A big question mark has been put over Seyfo Soley's purported move to the Cyprus premier tier club, Apollon Limassol, after neither the club nor the Cypriot media reported the deal.
The 30-year-old Gambian international was reportedly reported to have ended a three-year football holiday by signing a season-long deal with Apollon in September 2010. The former Banjul Hawks, FC Sint-Niklaas, Lokeren, Genk, Al-Hilal and Preston defender later confirmed the move to Observer Sports, saying it was a lucrative deal that will take effect from January 2011, after the Cypriot club exhausted their 17-foreign-player limit.
But since the purported signing of the contract in mid-September, neither Apollon nor the Cyprus media is making mention of deal. A further search at Apollon's official website has it that the Gambian has no connection with the club, hence casting doubts over the reliability of the previous report. Seyfo has been out of action for many years after failing to find a club since leaving English club Preston North End at the end of the 2007 season.
He played as a trialist with Scottish side Motherwell in July 2008, and was also given a trial with Norwich City in the 2008-09 season under Glenn Roeder but was not offered a permanent deal.
allAfrica.com: Gambia: Doubts Emerge Over Seyfo's Cyprus Move
allAfrica.com: Gambia: The New Police Recruits
We congratulate the newly passed out Gambia Police Force (GPF) recruits for successfully completing a rigorous training to become part of the gallant men and women entrusted with the task of maintaining law and order in this country.
We hope that the new recruits adopt themselves to the core values of the police, execute their duties professionally, and above all conduct themselves in a disciplined manner in accordance with the vision of our leadership.
The GPF has undergone increasing modernisation over the years, the new intakes should therefore be proud of themselves and endeavour to be disciplined by putting behind them all acts that could in one way or the other tarnish the image of the noble institution. They should also at all times remember that unity and discipline are fundamental prerequisites for development.
The Gambia - CNN iReport
CNN producer note
miquelpp, of Amsterdam, took his wife to Gambia in August because he wanted her 'to experience a bit of real deep Africa' and also have an 'ecological' holiday. They stayed at a low-carbon-footprint lodge called Footsteps Eco-Lodge in Gunjur -- a small coastal town in south-western Gambia -- and took public buses to visit nearby cities and some local soccer games. Photo #9, with its colorful ribbons, was taken at a tailor's shop in the central market in Banjul (the capital). 'The ribbons are for the colorful African garments,' he said.
It was miquelpp's second trip to Gambia. He said it is a peaceful country with significant tourism from the United Kingdom and Spain, as there are direct flights to Banjul from London and Barcelona.
- dsashin, CNN iReport produceriReport —I've been twice to Gambia so far. What I can say about this country is that people is always smily and willing to talk and chat for a while. Is definitely a poor country of those which have the "developing country" label as an objective, rather than a reality. What we saw this time, in the south bank close to the city of Brikama was a community of people that make roughly 1$ per day or a few cents more, in substantial poverty, without tap water, sewage etc. not to talk about any kind of public service. But as I pointed out most of people look happy and healthy. I don't think hunger is a problem in the country (at least for what I saw).
That said nature is magnificent and the number of birds you can observe there are second to none. Also the vegetation is beautiful and close to rainforest.
There are several things you can do in Gambia, but definitely enjoying nature and the companionship of Mandinka people is one of them (I guess also the Diola and other ethnical groups are as friendly as the Mandinka).
BBC - World Class - Showcase
BBC World Class is working with Atlantic Rising to hear from young people living around the Atlantic Coast.
It's the turn of students at Marina International School in Bakau, Gambia to share their thoughts.
I think global warming will affect us drastically in the future. The temperature is already 35c on average and it will get worse. The heat is too intense and animals might lose their natural habitats.
We have the responsibility to look after the natural environment. If we don’t who is going to? It’s our world, we’re in charge and we should take care of it.
Some people in Gambia can’t afford to look after the natural environment. The poor have to spend each day figuring out how they’re going to feed themselves. If they have kids they have to figure out how they’re going to feed them. They don’t have time to think about the environment.
It’s turning really hot now. Most of the countries around us are having floods, for example Guinea Bissau and Senegal, because they have flat lands and when it rains the water gets to their houses and stuff. In the future if we don’t take action it will destroy lots of houses, because when it rains water gets into people’s houses and sometimes they collapse.
I live near the sea in Bakau. There are a lot of trees. There’s a river and a swamp. Fishermen make the area quite dirty and we cannot swim in that zone of the beach.
The weather is very hot here in Gambia. When it rains, it rains a lot. At night it is a bit cold.
It’s difficult to notice if the weather is changing because it is hot all the time. We can see in other countries that the weather is getting hotter. Maybe it will affect Europe, because the ice caps are breaking and there are so many tornadoes going into different countries.
It is the responsibility of each national government and the UN. They should make rules – less cars in the streets, limiting cars by size of family.
Feature: Top 10 winter sun escapes
Banjul, The Gambia
There is something good in store for the kids as well. With the October half term break just around the corner, many families are looking further afield for sunny and exciting holiday experiences fit for the kids. It might not be the obvious child-friendly holiday destination but Banjul in The Gambia offers a wide selection of thrilling experiences, from wildlife encounters to a relaxing beach setting.The year-round warm climate and lengthy dry season means that Banjul is great for everyone craving sunshine and high temperatures during the dark winter months. The surge in interest from holidaymakers to The Gambia testifies to the quality of the destination.
Africa Round-Up: Step away from the binoculars - Africa, Travel - The Independent
http://www.gambia-holiday-news.co.uk/Think Africa, think safari – spotting the Big Five can seem like the only way to holiday on the continent.
Yet, there's so much more to African adventuring than walking with lions. If you're curious to explore a different side, put down those binoculars and take your pick from this diverse selection of the best new cultural trips around Africa.
Visual art fans will be tempted by Wide Open Walls. Organised by Gambia's Mandina Lodges, this eco street-art project runs from 12 to 26 October. Eight international street artists will stay at the lodges while they paint the nearby village of Kubuneh. Guests can see their handiwork – and meet the villagers involved – on day excursions to the village. Packages cost from £1,130 per person, including return flights, transfers, and seven nights' half-board (0845 330 2087; gambia.co.uk).
My cultural life: Walt Witman speaks to me - Arts - Mail & Guardian Online
I was last on holiday in the Kruger National Park but I didn't like it although I love animals. My dream holiday destination is Banjul [Gambia]. I once visited Dakar in Senegal and the people there were saying, "you should go to Banjul". They say it's heaven, that it's so beautiful and that its people are lovely. I would also love to go to India. and to travel everywhere in Africa.
Gambia drops out of top FIFA 100 rankings - Daily Observer
The Gambia has again dropped out of the top 100 FIFA Coca-Cola World Rankings released by the World football governing body for the month of October after a 3-1 African Cup of Nations defeat to Burkina Faso almost two weeks ago.The Gambia that was ranked as the 92nd best team in the world for the month of September has dropped significantly ten places to 102 and dropped five places below in the African rankings from 22nd to 27th. The Scorpions defeat to the Sterlions of Burkina Faso has seen the West African nation leaped to a highest-ever position in the history of the world ranking to 37th position and the 6th best team in Africa.
