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Daily Express
7 days ago
- General
- Daily Express
Klias Beaufort traditional attire finally recognised
Published on: Wednesday, June 04, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jun 04, 2025 By: Lorena Binisol Text Size: KDCA Klias at Hongkod Koisaan in Penampang receiving their certificate of recognition. Kota Kinabalu: A decade-long effort to document and preserve the traditional attire of the Kadazan-Dusun Klias community in Beaufort had finally paid off, with official recognition by the KadazanDusun Cultural Association (KDCA) central. During the Ka'amatan Harvest Festival on May 31, Datuk Joanna Kitingan, chairperson of Unduk Ngadau Ka'amatan 2025, presented the official certificate of recognition to committee members, marking a historic milestone for the community. KDCA Klias Branch Chairman Dizabeit Atak and committee members were present on the auspicious event. The acknowledgment celebrated the Manavak attire, worn by Bobolian (priestess) women, and Gambia, worn by men, which hold significant cultural and spiritual importance. Subscribe or LOG IN to access this article. Support Independant Journalism Subscribe to Daily Express Malaysia Access to DE E-Paper Access to DE E-Paper Exclusive News Exclusive News Invites to special events Invites to special events Giveaways & Rewards 1-Year Most Popular (Income Tax Deductible) Explore Plans Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Zawya
27-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Ecobank named Best Bank in Africa 2025 in Global Finance Awards
Ecobank ( the leading private pan-African financial services Group which has unrivalled African expertise, is delighted to have been named Best Bank in Africa 2025 in Global Finance's World's Best Banks 2025 Awards. The Awards also selected Ecobank Gambia and Ecobank Togo as the Best Banks 2025 in their respective countries. Jeremy Awori, Chief Executive Officer, Ecobank Group, said, 'Driving intra-African trade is an important focus of our Growth, Transformation and Returns strategy and we are continuously leveraging technology and partnerships to further enhance our continental digital payments platform and to position Ecobank as Africa's trade bank of choice. 'These awards are a testament to Ecobank's intense focus on putting our customers at the centre of our decision making, and the quality of our comprehensive suite of financial products, services and solutions that we provide to global and regional corporates, financial institutions and international organisations. Our expertise and integrated coverage, which is networked across our 35-African country footprint, enable us to structure complex local and cross-border transactions. We maximise our impact across our markets by deploying our key product pillars of cash management; trade finance; fixed income currencies and commodities; loans and liquidity; investment banking; and securities, wealth and asset management.' In selecting the best bank winners, Global Finance's judges considered factors including growth in assets, profitability, geographic reach, strategic relationships, new business development and innovation in products. They also sought the opinions of equity analysts, credit rating analysts, banking consultants and others involved in the industry, and held extensive consultations with corporate financial executives, bankers, banking consultants and analysts. The winners are banks that attend carefully to their customers' needs in difficult markets and accomplish strong results while laying the foundations for future success. Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, Ecobank Gambia and Ecobank Togo will be presented with their awards at the Global Finance Awards Ceremony at the National Press Club in Washington DC, USA, on 18 October 2025, which is being held during the IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated. Media Contacts: Ecobank Transnational Incorporated Christiane Bossom, Group Communications, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated Email: groupcorporatecomms@ Tel: +228 22 21 03 03 Web: About Ecobank: Ecobank Group is the leading private pan-African banking group with unrivalled African expertise. Present in 35 sub-Saharan African countries, as well as France, the UK, UAE and China, its unique pan-African platform provides a single gateway for payments, cash management, trade and investment. The Group employs over 14,000 people and offers Consumer, Commercial, Corporate and Investment Banking products, services and solutions across multiple channels, including digital, to over 32 million customers. For further information, please visit
Finextra
27-05-2025
- Business
- Finextra
Remittance at Risk: What a U.S Levy Means for The Gambia: By Foday Joof
The Context According to the United Nations Network on migration, an estimated 10 percent of The Gambia's total population were living abroad in 2023 in search of better opportunities[1]. Over the past decade, private remittance inflows to the country have more than doubled. Data from the Central Bank of The Gambia (CBG) show that official remittance inflows rose from US$174.1 million in 2009 to US$329.8 million in 2019 (Joof and Touray, 2021)[2]. To put this in context, these figures respectively represent 12 percent and 18 percent of the country's GDP in 2009 and 2019. This placed the country among the highest recipients of remittances in sub-Saharan Africa when compared to the size of the economy. It is important to emphasize that data reported by the authorities only represent inflows that pass through the official channel which hugely understates total remittance figures. It is evident that a substantial amount of unreported diaspora money flows through the unofficial channel that is not captured and difficult to estimate. This upward trend was initially expected to be disrupted following the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought severe economic consequences—particularly in wealthier nations that serve as the primary sources of remittances. Consequently in 2020, the World Bank projected a dramatic 20 percent decline in global remittance flows as a direct result of the crisis, attributing the drop mainly to falling wages and rising unemployment among migrant workers during the pandemic. However, several months into the pandemic, data revealed a surprising trend: The Gambia, like many developing countries, experienced a remarkable surge in remittance inflows. Gambians in the diaspora sent a record US$589.8 million in 2020—representing a staggering 78.8 percent increase from US$329.8 million in the previous year (Joof and Touray, 2021). This unprecedented growth in officially statistics remittances is attributed to several factors. Notably, the improvement in data collection by the Central Bank, both in terms of methodology and coverage as more money transfer agents get registered. Additionally, international travel restrictions imposed during the pandemic disrupted informal transfer channels, redirecting remittance flows through formal systems. Few years after the pandemic, private remittances continue to be The Gambia's largest source of foreign currency, with total inflows