Private Musa Kombo Dismissed From GAF

The Daily Observer (Banjul)

Omar Wally

17 May 2011

A soldier who was recently arrested at Bullock Police Checkpoint by operatives of the National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDEA) has been dismissed from the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF).

Private Musa Kombo, who was posted at Yundum Barracks was arrested with one big bundle of cannabis which he concealed on a black plastic bag on his back inside his uniform. Confirming this to the Daily Observer Monday at the Defence Headquarters in Banjul, Lt Omar Bojang, the public relations officer (PRO) of GAF said the military has firmly decided to dismiss with immediate effect, any of its personnel who indulges in criminal acts, especially drug trafficking and peddling. He said the case of Private Kombo is no exception.

Lt Bojang stressed that the leadership of The Gambia and the high command of GAF are putting every necessary mechanism in place to motivate every service member of GAF, as the welfare of GAF personnel is a top priority of the government. He said: “Therefore, the army should be a symbol of hope and pride. It should be an icon of discipline and any person who wears the uniform should be a person of a great standard of discipline, good standard of patriotism. That’s what makes a good soldier. So dealing in drugs is not expected from a soldier. Soldiers are the custodians of the law, so if they are found wanting how will the rest of the people see it?”

He then made it clear that the commander-in-chief of GAF [President Jammeh] has repeatedly denounced military personnel involved in drugs and had also stated that whoever is caught will have no mercy. The GAF PRO lamented that it is very disappointing to see security personnel paraded on TV and featured on newspapers accused of such acts. “But in life, there are always good and bad elements. So despite that, we are doing our best at our level to control the menace by dismissing anyone who is caught with drugs,” he added.

He said they will also continue sensitising soldiers. “In fact, we have included drug awareness lectures for our recruits who are undergoing training,” he explained. Lt Bojang finally called on all service men and women to desist from illicit drugs, saying every Gambian, particularly the service men and women, should support the president’s zero tolerance for drugs crusade.

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