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GAMBIA REGISTERS 117 RAPE CASES IN 2023
The Gambia has recorded a staggering 117 rape cases between January and July this year, according to a situation report issued by Gender Management Information System.
The report, issued yesterday at a press conference at the Bakoteh Orange Center, also revealed the country registered 310 survivors of Gender-Based Violence across the 8 operational One-Stop Centres in Kanifing, Banjul, Bakoteh, Bundung, Brikama, Basse, Bansang, and Bwiam.
The cases include 49 physical and 47 sexual assaults, 37 Intimate Partner violence, 6 FGM, 5 psychological, 5 defilement, 4 denial of resources, 3 emotional, 2 harassment, and 2 child marriages.
According to the report, the physical assault and IPV cases are mostly common among people aged 18 years and above, while survivors range from the ages of 10-14 and those aged 15-17 are mostly rape, sexual assault and defilement
Most FGM survivors, the report said, are between 5-9 years. It added that 100 percent survivors who reached out to the One-Stop Centres received support ranging from health care service to psychosocial support and that all survivors who wanted their cases to go further were all linked to the police and received appropriate legal support.
However, the report said most survivors did not pursue police or legal support. It indicated that of the cases reported for the period, 50% of perpetrators are between the ages of 20-35, while the average age of rape perpetrators is 25.
It is also reported that out of the 32 percent of the cases reported to police, over 70 percent preferred not to go to police or court.
According to the report, deeper analysis indicated that physical assault cases were mainly reported in Bansang One-Stop Centre while rape cases are mostly reported in Brikama One-Stop Center.
The Minister of Gender, Children and Social Welfare, Fatou Kinteh, said proper recording of GBV cases is critical for the government’s response and programming. She said the government is working on establishing a special court on gender-based violence and a forensic lab. Minister Kinteh said the government has a number of programs geared towards addressing issues of GBV. She commended the level of awareness that has been created to encourage reporting cases of GBV but raised concern over victims’ families withdrawing cases which is hindering prosecutions.
“The withdrawing of cases has been a big concern but I want to assure you that henceforth we will not allow the withdrawal of cases especially rape cases,” she said.
The UNFPA country representative, Ndeye Rose Sarr, said the number of cases recorded is appalling and called for more advocacy and action from all stakeholders to address the root causes of GBV. She urged victims to take advantage of the 199-emergency number to report all forms of violation for assistance.
A representative from the civil society, Fallu Sowe, commended the social and case workers in different GMIS centres across the country for their sleepless nights.
“We also have volunteers in communities who ensure that cases are reported and properly recorded at the regional level,” he said.
The GMIS centre was made operational in January 2023 to facilitate the delivery of quality services in line with global standards and GBV guiding principles and strengthen referrals in a timely and most appropriate manner. It is supported by the UN Systems in partnership with the Gambia Government.
Credit to: standard.gm
Joeboy believes every artist has substance, unlike Burna Boy
Nigerian singer, Joseph Akinfenwa Donus, popularly known as Joeboy, believes every artist has substance.
He went against Burna Boy publicly on the latest episode of the Zero Conditions podcast. Opposing the Grammy-winning singer’s claim, the younger artist stated that anything that is created is valid and worth something.
In his words, “I feel everybody has substance. It’s just based on what people relate to… I understand that you can’t connect to every form of music that you come across. But I promise you, anybody that has the ability to create something out of thin air, it is substance.”
To back his claim, Joeboy shared the reactions to different kinds of music, maintaining that anything that connects with the audience holds substance.
He said, “Sometimes when you make a high tempo song that is danceable, people feel like you are just vibing… And when someone sings in Pidgin, they [fans] would be like, ‘Ah! This one dey do lamba.’ It’s not lamba. It’s actually still connecting.”
Joeboy’s opinion comes after Burna Boy stated that most Nigerian artists make music “without substance” in a recent interview with Apple Music‘s Zane Lowe.
Afrobeats, as you people call it, is mostly about nothing. There’s no substance to it, and nobody is talking about anything. It’s just about having a great time,” he said. “For me, I feel like music should be the essence of an artist, and an artist is a person who has good days, bad days, great days, and worst days.”