Egypt continues to lead the way in Africa and eleventh on the world followed by Ghana, in second, Ivory Coast in third and Algeria in fourth while Nigeria is fifth and Cameroun seventh. Spain and the Netherlands, the two 2010 FIFA World Cup finalists, continue to lead the way at the top of the Ranking. Brazil (3rd) and Germany (4th) have traded places just behind them, while both Croatia (9th) and Russia (10th) have climbed into the top ten on the backs of victories in UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying.
The races to reach the AFC and CONCACAF continental championships are now also under way, which made for significant movement in this edition of the world ranking. A total of nine teams are currently in their highest-ever position in the history of the world ranking: Slovenia (15th), Burkina Faso (37th), Belarus (42nd), Armenia (60th), Botswana (79th), Azerbaijan (91st), the Central African Republic (112th) and the Philippines (152nd), as well as Montenegro (26th), who have continued their ascent and once again grabbed the headlines by defeating Switzerland and drawing with star-studded England.
allAfrica.com: Gambia: GTA Launches Wide Open World Project
The Gambia Tourism Authority (GTA) in collaboration with the Balabo Conservation project and other stakeholders in the tourism sector Wednesday launched a tourism project called 'Wide Open World Arts Exhibition' at the Kairaba Beach Hotel in Kololi.
The project was conceived and initiated by the Balabo Conservation project based in Kombo Central District of the West Coast Region. Balabo Conservation project covers 14 villages located along the river bank of West Coast Region, starting from Makasutu forest, Bafuloto, Kubuneh, Kembujeh, among other villages, and stretches across 85 square kilometres of that region.
The project was established in the year 2004 by the government of The Gambia and the United Nations Tourism Organisation (UNTO). Speaking at the launching ceremony, Binta Jobe, director general of GTA, welcomed the artistes to the Smiling Coast of Africa. The GTA boss spoke at length about the importance the government of The Gambia under the leadership of President Jammeh attaches to the development and promotion of the country's tourism industry, as illustrated in the recent launching of a new tourism logo for The Gambia.
Gambia : US plays crucial role in promoting Gambian textiles - Textile News Gambia
US plays crucial role in promoting Gambian textilesOctober 13, 2010 (Gambia)http://www.gambia-property-sales.co.uk/
The US Embassy in Banjul and the West Africa Trade Hub (WATH) Office in Dakar, Senegal had together organized the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade seminar; where Cynthia F. Gregg – the United States Embassy Charge D’Affaires in Gambia, revealed that USA has been playing a significant role in promoting Gambian textile products in the US market.
According to Gregg, the seminar on opportunities and procedures for exporting to United States under AGOA has been organized, to create awareness among the participants about the quality of their products and enhance the importance of their products with adequate value-added services, so that they can enter the US market.
She further added that Gambia has three prospective sectors which can leverage the benefits from AGOA and the garment sector is one of them.
AGOA offers the sub-Saharan nations a scope of exporting a wide variety of both levy-free and quota-free products to the US market. Over 6,000 products can be exported from Africa, which includes handicrafts, textile, garment and footwear, under this act.
allAfrica.com: Gambia: GTA, Tourism Stakeholders Meet
The Gambia Tourism Authority (GTA) in collaboration with the Tourism Security Unit (TSU) Friday organised a one-day session with tourism stakeholders to discuss on issues relating to tourism and the TSU's plans for the 2010/2011 Tourism Season, as well as to address the issue of safety and security of tourists visiting The Gambia. The programme was held at the Ocean Bay Hotel in Bakau. Addressing the gathering, Binta Jobe, the director general of the GTA expressed delight at the turnout of the entire tourism fraternity from both the formal and informal sectors. She explained that the forum will also provide participants the opportunity to talk on hassling issues and other vices that could become a threat to the future of tourism. "Safety and security are vital to providing quality in tourism. More than any other economic activity, the success or failure of a tourism destination depends on how we are able to provide a safe and secure environment for visitors. By its very nature, tourism is a global and intensely competitive industry and tourists have options to visit other destinations than come to The Gambia. "As a result, tourism is highly sensitive to perceptions of danger and lack of safety and security. It is in this context that lack of safety and security and incidence of crime represent a more serious threat to travel and tourism than any other negative factor," she said. According to her, The Gambia's enviable perception as being a relatively peaceful and safe destination is among its major assets as a tourist destination. "It is a factor that has served the region well and is expected to remain with us in the future," she noted. The GTA boss expressed concern over the crime rate in the Tourism Development Area (TDA) that are being reported on a daily basis and the issue of visitor harassment, which also impacts on the tourists' sense of safety.
African Property Markets: investing in emerging african property markets
African Property Markets: Gambia Property Investment
The Gambia on the West Coast of Africa is set to be a great place to invest in real estate and has been staring investors in the face for some years.The Gambian government is totally committed to business development and free enterprise. It has a reputation as a tranquil, secure destination with property conveyanceing and laws based on the British system., low inflation, fiscal stability and one of the lowest crime rates in the world. It seems that Gambia is ripe for investors he Gambia
A former British Colony Gambia remains one of the safest countries in Africa. Gambia has been a holiday hotspot for Europeans one of the reasons for this is the fact that Gambia is on average only 6 hours away and has the addded benfit of no jet lag.
Tourism is now one of the dynamic sectors of the economy, contributing 16% of the country's GDP with a 19.2% jump in visitor figures from the previous year.
There are a number of new developments under construction along the coast and in the villages nearby. If you are looking for off-plan property, the opportunities right now are available, and at very low costs. There are also a number of inhabitable existing properties that can be had for a very small investment. Some properties have been constructed and just need to be finished out, pending a sale. If you are looking for a good international investment, it's hard to go wrong in Gambia.
Real estate investors know that good communications are te key to success for any region. After all those who may want to rent or buy your property need to ba able to get there easily. UK overseas property buyers are only a six-hour flight from the UK with no jet-lag,
The Gambia coast offers miles of superb golden beaches and the vibrancy of Bakau, Serrekunda and the capital, Banjul, is as colourfully African as you might imagine.
Gambian people are generally multi-lingual from an early as age five, Gambians speak about 2 to 3 languages an evidence of ethnic harmony.
Construction aimed at investors is underway at the ocean-side village of Brufut in Gambia this investment real estate comes in the form of a modern housing development.
Time for investment is now whilst Gambia is still not on the lips of every investor, emerging markets offer a one off opportunity to benefit from low prices that are set to rise as the interest and demand increases The Gambia could well be such a place .
Gambia property sales, land sales, house sales, real estate sales, gambia west africa
Gambia Property Sales & Investments
Property in Africa is becoming an increasingly popular investment choice, but buying investment property in Africa can be a real challenge. When it comes to buying in African property markets the challenge can often be compounded due to a lack of available information. We understand how difficult it can be for you to obtain the latest and correct property information and advice that is needed when buying African property.
