The state owned radio and television Services, GRTS, did broadcast a Press release emanating from State House of dismissals and reshufflement of President Yahya Jammeh’s Cabinet with effect from Thursday February 4, 2010.  According to the broadcast, four ministers are dismissed from the cabinet and they are Ismaila Sambou, Minister of Local Government and Lands, Mr.. Antouman Saho, Minister of Fisheries and Water resources, Mr. Lamin Bojang, Minister of Works and Construction and Ms Nancy Seedy Njie, Minister of Tourism and Culture.

The following persons are also appointed to head the various portfolios in the cabinet; they are Dr. Mamadou Tangara- Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Mr. Alagie A. Cham, Minister of Information and Communication and Infrastructure, Mr. Yusupha Kah, minister of Economy, National Planning and Industrial Development, Mr. Pierre Tamba, Minister of Local Government and Lands, Mr. Lamin Kaba Bajo, Minister of Fisheries and National Assembly matters.

Mr. Baboucarr H.M Jallow occupies Ministry of Trade, Industry and Employment, Fatou Mass Jobe, Minister of Tourism and Culture. The Ministry of Works, Construction and Infrastructure is now put under the purview
of the president’s office, whatever that means.  

As usual, no reasons are advanced for the dismissals or for the reshuffling of cabinet by the release over the media, which has indeed baffled many people once again.  It is the opinion of many that whoever Jammeh appoints would eventually be dismissed no matter how one tries since he Jammeh has no criteria of appointing and dismissing people but one based on his own whims and caprices.

This reporter has privileged information from an anonymous former minister of Jammeh’s cabinet who said all those working under Jammeh or for Jammeh have developed the feeling that only God keeps them in their posts, meaning that left to Jammeh alone no one would stay longer in
one’s position. He said the guy does not simply have a clue as to what collective work is all about. Others are of the opinion that Jammeh is becoming extremely desperate as the election year is drawing closer.