
Sana Sabally
Abdoulie Sallah (re-instated, fired)
Hassan Sallah
Momodou Sallah
Sidy Morro Sanneh
Kebba Sanyang (re-instated, again fired)
Samsudeen Sarr
Cheyassin Secka
Musa Sillah
Edward Singhatey
Raymond Sock
Amina Faal Sonko
Baboucarr Jatta
Famara Jatta
Kumba Ceesay-Marenah
Mustapha Marong
Fafa Mbai
Musa Mbenga
Sulayman Mboob
Bolong Sonko
Bai Mass Taal
Fatoumatta Tambajang
Bemba Tambedou
Yankuba Touray (fired and re-instated)
Crispin Grey Johnson (fired and re-instated)