Land & Property Sales in The Gambia, West Africa
Combining an extensive knowledge of the Gambia residential real estate market with a wide network of Gambian property lawyers, real estate agents and property contacts we focus on purchasing the best properties that Africa can offer whilst simultaneously ensuring that we negotiate the most cost effective prices for our investors.
Property Investment in Gambia
We are a result–based African real estate company focussing on helping you maximise your retun on investment. We invest for both private property investors, corporates and overseas investors. We act on behalf of our investors to ensure that their property investment in Africa will provide them with the best possible financial results both in rental value and when they decide to sell. We advise on specific strategies for each property we deal with to ensure maximum returns on investment..
With one of the most stable governments in Africa, The Gambia has seen dramatic improvements to the country over the last 13 years. Tourism has been increasing at a rate much higher than the global average. Infrastructure and facilities are being introduced in key development areas. As can by seen by the interest in charter flight companies offering return flights for under £250.
The Gambia is now entering the international property investment market. In the last year, property prices have grown by up to 30%, and over the next few years is estimated to continue as the country continues to attract more tourism and international investment.
Gambia Real Estate Investment Advantages
Fantastic Winter Sun - over 30°C every month / Under 6 hours flying time - be at the pool by late afternoon / Same time zone so no jet lag / Wonderful un-crowded beaches / Unspoilt and non-commercialised / Friendly people and interesting culture / River, bush and beach excursions / Spectacular bird life / Holiday makers return again and again / Value for money / Low cost of living
Additional Gambia Property Investment Services
Our dedicated in-house team work closely with a number of specialists in related fields to offer additional property services for investors, providing them with expert assistance for every aspect of their African property investment requirements.
- Tax advice: An independent consultant is available to assist, advise and prepare the necessary tax returns for the Inland Revenue
- Building surveying: A building surveyor is available to survey the condition of existing buildings and give advice on construction design and building works
- Valuation: Property valuations are available on existing client property investments as well as potential investments
- Legal services: We work with a number of well established lawyers and solicitors in Gambia and the UK who we are pleased to recommend
- Maintenance: investors and tenants benefit from a 365-day, 24-hour call-out facility to deal with emergencies and routine problems as swiftly and efficiently as possible
- Property management : For property owners in Gambia that do not wish to rent out their property, Gambia Holiday News provide a service that manages your home while you are away
Investment Property Sales in Gambia, West Africa
Working for the optimum return on your property investment in Africa
Completing the investment process for existing investors, or acting on behalf of new investors we offer expert advice on selling African real estate investments, making sure that investors benefit from the best returns possible.
- Proactive advice on the best time to sell the real estate investment in Gambia
- Maximise the return on investment
- Effective marketing of your Gambian property
- Impartial advice about all aspects of the property sales
- Ensure that the sale is managed as efficiently and effectively as possible
If you would like to use any of these Gambian property investment services or would like to discuss your individual Gambia property investment requirements further, please contact us
We are happy to discuss the promotion of our properties in The Gambia with estate agents, property journalists, travel writers and broadcasters. We are here to help you to fulfil your dreams either you are looking for the best place to live, a holiday home in the sun, retirement home or property investment.
- Guide to Buying Property in The Gambia as an Investment.
- Best areas in The Gambia, West Africa
- What about other local Gambian purchase costs?
- Gambia Holiday Lettings
- Property Lawyers: conveyancing solicitors in Gambia
- African real estate market investment haven.
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Gambia properties for sale: houses, villas, apartments, land for sale in gambia
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Gambia Property Sales News & Guide
Please feel free to contact us at any time you would like more holiday information. Our staff are well versed, experienced and professional with excellent knowledge of the property market in The Gambia.Property Sales and Investment News in Gambia
Gambia Holiday News are very active in the marketing and selling of unique, designer and luxury houses of individuals as well as acting for Gambian property development companies and institutions. We have well-established connections with overseas property buyers, property investors (including buy-to-let holiday aprtment projects) as well as pension fund managers who are now showing an interest in the Gambian emerging property market. more news on investing in emerging property markets
Moving to The Gambia
The Gambia offers you many of the same basic services you can get in your own country. Your investments are protected under similar laws and regulations to the British legal system, with the right to owning a house, land or other property or starting a business in Gambia.
With its liberal and free market economy, and excellent investment opportunities, the Gambian Government has identified a number of business sectors as priority areas for investment and devlopment.
Gambia Holiday News
We provide a wide range of business services, including direct access to the best and most comprehensive Gambia property sales and long term or holiday apartment rentals.
With state of the art telecomunications, from our offices just off Karaiba Avenue in the Gambia we can advise and facilitate residential property purchases and sales, commercial property sales, rentals and leases, business start ups, transfers and marketing
Buying Property Off Plan in Gambia
Buying off plan property has become quite popular with many buying property in the Gambia recently, and for good reason. Off plan property purchases often yield large returns on investment in a relatively short time, often without the need for huge sums of money up front.
Although the benefits of buying off plan are many, as with all high return investments there are dangers to avoid. Forward planning and a careful approach are very important when considering such a venture, but with the right knowledge there is no reason why you shouldn't be able to avoid such pitfalls more on Buying Off Plan Property Investments
Do you want to buy real estate in The Gambia?
We offer a range of properties and land for sale throughout The Gambia. Click here to look at real estate, building land and properties, houses, homes and villas for sale in Banjul, Kololi, Kotu, Brufut, Sanyang, Bakau, Fajara, Senegambia,.The Gambia.
All available Gambian land or properties for sale are published on our website and details are readily available for you to download, print off or forward to a friend.
Our Gambia real estate news and sales list changes frequently and we recommend that you register with us so that we can look after you personally and contact you immediately that we are aware of a property that may meet your requirements.
Business News in the Gambia
There are four essential elements needed for life in the Gambia: a good partner, an open mind, active enthusiasm and extreme patience. We can offer support, advice and provide a wide range of business services in the Gambia.
We can advise and facilitate buying off plan properties, residential property purchases and sales, commercial property sales, rentals and leases, business start ups, property transfers and online property marketing
We can help you analyse the factors that provide the context for planning effective business strategies, and in particular the analysis of those factors which give rise to opportunities and threats.
- Eco-tourism: national heritage and others
- Up-country tourism: motels, tourist camps,
- Ground tour operators, river cruising
- Hotel development: up-market 4-5 stars
For more information on any of our services or to send us any information or comments about the Gambia or our website, please contact us directly and a member of staff will respond shortly.
Buying a Property in GambiaThe Gambia is a 6 hour flight from London and has blossomed into a world class tourist resort over the last decade with five star holiday hotels, fine dining, fantastic beaches, water sports, sports fishing and many other quality holiday, sporting and leisure pursuits.
Due to sound and consistent macro economic polices, constitutional guarantees against expropriation of investments and for the protection of personal & business assets, the Gambia is fast becoming an emerging real estate market investment haven.
