The president announced it via his Twitter handle on Thursday, November 9, 2017.

Barrow had named her his vice in January this year, after beating long-serving Yahya Jammeh in elections last December. The appointment was however mired in controversy as the nominee was said to have exceeded the age limit to hold the office.

Local media reports indicate that the necessary legal rectifications were done in order to properly allow her to occupy the post. The president described her as “a woman with wealth of experience highly required for rebuilding the New Gambia.”

Photos from the presidency showed Barrow handing her a legal document after which she is seen appending her signature to a register.

Barrow himself took two oaths of office, first in Senegal where he was based at the height of the political crisis with Jammeh’s refusal to leave. The second was post-Jammeh, on a date that coincided with the country’s independence.

Fatoumatta Jallow-Tambajang is a prominent pro-democracy activist, who was part of the opposition coalition that unseated Yahya Jammeh.

She is touted as one of the main brains behind the formation of a coalition going into the December 1, 2016 polls.

The Gambia – Fatoumata Jallow Tambajang

Mrs. Tambajang, who was a former United Nations Development Program (UNDP) gender/development expert, also served as a cabinet minister in the government of Yahya Jammeh. She was Minister of Health, Social Welfare and Women’s Affairs.

She replaces Isatou Njie-Saidy – Jammeh’s deputy since 1997. Isatou resigned in early January at the height of the political uncertainty that gripped the tiny West African country. Jammeh citing irregularities in the polls had unilaterally canceled the outcome of the election.

The regional political bloc, ECOWAS, mandated a mediation team led by Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari, and met with Jammeh twice, but failed to convince him to leave.

It took a belated mediation by Guinea and Mauritanian presidents to convince Jammeh to leave.

At the time, the United Nations had okayed a regional standby force to enter The Gambia and to force Jammeh out. He is currently living in Equatorial Guinea.

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By: Africanews

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The comments come after refereeing controversies at the last two regional tournaments.

The GFF has submitted complaints to the regional body and the Confederation of African Football over a penalty awarded at the ongoing WAFU Cup of Nations.

“We’re considering our position in WAFU because with all the resources invested in it – to go out in such manner is not fair,” the GFF president Lamin Kabba Bajo told BBC Sport.

“We will probably discuss the issue in a month’s time during our next executive committee meeting.”

The Gambia were knocked out of the tournament when hosts Ghana scored from the spot after Burkina Faso’s Boukari Ouedraogo adjudged a Gambian player had handled the ball.

This is the second consecutive WAFU Cup of Nations tournament in which The Gambia feel they have been treated unfairly.

Two years ago Senegal were crowned regional champions when The Gambia refused to play extra-time following a goalless draw.

They pointed to the fact that the match officials had said the match would go straight to penalties before ultimately reviewing the rules that stipulated extra-time should be played first.

The GFF’s protest also pointed to two other matches that it feels were poorly officiated recently.

One was an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in September 2016 when the Scorpions lost 2-0 in Cameroon, when the recently banned Ghanaian referee Joseph Lamptey was in charge.

The other involved controversial offside decisions during an Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in July 2016 as The Gambia lost 2-1 on aggregate to Guinea.

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Source: BBC

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The Black Stars B team put up a patchy performance and needed a 95th minute penalty converted by Vincent Atingah to win the match after Matarr Ceesay was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the box.

The Gambian Football Federation released a statement hours after the game ended, and it highlighted their displeasure at the result.

“The Gambia Football Federation wishes to express our disappointment in the strongest possible
terms in the manner in which the Ghana Vs The Gambia match was decided.

A non-existent penalty robbed the Scorpions and secured Ghana a place in the group stages of the competition.

In this regard, the GFF wish to condemn the abhorrent officiating by the Burkinabe referee, Boukari

Ouedraogo, who after giving several contentious decisions against our team and with the game heading to the penalty kicks and in the 99th minute, awarded a non-existent penalty to the home side.

This decision by the referee prompted a Ghanaian news site, Joy Online, to write in its post-match report:

“With 5 minutes of time added on and the game heading for the lotteries of penalty, a single kick from the spot was rather used to decide the game.

Referee adjudged The Gambia defender to have handled theball in the box, a decision which is even being disputed by the [Ghanaian] supporters.”

Considering the fact that this is the second consecutive time that we were robbed in broad daylight in a WAFU competition, the GFF therefore, shall formerly protest to WAFU and CAF for necessary action.

We may also consider our participation in future WAFU competitions unless justice is seen to be done.

