New YJAG Board inaugurated

The six-member board has Njundu Drammeh, national coordinator of the Child Protection Alliance (CPA), as its chairperson. Meanwhile, other members named in the board are Nguie Mboob-Janneh of the Female Lawyers' Association; Sam Sarr, managing editor of the Foroyaa newspaper, Emil Touray, president of the Gambia Press Union; Momodou Sabally, director of Budgets at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs; Amie Bojang-Sissoho, programme coordinator at Gamcotrap; and Modou S. Joof, president of YJAG.

The new board is tasked with the responsibility of providing strategic guidance and thoughtful advice to the association, and to also help ensure that YJAG remains true to its aims, objectives and vision.

Speaking at the ceremony, the secretary general of the Gambia Press Union, Gibairu Janneh, said the inauguration of the new board shows that YJAG is determined to move forward and achieve results. Janneh assured that the GPU will continue to assist, promote, protect and encourage journalism at all levels in the country.

"Since its inception, the association has been working closely with GPU," he added, while stating that the Press Union appreciates their sense of focus and direction. He expressed hope that they will redouble their efforts to move faster beyond the current pace of their work. "Looking at the composition of the new board, it has in it people of substance, initiative, foresight and vision," he said.

The GPU Secretary General then encouraged the executive members of the association to always coach each other towards positive values, ideas and to always keep faith as far as the profession is concerned."Our doors are always open and we will always come forward whenever we are needed," he concluded.

YJAG's prezy, Modou S. Joof, informed that the Association is a charitable group formed in 2007 with the objective of promoting unity among young journalists, providing capacity building, addressing the welfare of its members, as well as complement the efforts of GPU in advocating and promoting press freedom in The Gambia.

The managing editor of Forayaa newspaper, Sam Sarr, described the role of YJAG as important as far as journalism is concerned. He dwelled on the important role journalists play in the development of the society. A member of the new board, Ngui Mboob-Janneh, said YJAG is not just an association, but an institution that is very important in the society in informing and educating the general public.

The GPU president, Emil Touray, said YJAG is one of the most progressive journalist associations in the country due to its organised nature and in the way it carries its duties and functions. Touray also pledged that henceforth, the GPU under his tenure will be responsible for the printing of the proposed YJAG newsletter. The ceremony was chaired by the Daily Observer news editor, Assan Sallah, who is the ex-president of the association.

Source: allAfrica.com