Gambia's economy will grow at 6.5% this year, according to data released by the Monetary Policy Committee of Central Bank in Banjul.
It said this was premised on a strong rebound in agricultural output and the continued growth in the services and construction sectors.
Mr. Bamba Saho, Governor of the Central Bank of the Gambia, told journalists that money supply grew by 8.5% in the year ended June 2008 compared to 12.9 per cent a year earlier.
He said preliminary data on the execution of the budget indicated that total revenue and grants for the first six months declined by 3.6 per cent to D1.9 billion compared to the corresponding period in 2007.
Saho said total expenditure and net lending increased by 13.6 per cent to D2.0 billion compared to the first half of 2007.
He said the inter-bank foreign exchange market continued to be vibrant as volume of transaction measured by aggregate sales and purchase of foreign currency increased by 13.3 per cent to 1.7 billion dollars at the end July 2008.
"The banking system recorded significant asset and deposit growth as well as strong capital base."
Saho said total assets of the banking industry increased to D113 billion or 12.2 per cent from the end June 2007.
However, going to look at properties should be the LAST stage in the process, not the first. The process of buying a property - whether for your personal use or as an investment - SHOULD start with thorough preparation buying property, house, villa, land or apartment in Gambia
The Gambia: African Property Investment Market
The Gambia is the next big thing, an emerging property market hot spot, a country that offers value for money and represent an opportunity for anyone looking for a good return on an overseas holiday apartment as a property investment or looking for a holiday home, guest house or retirement property
Property ownership is part of the Gambian constitution and the property conveyancing system is transparent and straightforward when done by professional lawyers. The Gambian government is totally committed to business development and free enterprise.
Gambia Holiday ApartmentsSave yourself hours of wasted time with our Gambia Holiday Apartments to Rent Search, look at up-to-the-minute luxury and budget holiday apartments available for short term or long term lets. Gambian self catering apartments and serviced holiday flats and vacation accommodation is also available
We can provide a first class presentation to the Gambia property sales and rental market via our websites, through press advertising, our magazine, property brochures and direct contact with international relocation and corporate accommodation agencies.
Gambia Holiday Home SalesBrowse our comprehensive list of new property developments for sale in the Gambia. Find off plan holiday homes, holiday apartments and holiday villas for sale in the Gambia.
Investing in The Gambia
We understand that property plays a vital role in the business mix. We can help you to develop your business and find the right property or place for your real estate investment or ideas. We are here to save you time and provide a hassle free way to get informed about real estate news in the Gambia.Gambia Holiday Hotels and Hotel Transfers
Guide to the holiday hotels in the Gambia, from luxury beach hotels to cheap and budget local hotels. We can assist with airport - hotel transfers and car hire.
Holiday News: The Gambia:
As a beach holiday destination the Gambia has always provided guarnteed winter sunshine. It is well served by cheap flights from the UK, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Sweden and Norway all seeking relief from Northern winter climes.
Media Foundation for West Africa condemns conviction of three Ivorian Journalists
Senegal MFWA condemns conviction of three Ivorian Journalists - Sub-regional rights body, Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), on Tuesday condemned the conviction and heavy fines handed down to three Ivorian journalists, PANA reported from here.The Plateau Criminal Court in Abidjan, the commercial capital of Cote d'Ivoire, on 26 July, convicted three detained editors of the privately-owned Le Nouveau Courrier newspaper over a charge of an "administrative theft".
The trio - Saint Claver Oula, Stephane Guede and Theophile Kouamouo, editor-in-chief, publisher and managing editor respectively - were fined five million CFA Franc (about US$ 9,647) each and a two-week suspension of the newspaper with effect from 26 July.
"MFWA condemns the criminal conviction of the journalists. We are also worried about the exorbitant fines that have been imposed on them," the press freedom watchdog said in a statement.
The journalists were arrested and detained for refusing to reveal their sources of information over a 13 July leaked report on corruption in the cocoa and coffee sector of Cote d'Ivoire that Le Nouveau Courrier published on its front page.
Didier Drogba, Michael Essien and Emmanuel Adebayor lead race for best west African footballer - Goal.com
The Union of west African Federations (UFOA) has launched the process of picking the best footballer of the region, with Chelsea's Didier Drogba and Michael Essien among the front-runners for the accolade.
Debuted in March 2010, the programme, dubbed the 'Best of the Best', will reveal the 'Most Valuable Player' of west Africa, a region endowed with confirmed football talents.
The voting process is opened to the public, with the use of text messages and IVR (Interactive Voice Response) mechanism allowed.
Fans from the 16 west African nations will be voting for their favourite players, including locals and professionals. The countries concerned are Cape Verde, Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Liberia, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Niger, Benin, Nigeria and Guinea Bissau.
According to the secretary general of UFOA, Ivorian-born Aka Malan, supporters and analysts from each country will nominate players of their choice at a national level before a final merging will produce the best from the best.
Stars plying their trade in the Premier League are the early front-runners for the coveted award, including the Ivory Coast and Chelsea's Didier Drogba and Togo and Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor.
Others expected to do well include John Mikel Obi, Frederic Kanoute, Kader Keita, Pascal Feindouno, Stephane Sessegnon, Moumouni Dagano, Michael Essien, Yaya Toure and Andre Ayew.
“Our goal is to enable those who, every weekend, take their time to watch our players evolve in their various leagues be able to designate who they think is best. We believe that their choice will be more objective,” said Malan.
The winner will be known in the coming weeks, according to the secretary general, and the trophy ceremony rewarding the best west African player from 2010 will attract a number of important personalities from the sub-region.
Today Newspaper - Online Edition - Gambia humiliates Sierra Leone by 4-1
The Gambia U-20 team Saturday thumped shooting stars of Sierra Leone 4-1 in the Africa U-20 championship qualifier held at the Independence Stadium in Bakau.
The Gambian team made a cagey commencement to the clash with a handful of miscued passes and defensive laxity which handed their Sierra Leonean adversaries command and control of proceedings for long spells in the first half.
Omar Jassey, better known as waterman, hit back for The Gambia six minutes after as he made a striding sprint down the left flank and dribbled past their opponent’s rear-guard only to place his shot over the bar. Ebrima Camara piled on the pressure with a decent goal-scoring chance in the 15th minute at close measure only to see his labored effort deviate off the mark whilst Alassan Camara’s sizzling shot was tipped away in the 24th minute.
Donald Wilson of Sierra Leone latched onto a defensive laxity and wafted his way through the rear-guard past two defenders and The Gambia guard-man. Musa Camara was none the wiser what direction to take a swing at the ball as he stashed it at the back of the net.
Ebrahim Kallay had a chance to double the lead for Sierra Leone nine minutes later as a string of passes got him teed up deep in the penalty box but he blasted off the target.
Mamut Saine sprang to The Gambia’s rescue and hauled them back on level terms in the 45th minute on the dot with a scorching low-shot that rattled the net, prompting wild celebration in the stands.
