By Mustapha K. Darboe
Claim: No journalist has been put in prison for reporting
Source: Dr Ismaila Ceesay, Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services
Verdict: FALSE
Gambians head to polls to elect a new president in under 2 months. The political climate has become intense, with opposition and NPP-controlled executives competing for favourable public opinion.
Accusations and counter–accusations abound. As part of their efforts to improve government communication, react or sometimes provide clarity, the Information Minister Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, frequently appears before popular West Coast Radio Show, Coffee Time hosted by Peter Gomez.
Claim
In an appearance on Coffee Time on April 1, touting the good scorecard of the administration of President Adama Barrow on press freedom, Dr Ceesay claimed no journalist was imprisoned for their reporting or a person detained on mere accusation.
“No journalist can tell you I have been picked up and put in prison for my reporting. No Gambian can tell you that I have been taken straight to remand because I am accused,” claimed Dr Ceesay. (Watch video from 19:32 minutes)
Fact–check
President Barrow campaigned on a promise of respect for human rights. Since 2017, unlike his predecessor Yahya Jammeh, a significant improvement has been made. But a number of attempts were made to walk back these gains.
In 2020, at least 4 journalists — Pa Modou Bojang of Home Digital FM and Gibbi Jallow, Ebrima Jallow and Madiou Jallow all of King FM— were arrested and detained at various police cells for 2 nights without access to family or legal representation.
The journalists were arrested for their reporting on a protest held by ‘3 years Jotna’, a movement which called for the resignation of President Adama Barrow in honour of the agreement with the Coalition of parties and independent candidates that backed him to power. Both their radio stations were arbitrarily closed.
In 2023, another journalist— Bakary Mankajang— was arrested on allegation of interfering with a witness and detained at the Anti-Crime in Banjulinding. The same year, a popular comedian and commentator on a Weekly Kerr Fatou show— Badiyaa Katchaa— Alagie Bora Sisawo was arrested and arbitrarily detained for at least 6 days. The court later awarded him D500, 000 in damages for his illegal detention.
Verdict: The claim by Dr. Ismaila Ceesay that no journalist has been put in prison for reporting is FALSE.
President Barrow on cost of a 50kg bag of rice
In the same interview (watch from 22:19 minutes), the Information Minister criticized a story published by the Fact-Check Center on the price of rice claimed by the President in his conversation (mins 2: 13: 51) with Muslim elders on March 30. A research by the Center held that a claim by the President that rice was costing D1700 and 1900 was false.
Claim II
“The President said the price of rice is D1700 which is right. Shyben A. Madi [and Sons] has a consignment of rice from Pakistan they are selling for D1700 at wholesale. Before it reaches your shop, it will go up to D1900 to D2000 obviously. Because they have to add their fuel, transportation cost, rent, tax and all that. For people to go to just two shops and ask a price and say the President’s statement is not true. That is disingenuous. They should do better work,” argued Dr Ceesay.
Fact–Check
President Barrow said (watch from 2: 13: 51 minutes): “We thank the businesspeople because prices didn’t go up in Ramadan. Before Ramadan, sugar was D2,600 but during Ramadan, it dropped to D2,400. Rice didn’t go up. You can get rice at D1,900, D1,700 and that’s because of the businesspeople.”
In his statement, the Gambian leader was referring to the retail price of rice as available to end users. Not the wholesale price which was only known to the retailers and not the consumers.
The price verification by the Fact—Check Center was also done at the retail level. Not a wholesale price which is only known to the importers and the retailers who buy from them.
Verdict: This claim by Dr. Ismaila Ceesay is MISLEADING.
