President Barrow Presides Over Swearing-in of First-Ever Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) Council – African Business

His Excellency President Adama Barrow has reiterated his government’s support for strengthening the capacity and professionalism of the members of the Gambia Armed Forces during the swearing-in ceremony of members of the First Gambia Armed Forces Council, held on Friday 16 September 2022, at Banjul’s Statehouse.

President Barrow stated that the selection of the council was a significant step forward in the Security Sector Reform framework. He urged all council members to ‘‘measure up to the trust and confidence reposed in them’’.

Speaking on the functions of the Members of the Council, President Barrow said their advice and expertise would contribute to the development of our democratic values and principles, as well as ”significantly influence the checks and balances within the Armed Forces”.

Vice President Badara Alieu Joof (Chairman of the Council) also spoke at the ceremony. VP Joof thanked President Badara Alieu Joof for his trust in them to accomplish such an important task. He pledged the council’s support to the President as the Commander-In-Chief of The Gambia Armed Forces in his efforts to improve the effectiveness and efficiency in service delivery of the Armed forces.  

The Constitution entitles the President to create the GAF Council under Section 189, Subsection (1g), of the 1997 Constitution. The council consists of the seven members mentioned below: –

• Vice President Badara Alieu Joof – Chairman
• Minister of Defense, Sering Modou Njie – Member
• Permanent Secretary Ministry of Defense, Rohie Bittaye Darboe – Member
• Chief of Defense Staff of the GAF, Lieutenant General Yankuba A. Drammeh – Member
• Deputy CDS, Major General, Mamat O. Cham – Member
• Commander of Republican National Guard, Brigadier General Turro Jawneh – Member
• Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Abdoulie Conteh – Civilian Member of the Council

Distributed by APO Group for Office of The President- Republic of the Gambia