In conclusion therefore, the GFF would wish to commend the spirited performance of the Scorpions in keeping the adversary at bay. We also wish to commend the efforts of the Head Coach Omar K. Sise, the Technical Team, the Players and the entire delegation.” the statement read.

Head Coach of the Scorpions Omar Sise expressed disgust at the decision taken by Burkinabe referee Boukari Ouedraogo when he spoke to the press following the encounter.

“I am sorry for Africa,so sorry for African football,an upset Sise yelled.

“The time was up but he gave away a penalty.

“Shame of them and shame on African football,this is why we don’t perform at the World Cup.

“Ghana did not win this game because they deserve to but because it was handed to them by the referee.

“Everyone watched the game and the Ghanaian citizens that believe in God know that this was no penalty and time had run out.

“They have advantage of playing at home,let them go,”he raged as he walked off.

Ghana however progress to the Group stage of the competition while The Gambia will head home as they put their case together.

By:Benjamin Nketsia/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Director of Communications at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin told Citi News, the Gambian leader is also in Ghana to thank President Akufo-Addo for the role he played in ensuring that democracy was restored in his country.

There had been heightened tensions in The Gambia, after long-time ruler Yahya Jammeh, rejected the results of their December 1, 2016 election, weeks after he had conceded defeat to the opposition leader, Adama Barrow.

Yahya Jammeh eventually stepped down under pressure from ECOWAS and the AU.

Ghana contributed 208 soldiers to the ECOWAS mission with a mandate to keep the peace in The Gambia amidst the post-election impasse.

“He [Adama Barrow] is here basically to thank President Akufo-Addo for the intervention he made during the post-electoral impasse that ensued in The Gambia,” Mr. Arhin said.

“Ghana, together with Senegal and Nigeria sent troops to enforce the will of the Gambian people and that virtually resulted in him being inaugurated and installed as the President of Gambia.”

President Barrow is also here “to have bilateral discussions as to how the two countries can cooperate in terms of areas of trade and other bilateral relations that two counties may want to have under the leadership of the two presidents,” Mr. Arhin added.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Whilst in The Gambia, President Nana Akufo-Addo also interacted with members of the Ghanaian community resident there.

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The tweet comes a day after the newly elected President of The Gambia, Adama Barrow, was formally sworn into office.

Mahama asked to intervene

Former President Mahama was asked to continue his mediation role in the effort to resolve the Gambian political impasse.

In an ECOWAS meeting held on the sidelines of the inaugural ceremony of President Akufo-Addo, Mr. Mahama was asked to continue to assist President Muhammadu Buhari as co-mediator in the Gambian issue.

In a telephone conversation, President Akufo Addo personally conveyed the ECOWAS decision to Mr. Mahama and expressed his confidence that with his help, President Buhari would be able to realize a peaceful resolution of The Gambian impasse.

Background

There has been heightened tension in that country after long time ruler Jammeh, decided to reject results of their December 1 election, weeks after he had conceded defeat to the opposition leader, Amadu Barrow.

West African Leaders earlier deployed a standby force to the Gambia after several efforts to compel Yahyeh Jammeh to step down proved futile.

The move came on the back of attempts by West African Leaders including a committee led by Nigeria’s Muhammadu Buhari and Ghana’s John Mahama, failed to convince Jahmmeh who has ruled the Gambia for 22 years to concede.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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It was the second time he had taken the oath after his formal inauguration was delayed by the reluctance of his predecessor to leave office.

“This is a victory for democracy,” he told a full stadium of his countrymen near the capital Banjul.

“Few people would have thought that I’d be standing here today,” he said.

He told the crowd that Gambian people now had the power to control their own destiny and that he was going to free political prisoners and improve press freedom.

“For 22 years, the Gambian people yearned to live in a country where our diverse tribes will be bridged by tolerance and our determination to work together for the common good,” he said. “One Gambia, one nation, one people.”

Mr Barrow, 51, talked of pressing economic challenges left over from the rule of his predecessor, Yahya Jammeh.

“We have inherited an economy in decline,” the new president said, and promised to attract investment in the technology sector, introduce free primary education and strengthen the judiciary.

“Gambia has changed forever. The people are fully conscious that they can put a government in office as well as remove it.”

The president’s first swearing-in was at a low-key event at the country’s embassy in Senegal last month, after the lengthy power struggle forced him into exile.

Crowds on Saturday had queued through the night to get a good spot inside the Independence Stadium.