The second half witnessed better play from The Gambia as they regrouped and looked to take advantage of the substantial home support at their disposal which saw the manufacturing of an opportunity in the 52nd minute when Omar Jassey unleashed a powerful shot which was deflected for a corner.
Alagie Sarr soon switched tactics with the introduction of forward players like Buba Jallow alias Meles and Mustapha Jatta presumably with a view to scoring more goals to bolster their chances of winning the tie.
Coach Alagie Sarr reaped immediate benefits from his tactical detour as Buba Jallow tapped across into the net 22 minutes into the second half.
Donald Wilson roared into action again with some sense of urgency and managed to wriggle his way into the nether regions of The Gambian half in another bout of defensive inertia but his miscued shot went out for a throw.
Alassan Camara was set up at a short distance from the target through a cross from the industrious Mustapha Jatta which he shoved at the back of the net with minimum effort.
Buba Jallow hugged a brace in one of his better performances for The Gambia and poured more misery on the shooting stars of Sierra Leone thanks to a goal in the 93th minute which all but sealed and delivered a 4-1 triumph for The Gambia U-20 in the encounter of a two-legged tie.
The Gambia U-20 gaffer, Lamin Sarr declared his delight over the victory and noted that it was a satisfactory outcome considering the fact that The Gambia had late preparations.
He added that the desire of Gambians to qualify for the competition and make an indelible mark was not lost on him as he pledged to do everything possible to bring such aspirations to fruition.
“I know what Gambians want and I will do everything I can to make that possible by the grace of God,” he said.
Mr. Sarr also revealed that the task ahead of him and the team is not a rudimentary undertaking, tossing into perspective the reality that they have three more matches to play, the outcome of which will decide whether they would qualify or not.
On a more optimistic note, he said that they can work on the shortcoming of the team and prepare it well for the hostilities awaiting them in the subsequent games with the help of senior squad tactician, Paul Put.
“I am very thankful to Paul Put for his assistance. He has helped me a lot in my work a lot to make this victory possible. He is a great coach and I can never forget him for the rest of my life,” he asserted.
Mr. Sarr finally thanked The Gambia Football Association under the stewardship of Seedy MB Kinteh for the trust and confidence reposed on him by appointing him the coach for the team with the clear-cut goal of qualifying them for the Africa U-20 championship to be held in Libya 2011.
Local Derby!
allAfrica.com: Gambia: Local Team Back From Morocco Games
Gambia: Local Team Back From Morocco Games
The Gambian delegation to the inaugural edition of African Youth Games, dubbed 'Rabat 2010' arrived in Banjul last Wednesday from Rabat, Morroco, were the Games were held.
Initiated by ANOCA, the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa and targeting 15 to 17 year old African athletes the Africa Youth Games came about as a motive to build on the concept of the Youth Olympic Games which will be held for the first time in Singapore this August. The Gambia was among 42 African countries that participated at the maiden Games held between July 13 and 18, under the patronage of HM King Mohammed VI.
A record number of 1008 athletes competed in 16 sports disciplines, including athletics, cycling, swimming, football, judo, taekwondo, fencing, shooting, rowing, canoe kayak, weightlifting, tennis, boxing, table tennis and basketball.
The Gambia was represented in athletics by Omar Ceesay, Fatou Sowe and Baba Gibba who competed in 100M, 200M boys and girls, 1000M individual events and the zonal Medley Relay (4 X 100M, 200M, 300M, and 400M) for boys.
Omar Ceesay was the only Gambian athlete to land a medal after clinching a bronze medal in the 200M individual event for boys, according to a statement issued by the Gambia National Olympic Committee who funded the trip. The Gambian delegation was led by Mr Abdul Shyllon, while Ms Mary Pedro-Decker served was the Chef de Mission. Ms Mam Keway Ceesay was the coach for the Gambia athletic team.
Gambia holidays: Sun, sand and ceremony in Africa's rising destination | Mail Online
It is 45 years since The Gambia became independent, and the celebrations to mark this event coincided with my family's visit to the country. Across the aisle from me on a crammed Monarch Airlines flight from London to the Gambian capital Banjul, incongruously surrounded by bearded and sandalwearing bird-watchers, sat the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, studying her itinerary intently.
I wondered if she was visiting the country to take part in the celebrations, as some relic of the colonial past that The Gambia had left behind.
Into Africa: Local life in all its vibrancy is close at hand in The Gambia
The noise, heat, smells and vibrant colours of Africa assault you as soon as you get off the plane. These are followed closely by an assault from the bumsters - a local term for the young men who hang around hotels and beaches trying to earn money from holidaymakers. Not surprisingly, these men wanted to be my daughters' special friends, and show them a good time during our week-long stay.
We were staying at The Coco Ocean Resort in Bijilo, a 15-minute drive from Banjul. It is a haven from the hustle and hassle of daily Gambian life. If you choose, you can spend your days in the resort's elegant grounds, lounge by the pools and gaze out over the beach to the crashing Atlantic waves. The rooms and villas are cool and comfortable, and there is a restaurant built just above the ocean where you can eat lunch and escape the midday sun.
But we chose to use The Coco Ocean as a base camp, somewhere gloriously luxurious to which to return after our many excursions and adventurous dinners (I can recommend a Lebanese restaurant called Al Basha in nearby Kololi, and a particularly good seaside bistro called The Sailor in Kotu).
We spent one morning walking around the market in Serrekunda, The Gambia's largest town. The hubbub and constant motion are in sharp contrast to the elegant ladies in blinding colours selling their wares.
And it is the women who are the most important here - they are called Boss Lady. When we were negotiating to buy a multi-coloured raffia basket, the man running the stall said: 'I must ask the Boss Lady.' She was fast asleep under the table. Heavily pregnant, she emerged with feline ease, struck a deal with us, and then crawled back from whence she'd come.
Drum circle: Domenica and Mr No Problem beat out a rhythm
My daughter Domenica was astonished by the way all the women carried everything on their heads, from vast sacks of potatoes to impossibly large steel containers overflowing with vegetables and fruit. Many had babies tied to their backs too, and all swayed along with marvellous natural rhythm and innate grace.
Only once did we see men carrying things on their heads - and this appeared to be rubbish contained in black plastic sacks. Domenica thought it would be a good way for her father to do the same thing. I readily agreed.
That evening, we visited the Bijilo Forest, next to the resort, and were lucky to see several monkeys, even glimpsing an elusive colobus swinging high in the branches. Green monkeys were far more curious, following us around and allowing us to get very close.
Seeing two of them sitting side by side on a log, with their feet on the ground and their beady eyes missing nothing, they looked for all the world like any old couple perched on a park bench. It was a true Darwinian moment.
There were several of the strange, upside-down-looking baobab trees in the forest, which are thought to have magical properties and which survive for hundreds of years because of their ability to store rainwater in their trunks. Our guide told us that the fruit from the tree could be made into a drink with an extremely high alcoholic content - a few sips could make you 'see all the way to England!'