Burna Boy made his comment ahead of the release of his seventh album, I Told Them. He has since been dragged online for his take on the state of Nigerian music.
Credit to: pulse.ng
Transfers: Liverpool to tackle Bayern Munich for Super Eagles star
Wilfred Ndidi has been heavily linked with a move back to the Premier League this summer following Leicester City’s relegation from the competition last campaign
Liverpool are considering a move for Super Eagles midfielder Wilfred Ndidi before the transfer window closes, Soccernet.ng reports
The 26-year-old has been reported to be seeking a move from the King Power Stadium following the club’s relegation from the Premier League last season.
Despite reports consistently linking him with a move from Leicester City, Ndidi has featured in all their first few matches played so far this campaign.
The Nigerian International has entered the final year of his contract with Leicester, and talks about extending his six-year stay have not been raised yet.
In the latest update, Ndidi could be making the return to the Premier League in the final few days of the transfer window.
Liverpool are ready to lock horns with Bayern Munich as they consider making the Nigerian International their fourth midfield signing of the summer after learning of Leicester City’s willingness to cash in on the midfielder this summer, as reported by TeamTalk
Ndidi is judged as a cheaper alternative to some of the other midfielders the Merseyside club might be targeting. They have brought in Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Wataru Endo this summer, but Endo is the only natural defensive-minded option and is part of the reason they have identified Ndidi as a target.
It has also been suggested that Liverpool are looking for a more established replacement for Fabinho who left the club to move to Saudi Arabia this window, but it has been hard for them to find the right option.
With that in mind, Ndidi who is versatile in playing in the midfield or at center-back, and with more than 200 Premier League appearances before Leicester’s relegation at the end of last season might be a sensible target for them to pursue.
Leicester City have already brought in Harry Winks from Tottenham and Cesare Casadei on loan from Chelsea to bolster their midfield for their Championship campaign.
They have also supervised the departure of Harvey Barnes and James Maddison to Newcastle United and Tottenham respectively, and they could now allow Ndidi to leave as well before the transfer window closes on Friday, September 1st.
Credit to: Soccernet.ng
NNPP’s Suspension Of Presidential Candidate, Kwankwaso Is Nollywood Joke – Buba Galadima
Afounding member and a chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Alhaji Buba Galadima, has described the purported suspension of the party’s presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso as a “Nollywood and Hollywood joke”.
Galadima who said this to ChannelsTV during a programme noted that NNPP was not suffering from any internal crisis as projected to the public.
He added that Kwankwaso did not commit any anti-party activities and was not in any time suspended by the party.
Recall that a faction within the party suspended Kwankwaso, the party’s presidential candidate for the February 25, 2023, election, alleging “material evidence” in public that the former Kano state governor was involved in “anti-party activities in various meetings” on Tuesday.
The faction further alleged that Kwankwaso had political meetings with President Bola Tinubu, then candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) competitor, Atiku Abubakar, and Labour Party (LP) candidate Peter Obi without the party’s permission.
Galadima, on the other hand, has dismissed the allegations.
“When I saw it on social media, I thought it was like a Nollywood or Hollywood joke,” Galadima said in reference to Kwankwaso’s suspension on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday night.
He claimed that the leaders of the said group had been expelled from the NNPP.
“Now let me make a small correction, those that were expelled were Boniface Okechukwu Aniebonam and Gabriel Agbor Major,” he maintained.
“All of them who were expelled were called to a disciplinary committee. They were drilled and they accepted their sins and it was on the basis of their acceptance that they were recommended to the Nation Working Committee for expulsion.”
Galadima also accused political opponents of orchestrating internal squabbles within the party, but emphasised that the NNPP remains strong.
“A lot of people are interested in this party in the sense that the other parties felt that they could only survive if they destroy this party.
“But unknown to them we are as solid as the Rock of Gibraltar,” he said.
He continued: “As a politician, we can meet with anybody.
