Dear Editor,
I write to you with due respect to bring to your attention an issue of grave importance. I hope this message is received in the spirit in which it is written.
It is a well-known fact that perception is extremely important in politics, particularly during an election period. An issue that may appear minor at first can have serious political consequences if it is not handled appropriately.
For more than a month now, allegations of corruption, bribery and other improprieties have emerged concerning the leadership of the Food Safety and Quality Authority (FSQA). Among the allegations are claims that the authority has permitted companies, many of which are reportedly owned or operated by foreigners, to import expired food products, including flour, rice and other food items.
If these allegations are true, they go far beyond the issue of corruption or administrative misconduct. They have a direct bearing on the health and safety of the Gambian people and, therefore, deserve the immediate attention of the government.
Yet, despite the repeated allegations published in the media, sometimes accompanied by what has been presented as supporting evidence, little or nothing has been heard from the government on the matter.
It is important to acknowledge that these remain allegations and that the individuals or institutions concerned are entitled to due process and the presumption of innocence. However, given the seriousness of the allegations and their potential implications for public health, it would be entirely appropriate for the government to initiate an independent investigation to establish the truth.
Mr President, your government has made a number of remarkable achievements over the years. However, a scandal of this nature has the potential to overshadow much of that good work, particularly if it is allowed to fester without a credible response.
Indeed, the political cost of failing to address such allegations could far outweigh whatever political loyalty or support the government might receive from individuals within the FSQA.
I therefore respectfully appeal to you to let there be a thorough and impartial investigation into these allegations. If they are found to be false, such an investigation would clear the names of those accused and put the matter to rest. If they are found to have merit, appropriate action can then be taken.
Either way, the Gambian people deserve to know the truth.
Your Excellency, let there be an investigation so that this matter can be laid to rest once and for all.
Musa Bah
Mbollet-Ba Village
Lower Niumi District
Is The Gambia ready for El Niño?
Dear Editor,
The forecasts are no longer distant warnings. NOAA, WMO and all 30 models in the GFDL SPEAR ensemble now agree — a very strong El Niño, possibly historic, is forming and will peak between October and December this year. The US Climate Prediction Centre puts the chance at over 90% for a very strong event through this Northern Hemisphere winter.
For The Gambia, this is not abstract science. A strong El Niño typically means late onset of rains, prolonged dry spells, flash floods when it does rain, hotter-than-normal temperatures, and poor harvests. We remember 2015/16 — groundnut failure, rice imports soaring, and the Kuntaur floods.
So the question Gambians should be asking is: What is our government doing to prepare?
To be fair, some early steps are visible. I commend the Department of Water Resources for sharing seasonal forecasts early, and the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) for its recent regional sensitisation on flood-prone areas in Banjul, Kanifing and Basse. The Ministry of Agriculture’s move to promote short-cycle, drought-tolerant seeds — early-maturing millet and Nerica rice — is exactly the kind of anticipatory action we need. The Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources has also been active in the Ecowas climate preparedness meetings.
But is it enough for a 90%+ probability event? Three gaps remain. First, communication. Most farmers in Wuli or Foñi still depend on radio in local languages, not PDF bulletins in English. We need daily warnings on GRTS and community radios in Mandinka, Fula, Wolof and Jola explaining what El Niño means for planting.
Second, contingency stocks. The National Food Security Council must now pre-position food, animal feed and water purification tablets, not wait for a crisis declaration in January. Our 2023 floods showed how unprepared our drainage systems are.
Third, coordination. El Niño is not just an agriculture problem. It is health (heat stress, malaria after floods), water (saline intrusion in wells), and energy. The Office of the Vice President should convene a high-level, multisectoral taskforce now, with a published action plan and budget, not after the rains fail.
We cannot stop El Niño. As WMO warned this week, there is “no time to lose in getting ready”. But we can decide whether we meet it with panic or with a plan. The government must tell us, clearly and early, what that plan is.
Ebrima K Bojang
Bakoteh, Kanifing Municipality