Meandering back from the forest, we came across a group of drum-beating locals surrounding an adolescent boy dressed in white. Then we spotted two other men dancing manically by the side of the road. They wore weird, brightly coloured fringed costumes, with masks over their faces, and they brandished a curved knife in each hand. Sometimes they dashed in front of cars, flashing the knives.
Our driver told us this was a circumcision ceremony, which takes place when a boy is between ten and 12 years old. Only recently has the actual circumcision been done in hospital. Perhaps boys in the past could have done with the anaesthetic qualities of whatever alcoholic drink can be made from the baobab tree!
The music from the ceremony enthused Domenica, so the following day we went to the market in the town of Bakau in search of a musical instrument. There we encountered a man known as Mr No Problem, his name writ large on a sign above his stall.
Mr No Problem and Domenica became instant friends, and after an impromptu jamming session she became the proud owner of a bongo drum and a giant seed pod, with her name written on it in black paint and shoe polish, to rattle as an accompaniment.
Hideaway: The Coco Ocean Resort offers a slice of luxury
My eldest daughter Savannah found the perfect gifts for her closest girlfriends: three carved monkeys in the classic see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil format. I didn't ask.
After so many excursions, we chose to spend the next day at the hotel, on the beach and in the spa. Until the opening of luxury hotels such as the Coco Ocean and its sister venue, the Coconut Residence, The Gambia was known primarily for cheap package deals and as a holiday destination for bird-watchers.
The Coco Ocean Group is co-owned by a local man, Farid Bensouda, and a German called Walter Loehn. Farid is the interior designer and Walter the architect, and theirs is an inspired partnership. Having visited one or two other hotels in the country, I would say they have certainly created an oasis in a hinterland of dubious taste.
The landscaping at the Coco Ocean is perfect. Within the grounds is a vast vegetable garden run with immense pride by Moor Faal - the delicious produce is served in the hotel's three restaurants.
There are other bonuses that The Gambia offers British visitors: the flight takes only six hours, there is no time difference, and the sun shines all year round. What's not to like?
The hotel spa is spectacular, with treatment rooms overlooking the ocean. I had a hammam - an exfoliating session in a Moroccan-inspired steam room - while Savannah had a back massage. I only wish that instead of piped music we could have listened to the roar of the ocean. It's ironic that in many city spas you have to listen to taped ocean music. What is wrong with the real thing when it is right outside your window?
No trip to The Gambia would be complete without spending a day on the River Gambia, so we set off on the hotel boat, a pirogue, accompanied by Lamin, one of the hotel chefs.
During the trip we ate probably the most delicious food of our week. It was so delicious that it didn't matter in the least that our boat broke down - or that the crucial spare part required to mend the engine disappeared into the river after being thrown from a neighbouring boat. We were much too busy enjoying our fish marinaded in ginger, coriander, oyster sauce and chilli.
Messing about on boats: Guests enjoy a ride on the Coco Ocean's boat
When the fault was finally fixed, we went to the fishing port of Tanji and a nearby village. It was like a journey to a past century. The fishing continues as it has for aeons, with the smokery under a hut on the beach, amid the clamorous noise of gulls and children. The villagers, meanwhile, live in one-room houses and have no running water.
Our last day was Independence Day, and the president of a neighbouring African country arrived at our hotel with his entourage. The red carpet was laid out as his vast cavalcade approached, drums rolled and dancers in splendid costumes put on a marvellous performance. For a few glorious moments, it was like being in a scene from Evelyn Waugh's Scoop.
I looked out for the Lord Lieutenant, but she was nowhere to be seen.
Travel Facts
Specialist tour operator The Gambia Experience (0845 330 2087, www.gambia.co.uk) offers seven nights at The Coco Ocean Resort & Spa, part of The Gambia Experience Luxury Collection, from £989pp. This includes B&B accommodation in a junior suite, a complimentary foot massage and return flights from Gatwick.
Departures from other airports are also available.
SA, not China, Africa's biggest investor: study | DefenceWeb
South Africa, not China, was the biggest emerging market investor in Africa between 2006 and 2008 with US$2.6 billion (R19.3 billion) in average annual foreign direct investment (FDI) flows, the 2010 World Investment Report says.The research, undertaken by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), however shows China is among the most active investors in Africa, but developed countries still account for most FDI into the continent. It also shows developed nations accounted for by far the bulk of estimated inward FDI flows into Africa, contributing 72% of inflows between 2000 and 2008, and 92% of inward stock in 2008.
"The notion that Chinese investment is somehow the dominant foreign investment in Africa is quite misleading," said Stephen Gelb, a professor of development economics at the University of Johannesburg and a contributor to the report. "China is far from being the dominant investor. But it is growing faster from a low base." China invested $2.5 billion in Africa between 2006 and 2008, a fraction of its overall investment outflow, the Business Report says.
Africa’s Eastern Promise | Foreign Affairs
Washington need not worry about China's economic boom, much less respond with protectionism. Although China controls more of the world's exports than ever before, its high-return high-tech industries are dominated by foreign companies. And Chinese firms will not displace them any time soon: Beijing's one-party politics have bred a timid business culture that prevents domestic firms from developing key technologies and keeps them dependent on the West.
Brufut Ocen view property to let
Brufut Ocen view property to Let - Brufut £115 Property Reference: Propertyshop To Let Brufut 6 Status: To Let
Spacious 4 bedroom detached house with ocean views, situated on the desirable Brufut Gardens Estate. Master bedroom with en-suite, 3 further bedrooms and shared bathroom. Kitchen, dining room, lounge & wc. Driveway & gardens. Unfurnished.
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Holiday Bungalow for Sale Brufut
Hoilday Bungalow on Community Complex for Sale - Brufut £45,000
£45,000Property Reference: Propertyshop Brufut 14 Status: For Sale
Ideal holiday home or permanent residence…. Beautifully presented 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom furnished house with open plan kitchen / dining area, spacious lounge with high ceilings. Situated on community complex housing 4 bungalows. The property has its own private patio terraces overlooking mature gardens with various trees and shrubs. The property has solar power and benefits from 24 hour security, free water from a borehole, communal gardens and swimming pool for a reasonable annual service charge of £600 per year.
http://www.gambia-property-sales.co.uk/Details/gambia-bungalow-for-sale
Heavy Rains Predicted in Senegal, Gambia, Mauritania | News | English
The International Federation of the Red Cross is preparing for what it says will be heavy rains in the region this year, particularly in Senegal, Gambia and Mauritania. One village in southern Senegal already reports losing dozens of homes and animals because of severe flooding in the past week.In the Casamance region of southern Senegal, teacher Houssainatou Boiro says heavy rains that began last week have washed away her house as well as the rice and couscous she was storing to feed her children.
Boiro's village, Sinthiou Koundara, is one of the first in Senegal to report heavy damage as the rainy season in West Africa gets underway. Last year heavy rains that hit the region caused flooding that drove hundreds of thousands of residents from their homes says Moustapha Diallo.