reaching US$775.4 million in 2024. These funds not only provide a critical lifeline for household consumption but also serve as a crucial source of foreign exchange, stabilizing the country's balance of payments. Thus, any policy change affecting remittance flows could have profound implications for The Gambia. What will the recent propose 5% levy on private remittances by the United State of America mean for The Gambia? The 3.5% Levy on Remittances: A Game Changer? The United States, a significant source of remittance inflows to The Gambia, has passed a 3.5% levy on remittance outflows, this policy could have far-reaching effects on The Gambia's economy. The immediate impact would likely be a decline in the volume of remittances sent through formal channels, as the cost of remitting funds would increase. This, in turn, could push more remitters to seek informal, unregulated channels to avoid the levy, leading to greater informality and reduced foreign exchange inflows through the official financial system. Potentials Implications Reduced Foreign Exchange Inflows: Funds sent through informal channels are less likely to enter the formal banking system, reducing foreign currency availability and potentially exacerbating exchange rate volatility. Furthermore, given that The Gambia is an import-dependent economy, the decline in foreign currency inflows could exacerbate trade currency depreciation and intensify inflationary pressures. Surge in Informal Channels and Potential Risks As the cost of formal remittances increases, many Gambians in the diaspora may turn to informal channels, such as hawala systems, personal couriers, or unregulated digital platforms, to bypass the levy. While these channels may offer lower costs, they present several risks: Data Gaps: Transactions through informal channels are difficult to track, leading to underreporting of remittance inflows and reduced transparency in financial flows. Strategic Responses for The Gambia To mitigate the potential fallout from the US remittance levy, the Gambian government and CBG could consider several strategic measures: Leverage Fintech Solutions: Partner with fintech companies to develop cost-effective, accessible remittance platforms that can compete with informal channels. Partner with fintech companies to develop cost-effective, accessible remittance platforms that can compete with informal channels. Diversify FX Sources: Expand export-oriented sectors such as agriculture and tourism to reduce overreliance on remittances as a primary source of foreign exchange. Conclusion The 3.5% levy on remittances poses a significant threat to The Gambia's economic stability, with potential ramifications for foreign exchange inflows, exchange rate stability, and poverty levels. Proactive measures by the Gambian authorities, including financial inclusion initiatives, enhanced regulation of informal channels, but also promote the growth of export-oriented sector like agriculture and tourism. This will be critical in mitigating these adverse effects and ensuring the continued flow of remittance funds into the formal financial system.
The Verge
16-05-2025
- Business
- The Verge
The State Department reportedly pressured African countries to adopt Elon Musk's Starlink
After The Washington Post earlier this month revealed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had instructed the State Department to help Starlink expand in order to fend off Chinese technological influence, an extensive ProPublica article published Thursday dove deeper into what those campaigns looked like at the ground level. According to cables sent between the State Department and US embassies in four developing countries in Africa – Gambia, Djibouti, Cameroon and Lesotho – diplomats have been arranging meetings with Starlink executives and foreign regulators and pushing them to fast-track licensing agreements for the satellite internet company, as a sign of 'friendship' with the United States. Should those countries refuse to move faster, those diplomats warn, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) – the Musk agency responsible for massive job and budget cuts throughout the government – might suddenly target programs and funds earmarked for their countries. Shortly after Trump's inauguration, Sharon Cromer, the U.S. ambassador to Gambia, held a meeting with Lamin Jabbi, the head of Gambia's communications ministry, about speeding up regulatory approval for Starlink. During the meeting, per ProPublica, she mentioned several key initiatives, such as a '$25 million project to improve the electrical system,' were under review – a reference Gambian officials saw as a veiled threat. 'The implication was that they were connected,' said Hassan Jallow, the top deputy to Jabbi. The pressure campaign escalated in March, after the State Department set up meetings with Starlink while Jabbi was in D.C. for a World Bank summit, which all ended in Jabbi refusing to budge: In the hours that followed, Starlink and the U.S. government's campaign intensified in a way that underscored the degree of coordination between the two parties. The company told Jabbi it would cancel his scheduled D.C. meeting with State Department officials because 'there was no more need,' Jallow said. The State Department meeting never happened. Instead, 4,000 miles away in Gambia's capital, Cromer would try an even more aggressive approach. That same day, Cromer had already met with Gambia's equivalent of a commerce secretary to lobby him to help pave the way for Starlink. Then she was informed about the disappointing meeting Starlink had had in D.C., according to State Department records. By day's end, Cromer had sent a letter to the nation's president. 'I am writing to seek your support to allow Starlink to operate in The Gambia,' the letter opened. Over three pages, the ambassador described her concerns about Jabbi's agency and listed the ways that Gambians could benefit from Starlink. She also said the company had satisfied conditions set by Jabbi's predecessor. 'I respectfully urge you to facilitate the necessary approvals for Starlink to commence operations in The Gambia,' Cromer concluded. 'I look forward to your favorable response.' The efforts described in the three other countries are similar, though each nation has tried to handle the Starlink-State Department nexus in different ways. In Lesotho, for instance, a Starlink deal was fast-tracked past a major multinational competitor just as the country was hit with Trump's 50 percent tariff, which the U.S. embassy 'bragged' about facilitating. In internal cables, senior diplomats have said that they need to secure these licenses for Musk within the next 18 months in order to secure a 'first-mover advantage' for Starlink to stay ahead of foreign competition. Several former U.S. diplomats told ProPublica that the State Department's actions were alarmingly unprecedented and verged on 'crony capitalism', as Kenneth Fairfax, a former U.S. ambassador to Kazakhstan, put it. 'If this was done by another country, we absolutely would call this corruption,' agreed Kristofer Harrison, who served as a high-level State Department official in the George W. Bush administration. 'Because it is corruption.'