Brass bands began playing ahead of the event and flags waved.

Mr Barrow is only the third president in the history of The Gambia, and the celebrations also mark 52 years of the west African country’s independence.

Mr Jammeh was voted out in December but he only agreed to step aside when regional powers sent in troops ready to remove him by force.

He has since fled to Equatorial Guinea.

The Gambia is now set to rejoin international institutions such as the International Criminal Court and the Commonwealth.

Mr Barrow, a successful property developer who has never held public office, defied the odds by winning the election.

Speaking to the BBC just before the election, he said that Gambians “had been suffering for 22 years” and were ready for change.

His predecessor had once told the BBC he would rule for a billion years, if necessary.

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Source: BBC

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The ceremony will take place at the main stadium in the country’s capital, Banjul.

This comes after President Barrow was sworn into office as The Gambia’s third President in The Gambian Embassy in Dakar, Senegal, following long-time ruler Yahya Jammeh’s refusal to step down despite his electoral defeat.

Yahya Jammeh eventually stepped down under pressure from ECOWAS and the AU, and is in exile in Equatorial Guinea.

President Barrow’s inauguration today also coincides with the 52nd Independence Anniversary of the small West African Country.

Former President John Mahama was an ECOWAS Co-Mediator in the efforts towards resolving the election dispute that followed the December 01, 2016 election.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The international bodies indicated they will be working with the government of The Gambia to ensure that it respects the rights of former President Jammeh, as provided for and guaranteed by the 1997 Gambian Constitution and other Laws of The Gambia.

[contextly_sidebar id=”6bFekizfamU1iUUNgQ91LjfXnVqotSft”]Mr. Jammeh left the country in the wake of elections that ousted him after 22 years in power. He was defeated in December’s election by now-President of the state, Adama Barrow, but went on to challenge the results.

But two days after President Barrow was sworn in, Mr Jammeh left on a plane reportedly bound for Guinea. This among other things is expected to calm tensions to enable the new President return to the country from Senegal to take charge.

In a series of declarations, ECOWAS, the AU, and the UN, said they “will work with the Government of The Gambia to ensure that former President Jammeh is at liberty to return to The Gambia at any time of his choosing in accordance with international human rights law and his rights as a citizen of The Gambia and a former head of state.”

The three bodies also urged the government of The Gambia to take all the necessary measures to assure and ensure that there is no witch-hunt of former regime members and supporters former President Jammeh.

“ECOWAS, the AU and the UN commit to working with the Government of The Gambia to prevent the seizure of assets and properties lawfully belonging to former President Jammeh or his family, and those of his Cabinet members, government officials and Party supporters, as guaranteed under the Constitution and other Laws of The Gambia,” the declarations also added.

They also made mentions of countries that could potentially offer hospitality to Mr. Jammeh noting that, they “will work to ensure that host countries that offer ‘African hospitality’ to former President Jammeh and his family do not become undue targets of harassment, intimidation and all other pressures and sanctions.”

In this light, ECOWAS will also halt any military operations in The Gambia whilst continuing to pursue peaceful and political resolution of the crisis.

Find below the declarations, numbering 14, made by ECOWAS, the AU and the UN

JOINT DECLARATION BY THE ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN STATES, THE AFRICAN UNION AND THE UNITED NATIONS

ON

THE POLITICAL SITUATION OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF THE GAMBIA

