Confirmed official reports have spoken of the removal last Friday of Mass Axi Gye, the Secretary of State for Youth and Sports, from his cabinet post by President Jammeh. Mr Sheriff Gomez was appointed as replacement in the same breath, effective Friday 27 June 2008.

Mr Sheriff Gomez has served in a variety of senior positions over the years and is said to have acquired excellent leadership and communication skills.

Prior to his appointment, Mr Gomez, 48, was the National Youth Service Scheme Acting Assistant Director and Coordinator of National Enterprise Development Initiative (NEDI). He was also the Project Coordinator of Gamjobs, a Gambia government and UNDP project, focusing on youth and women.

Secy Gomez earlier served in the army as a career military officer, rising to the rank of Lieutenant. He has also worked in the Communications and Construction units of Gambia Civil Aviation Authority as a Tally Clerk.

Speaking to The Point shortly after the news of his appointment, Secy. Gomez said what is missing at the Department is direction and leadership, adding “and our priority would be to find out and to make a strategic plan for the Department of State for Youth and Sports that would provide the direction and leadership in order to put the Department in a better shape.”

Secy. Gomez pointed out that it is part of his plans to come up with a blueprint for the department in which everybody in the area of youth and sports can work with.

He called on all stakeholders to closely work with the department in order to achieve the desired results.

Secy. Gomez holds a MSc. degree in Purchasing and Supply Chain Management (Business and Service Sector Management) from the London Metropolitan University; BA degree in English, History and Economics from Military Academy, Pakistan, among other achievements.

Abdou FM Badjie,  the governor of Western Region, is reported to have been fired last week Thursday, unimpeachable sources told the Daily Observer.

The reason for Mr Badjie’s sacking remains unknown. Furthermore, sources disclosed that his sacking was rumoured several weeks before the great axe fell on him on Thursday.

Our sources further revealed that Mrs Sainabou Faal, the assistant governor of Western Region, has been appointed as the acting governor of the country’s largest region, with eight districts.

Efforts to contact Mr Badjie proved futile, as he was unreachable on his cellphone. But his immediate successor, acting Governor Faal, confirmed the changes at the top echelon of the regional administration. Mrs Faal was appointed assistant governor of that region in 2004.

Reliable sources has informed the Daily Observer that Chief Superintendent Yankuba Sonko, officer commanding at the Prosecution Unit of the Gambia Police Force (GPF), has been appointed as the new Crime Management Coordinator (CMC) of the GPF, with immediate effect.

Chief Superintendent Sonko’s appointment came following the elevation of Commissioner Ensa Badjie, a former CMC, to the position of Inspector General of Police.

The Daily Observer made several attempts to sound the comments of CMC Sonko, but the efforts proved futile.

However, the police spokesperson, ASP Sulayman Secka, confirmed the story.

CMC Ensa Badjie takes over

Reliable sources informed the Daily Observer that Benedict Jammeh, the Inspector General of the Gambia Police Force, was yesterday, redeployed to the Department of State for Justice.

Sources further revealed that Ensa Badjie, the Crime Management Coordinator of the Gambia Police Force, has been appointed as the new Inspector General of the Gambia  Police Force with immediate effect.

However, sources could not elaborate on the reasons behind the change in the top echelon of country’s police institution.