BBC News
15-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Yahya Jammeh's assets: Gambia's President Barrow announces investigation
The Gambian government has announced an investigation into the sale of assets seized from former President Yahya Jammeh, following widespread public concern. Some of the assets, including livestock and luxury vehicles, were sold off while a panel was still investigating the wealth Jammeh amassed during his 22-year rule.A newspaper investigation exposed alleged irregularities and an apparent lack of transparency in the sale of the assets, sparking protests organised by young people. In a televised address on Wednesday night, President Adama Barrow pledged "full transparency" in the probe, saying assets recovered "belong to the people". Jammeh, who seized power in a 1994 coup, is accused of orchestrating the huge theft of government funds, as well as extensive human rights abuses, including killing and jailing his former leader, who in 2017 fled into exile in Equatorial Guinea after losing elections, has previously denied allegations of ex-Gambia President Yahya Jammeh's US mansion was seizedIn 2017, President Barrow set up a commission to investigate alleged corruption and financial misconduct by Jammeh during his two-decade-long rule. The panel, popularly known as the Janneh commission, concluded its findings in 2019 and recommended the forfeiture of assets linked to Jammeh and his investigation found that Jammeh had allegedly stolen at least $360m (£270m) and spent lavishly on expensive vehicles, aircraft and real estate. He is yet comment on the accusations but his supporters in Gambia have dismissed the findings against him as a political livestock - including cows, sheep and goats, - farm tractors, vehicles, and other valuables were among the assets earmarked for seizure by the state. In 2019, President Barrow authorised a ministerial taskforce to oversee the reclaiming of the assets, with regular updates to the an investigative report published by the local Republic newspaper earlier this month accused senior government officials of selling the assets to themselves, friends and family at below market report went viral on social media, triggering protests in the capital, Banjul, where dozens of people, including journalists were arrested but later released. Following the public pressure, the government published a detailed list of the assets already sold, which included some of Jammeh's luxury cars, livestock, boats, construction equipment, household goods, parcels of land and heavy farm machinery. The long list showed the buyers, prices and sale dates. However, some of Jammeh's luxury cars like his customised Rolls Royce and Bentley were not in the list. It is not clear if the vehicles were sold or shipped out to him as the government had allowed him to take some items to Equatorial Guinea. The list sparked further outrage over how many valuable items had seemingly been sold at suspiciously low explanation was given by the government about the prices but the justice ministry in a statement said the sale had gone through a "legally grounded process"."At all times, the government acted within the confines of the law and in the public interest," the ministry said in a statement. In his address on Wednesday, Barrow said he had convened a cabinet meeting the previous day to discuss details of the sales, some of which he was learning about "for the first time". He said the country's parliament and the National Audit Office were both conducting parallel inquiries into the matter."Their findings will be made public, and my government will enforce their recommendations to address the shortcomings discovered and hold accountable any individual or entity found culpable," the president urged Gambians to remain calm, warning that his government "will not tolerate negligence, or any wrongdoing linked to safeguarding our nation's resources".But activists and opposition parties have dismissed the president's assurance, saying parliament cannot be trusted with the Sanyang, an opposition MP, has called for an independent probe, saying parliament was "full of ruling party loyalists".The Edward Francis Small Center for Rights and Justice, a rights group, has demanded that the president take responsibility and freeze the sale of all seized 2022, the US seized a luxurious mansion in Maryland, which was said to have been purchased by Jammeh through proceeds of its investigation, the US Justice Department said Jammeh had acquired at least 281 properties during his time in office and operated more than 100 private bank accounts. You may also be interested in: 'How we found a dead leader's hidden loot'Yahya Jammeh: Other leaders accused of looting the coffersAfrica's richest woman 'ripped off her country' Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
