(JollofNews) – The Government of the Gambia Monday obtained a high court order to freeze the country’s first daily newspaper, the Daily Observer.
The government said the newspaper is owned by the country’s former leader, Yahya Jammeh and the court order is meant to prevent him from liquidating or dissipating it so as not to cause prejudice to the state should there be adverse findings made against him by a court which may require the recovery of assets and money from him.
The newspaper is now put under the management of an accounting firm, Augustus Prom.
The Daily Observer was founded by Kenneth Best in 1990 and is credited for transforming journalism in the Gambia.
Mr Best had previously managed another paper called the Daily Observer in Liberia, until the First Liberian Civil War caused him to relocate with his family to the Gambia.
He was later expelled from the Gambia in October 1994 by the military junta of Yahya Jammeh which took over power a few months earlier.
The paper was later sold to Businessman Amadou Samba, but the Ministry of Justice said it has found paperwork which indicates that the newspaper is owned by Mr Jammeh.
Since the demise of the Jammeh regime, the newspaper’s fallen into serious financial difficulties.
The paper is currently facing a D17 million tax bill from the Gambia Revenue Authority and is also owing tens of thousands of Dalasis to other businesses.
It is very important that the government establish true ownership of so many anomalies of business ownership. But I think it should refrain from making public allegations/accusations, without such claims being supported by evidence being made public. In this case the Judge would appear to have favoured the government based on what it was able to provide to the court.
My Thoughts inform me that there are “Cloudy Days” of Turmoil Again Over the Beloveth Gambia and Gambians. Clouds of Agree To Disagree Conflict of interest running back and forth to Senegal. Cloudy Days of Multi Million Dalasi Houses. Cloudy Days of Regionalism and Ethnicity Transcending Citizenship, and Musical Chair of the Game of Thrones of The Overseer of the Vice Presidency. Cloudy Days of the Law Consuming Fellow Gambians and Institutions that are Ineffect Person Non Gratad. Cloudy Days of, “this land is not your land”. Cloudy Days of, let the Chinese Company do as it wish. Cloudy Days of Contracting our Souvereignity to big Uncle to the North and South, and don’t forget Cloudy Days of a Bridge Too Dear to the Gambian Economy and Citizens. Juxtapose that with Cloudy Days of “Raining Fish” for the Rivers and Gambian Territorial Waters are Farmed Out to the big Brothers from the North and South and those from Far and Near East. Cloudy Days, but no rain because the gods are Angry at our Collective Failure to Deliver the Democratic Dividend to the Gambian Citizens. Agriculture, Education, Healthcare, the Airport and National Radio and TV are Crying out for Water to Quench the Thirst for Dollars, Euros and Pound Sterlings, yet we buy Non Essentials. Cell phones, Computers, Tvs and even children’s toys are not Spared a drop of water to flush out the Dust. May be the Cologne and Perfume Survived the Grabbing and Commandeering Force of “Gambia Has Cloudy Days” but no rain to Quench the Collective Thirst for the Gambian Citizens. Cloudy Days of Gentrification of the Ministry of the Interior. Location, Location, Location. If you do not locate, the Cloudy Days will Consume you. Or will Mr. Interior Minister Consume you? I think Not. He is too Cool with the 24 Hours of Air Conditioning for few while the 95% go without light. My Thoughts tell me that big brother from the North and South will come to the rescue. May it be written that the rescue did not aggrivate the Problem. Let there be light for all on Demand. Let there be Water for all on Demand. Let there be Free Press for All Opinions and not just for a Select “Kibaro”, Mandinka for News. No joke, you get the message? Let there be Due Process and Governance without Selective Arrrests, Detentions and Purgings of Perceived Political Opponents and Institutions. Let there be Wisdom and Courage in our “Overseer” of the Presidency to Move to the State House as is Expected, if not Mandated. Let the President Rain in the “Makers of Cloudy Days” not Forcasted during the Campaign and Coalition Alliance. Rain in those who Have Betrayed the MOU and Coalition Alliance as was Agreed Upon by all Parties who Signed off on it. When it is written and rains the Rain of My land is your land, from Kartong to Koina, The rain of No Regionalism and Ethnicity transcending Citizenship, We Shall on that Rainy, Day Dance and Rejoice in the Gambia of One People, One Destiny.
Methinks thou dost protest too much in a tongue of olde heeded by few noblemen still of ear ! Too many clouds blight the horizon and too little rain to satisfy the thirst !
Government should warned general public about purchasing any properties that belong to the former president and make sure they get clearance from the authorities, before buying these properties.
Where is Yerro Jallow and why is not making hi usual ill-informed and misguided remarks abou media freedom. A manipulative media house managed by ruge journalists is worst than a dictator.
Lol>>Erika>>and too much sun makes all desert; Into each life a little rain must fall;
Alas dear Yorick>>I knew him well ?
It’s dem pesky Journalists again.