ON

JANUARY 21, 2017

1. Following the Decision of the Summit of the ECOWAS Authority taken on 17th December 2016 in Abuja, Nigeria, Mediation efforts, including visits to Banjul, were undertaken by the Chair of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, HE President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the Mediator, HE President Muhammadu Buhari and Co-Mediator on The Gambia, HE former President John Dramani Mahama, along with HE President Ernest Bai Koroma to mediate on the political impasse with Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya A. J. J. Jammeh,
2. Following further mediation efforts by HE President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and HE President Alpha Conde of the Republic of Guinea Conakry with HE Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya A. J. J. Jammeh, the former President of the Republic of The Gambia, and in consultation with the Chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, the Chairperson of the AU Authority of Heads of State and Government and the Secretary-General of the United Nations, this declaration is made with the purpose of reaching a peaceful resolution to the political situation in The Gambia.
3. ECOWAS, the AU and the UN commend the goodwill and statesmanship of His Excellency former President Jammeh, who with the greater interest of the Gambian people in mind, and in order to preserve the peace, stability and security of The Gambia and maintain its sovereignty, territorial integrity and the dignity of the Gambian people, has decided to facilitate an immediate peaceful and orderly transition process and transfer of power to President Adama Barrow in accordance with the Gambian constitution.
4. In furtherance of this, ECOWAS, the AU and the UN commit to work with the Government of The Gambia to ensure that it assures and ensures the dignity, respect, security and rights of HE former President Jammeh, as a citizen, a party leader and a former Head of State as provided for and guaranteed by the 1997 Gambian Constitution and other Laws of The Gambia.
5. Further, ECOWAS, the AU and the UN commit to work with the Government of The Gambia to ensure that it fully guarantees, assures and ensures the dignity, security, safety and rights of former President Jammeh’s immediate family, cabinet members, government officials, Security Officials and party supporters and loyalists.
6. ECOWAS, the AU and the UN commit to work with the Government of The Gambia to ensure that no legislative measures are taken by it that would be inconsistent with the previous two paragraphs.
7. ECOWAS, the AU and the UN urge the Government of The Gambia to take all necessary measures to assure and ensure that there is no intimidation, harassment and/or witch-hunting of former regime members and supporters, in conformity with the Constitution and other laws of The Gambia.
8. ECOWAS, the AU and the UN commit to work with the Government of The Gambia to prevent the seizure of assets and properties lawfully belonging to former President Jammeh or his family and those of his Cabinet members, government officials and Party supporters, as guaranteed under the Constitution and other Laws of The Gambia.
9. In order to avoid any recriminations, ECOWAS, the AU and the UN commit to work with the Government of The Gambia on national reconciliation to cement social, cultural and national cohesion.
10. ECOWAS, the AU and the UN underscore strongly the important role of the Gambian Defence and Security Forces in the maintenance of peace and stability of The Gambia and commit to work with the Government of The Gambia to ensure that it takes all appropriate measures to support the maintenance of the integrity of the [Defence and] Security Forces and guard against all measures that can create division and a breakdown of order.
11. ECOWAS, the AU and the UN will work to ensure that host countries that offer “African hospitality” to former President Jammeh and his family do not become undue targets of harassment, intimidation and all other pressures and sanctions.
12. In order to assist a peaceful and orderly transition and transfer of power and the establishment of a new government, HE former President Jammeh will temporarily leave The Gambia on 21 January 2017, without any prejudice to his rights as a citizen, a former President and a Political Party Leader.
13. ECOWAS, the AU and the UN will work with the Government of The Gambia to ensure that former President Jammeh is at liberty to return to The Gambia at any time of his choosing in accordance with international human rights law and his rights as a citizen of the Gambia and a former head of state.
14. Pursuant to this declaration, ECOWAS will halt any military operations in The Gambia and will continue to pursue peaceful and political resolution of the crisis.

Done this 21st day of January, 2017 in Banjul, The Gambia.

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In an announcement on state TV, he said it was “not necessary that a single drop of blood be shed”.

The statement followed hours of talks between Mr Jammeh and West African mediators. He gave no details of what deal might have been struck.

Mr Jammeh has led the country for 22 years but was defeated in December’s election by Adama Barrow.

Mr Barrow has been in neighbouring Senegal for days and was inaugurated as president in the Gambian embassy there on Thursday.

Troops from several West African nations, including Senegal, have been deployed in The Gambia, threatening to drive Mr Jammeh out of office if he did not agree to go.

Mr Jammeh’s decision to quit came after talks with the presidents of Guinea and Mauritania.

“I have decided today in good conscience to relinquish the mantle of leadership of this great nation with infinite gratitude to all Gambians,” he said.

“I promise before Allah and the entire nation that all the issues we currently face will be resolved peacefully.”

Shortly before the TV address, Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz said that a deal had been struck and that Mr Jammeh would leave the country. He gave no further details.

Mr Jammeh was given an ultimatum to leave office or be forced out by UN-backed troops, which expired at 16:00 GMT on Friday.

The deadline was set by the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), a regional grouping backed by the United Nations.

The first signs of a breakthrough came on Friday when a senior aide to the new president told the BBC’s Umaru Fofana that Mr Jammeh had agreed to step down.

Mr Jammeh had at first accepted defeat in the election but then reversed his position and said he would not step down.

He declared a 90-day state of emergency, blaming irregularities in the electoral process.

The electoral commission accepted that some of its early results had contained errors but said they would not have affected Mr Barrow’s win.

Mr Jammeh had vowed to stay in office until new elections were held.

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Source: BBC

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