Raped and brutalised: Penny Appeal orphans long wait for no justice

Hundreds of orphans have been abused and exploited in orphanages operating illegally in the Gambia for six years. The main culprits are Penny Appeal, a UK-based international charity with injured reputation and a possible con artist in philanthropic clothing. He operates a chain of businesses and charities, raking in profits on the backs of the orphans under his care. The children want justice for the rape and mistreatment meted out on them. But they might as well be waiting for justice that may never arrive. With the perpetrators allegedly using money, influence and threats of marabouts, the state authorities have retreated, if...

January 7, 2022Investigations, The Big Story
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FACT SHEET: Did President Barrow construct over 600 km of paved roads in 5 years?

The Gambian leader Adama Barrow has won last month's presidential election with 53% percent to secure a second five-year mandate. The Gambian leader attributes his election success to his infrastructure projects across the country in the first term. The claim At his first press conference with journalists after the election, Barrow reiterated that claim he made throughout the campaign that he is on course to outperforming former presidents Dawda Kairaba Jawara and Yahya Jammeh combined in terms of infrastructural development. He claimed he has done over 600 kilometers of paved tar roads in his first term. “For example, after 52 years of independence, when we...

December 22, 2021Factchecking
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FACT-CHECK: Has Prez Barrow reduced power cuts from 19 times a day to 3 times a day during his first term in office?

Claim: President Barrow's government has reduced power cuts from 19 times a day in 2017 to three times a day in 2021 Source: Adama Barrow Verdict: FALSE For the first time in 3 years, president-elect Adama Barrow engaged journalists at the State House on December 7- his last press conference was in August 2018. It was also his first press conference since winning the December 4 presidential elections with 53% of total votes cast. During the media engagement (7:03), the Gambian leader, touting his achievements, in his first five-year term, said he has reduced frequent power cuts from 19 times a day in 2017 to 2 times a day...

December 15, 2021Factchecking
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Race to State House: What presidential candidates paid in tax

Up to six candidates are vying to become president. Whoever wins on December 4 will manage taxpayers’ funds. But how much are the people seeking to make decisions over taxes in themselves paying in tax? In this investigation, Malagen digs out the tax records of the presidential candidates for the 2021 presidential elections and reveals how much each of them have paid in income tax - taxes paid on a business or deducted from salary – covering the period 2017 to date.

November 30, 2021Election Hub, Investigations, The Big Story
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Fact check: is report on Barrow’s property ownership in Senegal true?

Claim: Senegalese investigative journalist Pape Ale Niang says incumbent Adama Barrow, tourism minister Hamat Bah own property in SenegalSource: Widely circulated on social mediaVerdict: false  Gambians are heading to polls on December 4, and campaigns on what is a competition of 6 candidates for country’s top job has begun on November 9. Personal attacks, misinformation and disinformation increases with rising political tension.  In the last few weeks, a widely circulated message on social media and WhatsApp claims a Senegalese journalists Pape Ale Niang said incumbent Adama Barrow and his tourism minister Hamat Bah had procured properties in Senegal.  Claim A widely circulated information attributed...

November 9, 2021Election Hub, Factchecking
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Independent Candidate Faal Declares Over A Billion Worth Of Assets To IEC

A former lead counsel of the truth commission established to investigate the human rights violations of ex-president Yahya Jammeh who is now an independent presidential candidate, Essa Faal, has declared at least D1.4 billion worth of assets to Independent Electoral Commission. Faal, an international lawyer shot to fame through his work at the truth commission, is one of the 6 candidates qualified to vie for country’s top job, announced IEC on Saturday. He faces Ousainou Darboe of United Democratic Party, Mama Kandeh of Gambia Democratic Congress, Halifa Sallah of Peoples’ Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism, president Adama Barrow of National Peoples’...

November 8, 2021Election Hub, Investigations
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Gambia’s electoral authorities clear 6 to contest presidential elections

The Independent Electoral Commission has accepted the nomination of 6 candidates to contest the 2021 presidential elections, disqualifying 15. In a statement read before journalists on Saturday evening, the chairman of the electoral commission, Alieu Mamour Njai, said 5 people have cancelled their nominations. The 6 candidates are Ousainou Darboe of United Democratic Party, Mama Kandeh of Gambia Democratic Congress, Halifa Sallah of Peoples’ Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism, president Adama Barrow of National Peoples’ Party, independent candidate Essa Mbaye Faal and Abdoulie Ebrima Jammeh of National Unity Party. Gambians head to polls on December 4, in what is expected to...

November 8, 2021Current Affairs, Election Hub
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Gambian Leader Adama Barrow’s assets revealed

The Gambian leader Adama Barrow has declared at least D50.7 million worth of assets to electoral commission, Malagen has confirmed at the Independent Electoral Commission on Saturday. Gambians head to polls on December 4, in what is the small country’s most crowded presidential race since independence. Close to two dozen candidates are expected to be nominated, a final list of which will be announced on Saturday evening. According to Gambia’s electoral laws, candidates are required to declare their assets with the IEC. These asset declarations and other documents submitted by candidates were published for public scrutiny on Saturday morning. However, both members of...

November 6, 2021Election Hub, Investigations
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Factcheck: are executives orders/directives laws?

Claim 1: Executive order (directives) is law Source: Deputy Inspector General of Police Momodou Sowe Verdict: The claim is false On November 2, a local newspaper in the country published an article quoting the deputy inspector general of police Momodou Sowe saying executive orders are law. Some observers expressed disappointment at such statement coming from a police chief. Gambia has just emerged from 22 years of dictatorship during which executive directives were frequently used by ex-president Yahya Jammeh to arrest, detained or make declarations such as turning the country into an Islamic State in 2015. (more…)

November 3, 2021Election Hub, Factchecking
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UDP Leader Makes Public Declaration Of Assets

The 73-year old’s assets include a leased property on 57 Kairaba Avenue acquired in 1975 approximately worth D10,000,000. He also has undeveloped plots of land in Kembujeh, Serekundanding, Tanji Batosilokang, Tanji Salanding, Sanyang, Gunjur, Sukuta and Bansang (kongko santu). All the properties, except the Bansang property which was acquired in 2021, were acquired between 1989 to 2015.

November 3, 2021Election Hub, Investigations
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