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Gambia News: Jammeh Reshuffles Cabinet

On Friday 14 September 2007, President Yahya Jammeh completed the reshuffling of his cabinet which entailed new appointments, reassignments and redeployments.

The four new entrants are Mr. Abdoulie Momodou Sallah; as SoS for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Mr. Mass Axi Gai; as SoS for Youth, Sports and Religious Affairs, Mr. Ousman Jammeh, the current Secretary General and Head of the Civil Service, to also serve as SoS for Petroleum, Energy and Mineral Resources and Mrs. Marie Saine Firdaus, as Attoney General and So S for Justice.

Two reassignments were made for Mr. Crispin Grey-Johnson, from Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology to SoS for Foreign Affairs and National Assembly Matters and Mr. Kebba Sanyang, from Attorney General and SoS for Justice to SoS for Works, Construction and Infrastructure.

The two former Secretaries of State who are now said to be redeployed to the diplomatic missions are Mr. Bala Garba Jahumpa, Foreign Affairs and Mr. Sheikh Omar Faye, from Youth, Sports and Religious Affairs.

Abdoulie Momodou Sallah

Mr. Sallah, who was one time the So S for Health and Social Welfare, was born in 1944 in Niamina Sambang, in the Central River Region.

Mr. Sallah attended Dankunku Primary School in 1953 to 1957. He also attended the Methodist Boys High School and Gambia High School. Sallah then attended the University of Ibadan, Nigeria from 1965 to 1969.

Sallah also attended many professional courses such as Management Services course, Staff Training officer course, General Management course and a law course at Holborn College, Wooldridge in London.

Mr. Sallah, who served in several portfolios, was Assistant Divisional Commissioner for Western Division from 1965 to 1970.

- Assistant Commissioner for MID 1970 to 1971.

- Secretary, Public Service Commission (PSC) 1971 to 1973.

- High Commissioner/Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and Cote d'Ivoire between February 1995 to June 1997. Gambia's representative to the United Nations, 1997 and 1998, president of the UN Security Council during the month of March 1998.

Mr. Abdoulie Sallah's final assignment was the Secretary of State for Health and Social Welfare in December 1999 to April 2001.

He is newly appointed as the Secretary of State for Higher Education, Research and Technology, replacing Crispin Grey-Johnson.

Mass Axi Gai

Mass Axi Gai, the newly appointed Secretary of State for Youth, Sports and Religious Affairs, has promised to do his best in his new office.

Speaking to Foroyaa on Sunday, September 16, Mr. Gai said currently football is the only growing and popular game in The Gambia, and he hoped to popularise other sporting activities among the youthful populace.

The new SoS said a large percentage of the country's population are youths and developing them means developing the Gambia.

On curbing the large exodus of youths to Spain and other parts of Europe, Mr. Gai said they need to be given skills, made to be productive and engaged in good ventures.

The SoS also promised to relinquish his two positions as the second Vice President of the Gambia Football Association (GFA) and the President of The Gambia Ports Authority Football club.

In January 1973 to December 1975, Mr. Gai obtained a certificate RSA in Accounting stage one and stage two.

In March and April 1985, he obtained a certificate in Auditing Professional Development at the Management Development Institute (MDI).

He studied and acquired a certificate in Public Accounts and Auditing at Croydon College in the United Kingdom between September 1989 to June 1990.

He also earned a certificate in Performance Auditing at the University of Connecticut in the United States of America between September and December 1991.

From November to December 1994, he got a diploma in Advance Auditing for Senior Auditors, ESAMI in Nairobi, Kenya.

Between January to July 1996, he obtained a diploma in the field of Professional Development in Public Financial Management at the University of Connecticut in the United States of America.