JollofNews has obtained the names of some of the several senior Gambia Government officials and other cadres, whose visa applications were turned down by the US Embassy in Banjul, effectively dealing a blow to their expectations of attending the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York.
The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Gender, Mr. Ello Jallow, presidential adviser Momodou Sabally, head of The Gambia’s Public Utilities regulator, Njogu Lamin Bah, and the Director of Asia Affairs at the Foreign ministry, Sheikh Omar Bittaye all had their visa applications denied by the US Banjul Embassy.
Office of the President staff, Ms. Bintou Pa Njie, the Vice President’s medic, Mr. Sonko as well as a protocol officer at the Foreign Ministry, Ms. Tunko Jallow, the newly-wed wife to Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service, Alieu Njie were also, denied entry US visa to attend the UNGA. Apparently, the proposed Manhattan honeymoon has been aborted.
JollofNews has also, gathered from authoritative sources that the Director of Protocol at the Foreign Ministry, and three officials in the VP’s security detail were, also denied US entry visa.
Meanwhile, one of the biggest surprises in all these rejections was PS Ello Jallow’s visa denial to accompany his minister to New York. Jollofnews continues to follow this and all related developments. For several years, Jallow had served as Deputy Cabinet Secretary President’s Office.