Diallo is the communications officer for the International Federation of the Red Cross' West and Central Africa Bureau. "Last year more than 450,000 people were affected in 16 countries in West and Central Africa. And among them, Senegal and Burkina Faso were the most affected countries," he says, "In Senegal, more than 150,000 people were affected by flooding in the suburbs of Dakar and in many regions and villages of the country."
The Red Cross works with the African Center of Meteorological Application for Development to predict what the rainy season will bring this year.
Diallo says the rains are expected to be particularly heavy in Senegal, Gambia and Mauritania. He adds the Red Cross is preparing for the possible flooding by stocking up on supplies to distribute to families in the areas where heavy rains are predicted.
Welcome to Freedom Newspaper Online You Can Drink Alcohol, But Don’t Use Cocaine—Jammeh
Concerned by the growing presence of cocaine in The Gambia, the country’s President Yahya Jammeh is recommending to Gambians to drink alcohol, and stay away from cocaine, and other dangerous drugs. The President was addressing thousands of party supporters—during the commemoration of his Government’s 16 years revolution that ousted the former People’s Progressive Party under the leadership of Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara. Mr. Jammeh urged Gambians to consume the locally made palm wine, which according to the head of state is healthy and could go a long in serving their entertainment needs. He advised citizens to say “no to drugs” and official corruption. The Gambian leader urged youths in particular to give up drug sale and consumption. He warns that anyone caught trafficking, or selling drugs would face the brunt of the law. He emphasized that it is better to drink alcohol than to use drugs—which he says is bad for people’s health being.
Mr. Jammeh’s pronouncement encouraging the consumption of alcohol, in a country where 90 percent of the population are Muslim, is attracting criticism from Islamic scholars, who accused the President of contravening the teaches of the Koran. The concerned religious scholars said Islam frowns at alcohol consumption including the usage of hard drugs.
“ The Gambia is predominantly a Muslim country. If the President is encouraging youths to drink alcohol, what kind of messages is he trying to send to the populace? This is an irresponsible statement coming from a fake leader calling himself a devoted Muslim. We seriously questioned Jammeh’s claims of being a Muslim. He could have use a better statement than promoting alcohol consumption. We condemn the President’s statement in the strongest terms,” said a prominent Gambian Islamic scholar who wished not to be named.
A senior police officer who spoke to the Freedom Newspaper said close to five hundred Gambians died each year on alcohol related accidents. Quoting statistical data documented by the police Force, the official said the majority of the deaths were as a result of drunk driving. The official says the President’s statement sanctioning the consumption of alcohol at the national level, would no doubt have far reaching implications on the youth population. The official said many youths resort to drugs and alcohol consumption due to stress, or depression related challenges.
“ Essentially, the President is advocating for alcohol abuse in The Gambia. Many would be tempted to drink because of Jammeh’s call for alcohol legalization. He was not very clear in his speech, and evidently some minors would be tempted to drink. If concerted efforts are not put in place to tackle alcohol abuse we are likely to see more accident related deaths in The Gambia,” the official warned.
Mr. Jammeh’s statement followed the discovery of a one billion worth of cocaine in The Gambia, which is a subject of joint British and Gambian intelligence investigations. Already, some foreign nationals have been charged in connection with the cocaine bust. Police say some influential Gambian business tycoons are being associated with the intercepted drugs. More arrests are likely to be effected, police say.
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The Israeli housing in Congo Brazzaville
The Congolese authorities have launched Thursday Kintélé market town 25 km north of Brazzaville, the construction of an Israeli housing 1000 at a cost of 50 billion FCFA.
In a village 25 km from Brazzaville, Congo's capital that will emerge from the 1000 housing land at a cost of 50 billion CFA francs (more than 76 million euros). The start of work was given by Congolese President Denis Sassou Nguesso on 75 hectares of land where, according to the technical specifications of the project, the Israeli company AB Construction erected within 48 months, three types of units: percent 150 m2, 250 100 m2 and 650 m2 70.
This project, which aims to alleviate the housing crisis, is funded by a credit framework agreement concluded between the Congo and Israel, the document said. The homes will be made "with modular panels and asbestos cement (material composed of cement and asbestos) and receive a network installation of water and electricity, he says.
"These homes have the advantage of offering the same comfort as those built with traditional materials, the final cost relatively more competitive," said Delegate General for the Great work, Jean-Jacques Bouya. He said housing prices will be determined at the end of the project.
The Congolese government claims to have a deposit of 7.5 billion CFA francs (more than 11.4 million euros) to the company responsible for executing the project. Questioned by AFP on all Congolese and the contribution by Israel, the Congolese Minister of Housing, Claude-Alphonse Nsilou, and Mr. Bouya did not wish to make comments.
Asbestos?
Renewable energy and energy efficiency Centre for West Africa opens with UNIDO support
By Millicent Njeri / Press Release
A new regional Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) opened in Praia on July 6.
It will help develop renewable energy and energy efficiency markets in West Africa, in policy and capacity development and quality assurance, in designing financing mechanisms, and implementing demonstration projects with potential for regional scaling-up.
ECREEE is a specialized agency of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). It is supported by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the Governments of Austria, Cape Verde and Spain. A special partnership between Brazil and ECOWAS will help support the activities of ECREEE, and open up opportunities for South-South cooperation and technology and know-how transfer.
“The current energy systems in the ECOWAS region are failing to support the growth prospects of the over 262 million inhabitants, especially the needs of the poor. The creation of ECREEE is a central milestone in efforts to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy and energy efficient technologies and services in the region,” said the Deputy to UNIDO Director-General, Yoshiteru Uramoto, who took part in the opening ceremony.
“Investing in renewable energy systems and introducing energy efficient technologies will contribute to the region’s economic and social development without harming the environment.”
Estimates suggest that a total of 23,000 MW of large and small hydroelectric potential is concentrated in five of the ECOWAS Member States, of which only 16 per cent has been exploited. There is good potential for all forms of bioenergy. Traditional biomass is already the main source of energy for the poor majority and accounts for 80 per cent of total energy consumed for domestic purposes. There are also considerable wind, tidal, ocean thermal and wave energy resources available. The region has vast solar energy potential.
UNIDO has a number of projects in Africa where renewable energy sources like small hydro, biomass gasification, wind energy, solar thermal and photovoltaic, are used to promote the development of small industries, particularly in rural areas, that contribute to growth and poverty reduction.
UNIDO has also developed an energy programme for 18 countries in West Africa (including all ECOWAS Member States), funded by the Global Environment Facility. ECREEE will become the main implementing agency of the USD 150 million programme that will focus on the energy access agenda and energy efficiency in key sectors of the economy.
The opening ceremony was attended by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Cape Verde, José Maria Neves; the President of the Government of the Canary Islands, Paulino Rivero Baute; the President of the ECOWAS Commission, James Victor Gbeho; and Austrian and Spanish Ambassadors, Gerhard Doujak and Manuel José Villavieja Vega.
Gambian agency woos Nigerian investors
“Gambia is a tourism economy; everything that is consumed in the sector is imported. We want to interest Nigerian investors to come into the sector so that our import budget can be reduced,” stated Yaya Kassama, chief executive officer of The Gambia Investment Promotion and Free Zones Agency (GIPFZA), after the conclusion of a one-week investment visit to Nigeria.