“He took permission from us,” the party chieftain argued. “Whatever the case, Kwankwaso had permission from the party to meet with President Tinubu and talk to any other political group. So, he didn’t do this on his own.”
Credit to: saharareporters.com
TODAY IN HISTORY
30 Aug 1983 Historic spaceflight by Guion S. Bluford, Jr.
U.S. astronaut Guion S. Bluford, Jr., became on this day in 1983 the first African American to travel into space, serving as a mission specialist aboard the shuttle orbiter Challenger, and later flew on three other missions.
Burna Boy is biggest ‘fraud’, most uninspiring artiste, says Lerin Nicodemus
Media personality, Lerin Nicodemus, has labelled Grammy-winning singer, Burna Boy as the biggest fraud and the most uninspiring artiste following his controversial statement about Afrobeats.
Nicodemus accused Burna of both tarnishing and trying to undermine the very foundation that propelled him to international fame.
She argued the ‘Love Damini’ singer has over time tried to infuse the style of the legendary Fela Anikulakpo Kuti who is well-known for pan-Africanism, into his craft.
However, she argued that, unlike Fela, Burna tends to avoid addressing the challenges affecting his fellow countrymen and the continent, opting instead to criticize his own people whenever he chooses to voice his opinions.
She said: “I said Burna Boy is the biggest fraud and most uninspiring artiste in Nigeria and this is why. She follows up with an excerpt of Burna Boy’s controversial interview where he noted: “Afobeats as most people call it is mostly about nothing, literally nothing. There’s no substance to it. Like nobody is talking about anything. It’s just a great time.”
“Like how do you shit on a movement that has taken years to build by our pioneers? Tons of people worked really hard to make sure that Afrobeats got the global recognition and respect it has now which he has greatly benefitted from by the way. And now it’s his turn to push it even further. And here he is tearing it down. If that’s not witchcraft, I don’t know what is.
Comparing Burna to his colleagues, she added: “Other artists like Wizkid and David try to shine a light on upcoming artistes at every given opportunity whether it’s putting them on an album or inviting them on global stages.
“But that can never be Burna Boy. He would rather just shit on people because that’s what he’s good at and it’s so uninspiring.”
Concerns continue to mount over expired foodstuffs in town
Concerns have been raised by citizens amid the circulation of expired drinks that were believed to be imported into the country without notice.
Reports have been making round on social media that some expired soft drinks were served at a local ceremony on Saturday, fueling suspicion that some extra expired food stuffs and drinks could be on sale in the corner shops and supermarkets. This has raised debate in the public domain with some questioning the pro-activeness of the Food Safety and Quality Authority (FSQA).
The FSQA came to being by an Act of Parliament in 2011 but started its operations in 2013 in the area of food and feed. Since then, the Authority has only 36 inspectors
Recently, hundreds of bags of expired rice were intercepted at the border post, expired chickens were disposed and unhealthy production of oil was also detected. Many expired foods were found at the country’s biggest market, Serrekunda.
The data obtained from FSQA indicated that from last year to date, five business entities were fined, 17 closed, eight prosecuted and five mega disposals were carried out.
The Point has engaged a concerned citizen and a resident of Bundung, Babou Jobe, who expressed his dissatisfaction with the current state of food items imported into the country. He said expired foods are mostly circulated by wheelbarrow vendors, saying enforcement should be done to save the lives of the people.
“A huge number of our population cannot read or write. Therefore, they can buy expired foods without knowing. So these people are at risk of consuming those products. It is the duty of the regulatory body to promise an environment free from expired foods,” he stated.
Aji Astou Njie, also expressed her fear of buying certain products, arguing that many products are imported into the country without knowing their origin or being checked by Food Safety.
She said: “I cannot dwell more on the matter but I know something has to be done if we are really serious as a nation to save our people from health complications.”
Marabi Amfaal Hydara, FSQA’s communications officer, told this medium that in order to make so that the food that enters the country is safe, his institution deploys inspectors across all the borders including the airport. He added that this is to ensure all foods and feeds coming into the country are inspected.
