Gambia News : Gamtel, Gamcel Part Company with Spectrum

As Former MD Omar Ndow Gets Reinstated

The much-talked about merger between The Gambia’s national telecommunications companies, Gamtel and Gamcel, and Spectrum company, a Lebanese owned company which bought 50 percent shares of the two companies on August 1st 2007, appears to have come to an end when on August 1st 2008, the contract was not renewed.

Our sources further revealed that Mr. Omar Ndow, who once served as Gamtel’s Managing Director but later had his services terminated, has been reinstated and is expected to commence work today.

Mr. Ndow, who joined Gamtel in 1970 as a technician trainee, rose to the rank of Managing Director from 1994 to 1996. He was then removed and later brought back again as Managing Director until November 2006 when his services were terminated. 

Following his removal in November 2006, he was charged with economic crimes at the Banjul High Court, a case which never proceeded. He was later dragged to the Banjul Magistrates’ Court on charges of abuse of office and disobedience to statutory duty, only to be acquitted and discharged in January 2008.

Economic analysts believe that with the coming back of Mr. Ndow, Gamtel and Gamcel companies are more likely to do better than they have been doing in recent times.