Most of what is consumed in Gambia’s tourism industry, including orange juice, egg, milk, towel, linen and tissue, are presently imported from Europe. But the agency, which functions include fostering local and foreign direct investment, and promoting the export of local and value added products from the Gambia, wants this to stop.
“We want to attract industries from Nigeria to fill these gaps, instead of us depending on total import. The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria helped identify some companies, and we had successful meetings with 15 of these in the last five days.
The general feedback is very positive. I think three quarters of those 15 companies have given us their commitment of visiting the Gambia within the next four to six months,” added Musa Bah, manager, investment promotion and marketing, who accompanied Kassama on the trip.
Some incentives
Mr. Kassama explained further in an interview that the visit was to build on the cordial relationship between the country and Nigerian business men and women. He disclosed that there are 10 Nigerian banks including Guaranty Trust Bank, Access Bank, Skye Bank, and others operating in the Gambia.
Business relations between both countries, Kassama added, have further been boosted by Air Nigeria and Arik, which now operate regular flights to Gambia. “Lack of regular flights between Nigeria and Gambia used to be a major constraint in dealing with Nigerian investors. They tell us we love Gambia, but there are flight problems. However, that has been taken care of with the airlines, which fly direct or sometimes connect from Freetown,” Kassama stated.
The chief executive also disclosed that GIPFZA has a number of incentives for Nigerian investors. Some of these include the Special Investment Incentives, which has a five-year-duration and which enables investors outside the Free Zones to access attractive tax holidays.
There is the Export Processing Free Zones Incentives, which enables investors to operate within the Free Zones, with ideal infrastructure and special tax incentives, and a five-year exemption from customs duties on approved capital equipment, machinery, appliances, and other materials used by the project.
He explained that the Gambian government is reviewing its two existing acts on foreign investments into a single document to “make it more competitive. The government is also about to approve an incentive that will make companies eligible for exemption from corporate tax. Before, you pay corporate tax of 33 percent, but that that is soon to be changed to zero corporate tax for investment.
“We want to tell the Nigerian investor that the government and people of Gambia are ready to do business with Nigerian business community. We have over the years developed a new set of investment laws; the old investment law has been amended after 10 years, it is being made more investment friendly,” he reiterated.
No to nationalisation
Kassama also assured that unlike what happened in Ghana when some Nigerian shops were shut down and some investors frustrated out, nothing like that will happen in Gambia. “We have a constitutional guarantee that you cannot appropriate somebody’s business, whether it is local or foreign, without informing him.
“If government thinks your business or the service you are providing is better placed in the hands of the government, it doesn’t matter if you are a Nigerian or someone else, you will be compensated at the current market value of your company. We also guarantee you to send out your profits and dividends; there are no restrictions. You can also move your money in and out of the banking system. There are no exchange controls, our money is fully convertible,” Kassama stated.
However, any company that wants to bring more than three Nigerian management staff will have to pay a fee. “The law does not put a limit to the number of people you can bring in as an investor. There is no control on the number of expatriates you can bring in. The only one criteria that is linked to the number of people you can bring in as an ECOWAS citizen, is that there is a fee of 10,000 (about N29, 600) Dalasi you pay to bring in a staff per year.
“We want to encourage the employment of Gambians, we want you to train Gambians but the profit and everything else is yours. I think that’s a reasonable bargain,” he said.
Cheryl Cole being struck down by malaria in Tanzania gives timely warning to Brits heading to disease hotpots | Mail Online
Travellers to sub-Saharan Africa, which includes Tanzania, where Cheryl Cole spent her holiday, are at greatest risk. Half the UK's reported cases of malaria originate in this part of the world, which is home to the most lethal strain, plasmodium falciparum.
The singer collapsed on Saturday, and was initially thought to be suffering from exhaustion. But her condition deteriorated, and friends became concerned that she was 'sweating and shaking' at her £6million home in Hurtmore, Surrey.
She is expected to stay in hospital for a number of days, before spending several weeks recovering.
Dr Philip Monk, a Leicestershire-based consultant in health protection in, and member of the Malaria Awareness Panel, identifies Gambia as a particular hotspot for malaria.
He comes across more cases of travellers infected in the west African country than anywhere else.
'As it's a mainstream package holiday destination, people think it's like going to the Balearics,’ he says. ‘It's not. There are precautions you must take, especially in the rainy season when the risk of catching malaria is much higher.'
Malaria causes more than one million deaths worldwide each year. Scientists are making progress on a vaccine, but it is likely to be at least ten years before it will be widely available.
allAfrica.com: Nigeria: Response to Facebook Page Thrills Jonathan
Lagos — President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed delight at the immense response his new Facebook fan page has received in its first days.
Jonathan made good his promise to set up a page on the social networking site Facebook, after his profile was uploaded last Monday. Within four days, the President has registered 50,000 fans, more than any Nigerian politician on the network.
Jonathan had during a working visit to Rivers State on May 15 this year promised to set up a profile page where he will directly interact with Nigerian youths and sought their opinion on the way forward for the country.
THISDAY's monitoring of the page indicates that while pages of other Nigerian politicians have an average of 80 to 200 comments posted per day, Jonathan's page has an average of 1500 comments per day.
A look at the comments show they are mostly messages of solidarity from Nigerians from all walks of life cutting across the geo-political zones.
Giving an insight into the huge following the President gets from the online community, one of the pioneers of Internet campaigns, Joe Trippi said it is always rare to find a connection between the youth of a country and the head of the political leadership of that country.
"In Goodluck Jonathan however, the Nigerian youth have found a rallying point. "They see an unassuming leader who emerged in almost divine circumstances and who is not the typical type of Nigerian politician and they are flocking to him like the Pied Piper of Hammelin and what I would just advise is for him to ride the crest of the wave," Trippi, the author of the best selling "The Revolution will not be Televised," he told THISDAY from his base in the United States of America.
Also speaking on the issue, a US-based Nigerian and VP Africa at Joe Trippi and Associates, Reno Omokri, said the phenomenal growth of the President's facebook fan page is an indication of his popularity and if he can act on the feedback from Nigerians who comment in their thousands on the page he should be able to sustain this popularity.
According to Omokri, "if for instance Jonathan wants to know what the public feels about any issue in particular, all he has to do is make that issue the subject of his facebook update and within minutes he would have gotten the honest opinions of hundreds of Nigerians from all shades of life."
Asked for his reaction on the issue, the Special Assistant to the President of Strategy, Mr. Oronto Douglas said the President is delighted with the new avenue of interaction with Nigerians, especially the youths.
"I must say that Mr. President is pleasantly surprised at the response from the people of Nigeria to his page particularly as he manages and monitors it personally.
"The feedback we glean from the almost 2,000 comments posted on the page by Nigerians daily has started helping and will continue helping Mr. President feel the pulse of the public as he takes decisions that affect Nigerians everyday."