He said: “We have a scientific department to ensure that anything people complaint is checked before making any conclusion. We also have the food control department that normally goes out every day to inspect. We have the regulatory department that is more of enforcement in case of someone violating the act.”
Dwelling on how inspectors determine consumable food, he explained that they have a checklist that usually guides them and checks if the food is fit for human and animal consumption.
Giving his reaction to the expired foods circulating on social media, he reiterated that when their inspectors get to the field, they don’t see such foods people complain about.
“We cannot do anything about things we cannot see. We normally reach out anytime we see something on social media. There is a junction named Expired Junction at Serrekunda, but the things they sell are actually not expired, it is mostly six months before the expiry date,” he said.
He emphasised that their inspectors are trying to trace the origin of the alleged expired drinks, while noting that finding the sole proprietor is the problem. He added that they don’t make decisions without finding the actual person responsible.
Molamin Jammeh, a public health officer, shared his thoughts with this medium, while reiterating that public health is the art and science of preventing disease promoting health and prolonging life through organised effort.
He explained that consuming expired food affects health, saying public health officers are driving to make sure people do not fall sick by preventing diseases from occurring. He said if someone falls sick from consuming expired foods, it has undermined the goal of public health.
“Expired foods in the market threaten public health. We should ensure that the food that is imported is safe and of quality and that we will be able to prevent the population from any safety issues. The consequences of consuming expired food products depend on the composition. Some expired food pose significant health threat which include food poisoning, diarrhoea, stomachic and muscle ache,”
He said some of the chemicals used to preserve the food may be toxic to humans when consumed after the expiry date.
Credit to: thepoint.gm
“Congrats, bro” – Everton’s Iwobi, Forest’s Awoniyi, others react as Super Eagles star announces engagement
Super Eagles midfielder Frank Onyeka has taken to Instagram to announce his engagement to Mmesoma Akaolisa, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 25-year-old, who currently plies his trade in the Premier League with Brentford, shared the joyful news with a heartfelt post on Sunday evening.
In the Instagram post, Onyeka posted a photograph of himself and Akaolisa, both beaming with happiness, as he declared their intention to embark on a lifelong journey together.
He captioned the post with affectionate words, saying, “A lifetime of us my best friend, my meso. #cheerstoforever.”
A second snapshot accompanying the announcement revealed Akaolisa flaunting her engagement ring, solidifying the joyous occasion.
Onyeka’s Super Eagles compatriots swiftly flocked to the comment section to extend their heartfelt congratulations.
Nottingham Forest star Taiwo Awoniyi, who recently welcomed a child, celebrated Onyeka’s news, exclaiming, “Let’s go my guy.”
Kenneth Omeruo chimed in with, “Eweeeeee congratulations bro,” while Calvin Bassey, who recently joined Fulham, offered his best wishes, saying, “Congrats my guy.”
Southampton’s Joe Aribo and Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman added their voices with “Congratulations bro” and “Congrats bro,” respectively.
Terem Moffi joined the chorus, jubilantly exclaiming, “Congratulations my guyyyyyy,” while Chidozie Awaziem playfully wrote, “Tank Nwanne,” and Paul Onuachu kept it simple with “Frankie Congratulations.”
William Troost Ekong also chimed in with a congratulatory message, stating, “Congrats bro.” Even Onyeka’s Brentford teammate Ivan Toney expressed his excitement, affectionately referring to him as ‘Snr man. ❤️ Myyy boyyy.”
A brief overview of Onyeka’s football journey reveals that he began as a young trainee at FC Ebedei before making a move to join Midtjylland’s youth team in January 2016.
His talent led to the signing of a professional contract with Midtjylland the following year. In 2021, the 25-year-old made a significant move to Brentford, sealing a club-record €10 million transfer.
Since joining Brentford, Onyeka has made a notable impact, featuring in 48 matches for the English side, with 42 of those appearances in the Premier League.
The latest of his appearances in the EPL came at the weekend when he was called to action for the last 18 minutes of Brentford’s 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.”
~ Thomas A. Edison
D5 Creation