Politics
MEET FIRST FEMALE MAYOR IN THE GAMBIA, ROHEY LOWE
MEET FIRST FEMALE MAYOR IN THE GAMBIA, ROHEY LOWE- She is a proactive female politician and a woman who has deep love and passion for women and the youths.
Lord Mayor Roheyatou Malick Lowe has seen it all in the Gambian political atmosphere. She was elected as the Mayor of Banjul, the capital city of The Gambia and ever since, she has delivered her mandate and ensured her manifestoes were honoured. She is an ardent and loyal member of the United Democratic Party (UDP) and according to her, Leadership is about listening to people and knowing their problems in addition to thinking deeply about what the people want because they are the ones who put you into this position and to be quite honest, one should try assiduously to set a very good example.
Being the first female Mayor in the entire Gambia it means Mrs. Lowe has to double her efforts to ensure that women are trusted to hold power, because it is very rare in Africa to see women dominating even a state. Mayor Lowe is an astute and shrewd entrepreneur studied International Relations at the prestigious University of Fahm, Sweden. She also has a strong academic career coupled with a tight theoretical knowledge of public administration. Lord Mayor Rohey Lowe was very active in the political arena and subsequently a member of a party called ‘Social Democrats’ which gave her the opportunity to serve as a key member of the Child Welfare Committee of Nyköping Municipality with the mandate to oversee the schools within her jurisdiction. She came on board as the Mayor of Banjul on 12th of May, 2018 and since her inception, she has demonstrated professionalism, passion, love, determination for the people of Banjul. Through her leadership style, she ensured she displayed her diligence while she also formulated a total inclusion of all the inhabitants of the city of Banjul in policy processes and giving them a voice to engage in all decisions regarding their city.
Furthermore, part of her governance also includes engaging all relevant stakeholders
More especially Civil Society Organisations in Banjul for the growth and development of the City. She also implemented capacity strengthening initiatives in her municipality by restructuring the various departments and hiring qualified technocrats to assist. She has also been a key participant in several international forums advocating the localization of SDGs, furthermore, she was invited by the Canadian government to present the SDGs she has particularly advocated for and implemented in her city.
Through REFELA-THE GAMBIA NATIONAL CHAPTER conducted a fumigation and waste collection exercise for 6 days within the inner City of Banjul (Public places – Markets, Mosques, Churches, Schools, Library and Ferry Terminal), As part of our efforts to suppress the spread of the virus.
On infrastructure, Mayor Lowe was involved in the construction of an Abattoir at the Banjul Albert Market, to enable the women of Banjul to afford the price of meat while she constructed the new Banjul City Council complex. Other of her sterling performances are:
• Construction of modern toilets at the Banjul Albert Market
• Construction of the Multi-purpose Youth for Excellence Centre for the youths of Banjul
• Influenced the implementation of the Banjul Rehabilitation Project, which will address 37km of
Roads, Drainages and Sewage Systems of Banjul.
• Construction of stores and slabs for the women at the Banjul Albert Market.
• Construction of concrete and interlock block roads to the following streets in Banjul:
1. Peel Street
2. Spalding Street
3. Spalding Curve
4. Tally Dawada (Tobacco Road)
5. Haddington Street
6. Primet Street
• After securing 3.1 Million Euros from European Union, The following will go to infrastructure:
1. Green-up the City by planting enough trees.
2. Provide an advance lightening system for the entire City
She is an empowered to the core and an addicted philanthropist and this is why she initiated Rohey Malick Lowe Women and Girls Empowerment Initiative. This initiative through
her personal support was able to launched D10, 000,000.00 (Ten Million Dalasis), to support the women of Banjul who want to start-up businesses or expand their businesses. So far, the initiative have already disbursed the funds to 45 women groups and 30 individual women in business. The initiative have donated Construction Materials to Banjul City Council worth D150, 000.00 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dalasis) for the construction of the Abattoir in the Albert Market.
Mayor Lowe launched the REFELA GAMBIA NATIONAL CHAPTER. This initiative is here for Women Emancipation and Gender Equality to meet the SDGs and African Vision on Human Right and Zero Tolerance of Children on the Streets. She also initiated a team to create awareness on “LOCALIZING OF THE 2030 SDGs AGENDA” in Banjul and by extension The Gambia, knowing fully well that unemployment is the catalyst of poverty; Lord Mayor Rohey Lowe through the Banjul City Council under her leadership recruited 45 youths, trained them professionally and employed them as Securities. This is to render security services to the general public. She also initiated a team to create awareness on “LOCALIZING OF THE 2030 SDGs AGENDA” in Banjul and by extension The Gambia.
GOOD GOVERNANCE: She also embarked on the Restructuring of Banjul City Council by establishing the following:
1. Office of the Deputy Chief Executive Officer
2. Records office for proper filing system of the institution
3. Settled all Bank Debts for (B.C.C)
4. Re-Instalment of Electricity and Water supply from NAWEC
5. Maximize the revenue to 42%
6. Increased the salary of staff to 50%, plus risk allowances provided to all Revenue Collectors of Banjul City Council.
7. Introduction of a suggestion box for the general public to send in their contributions about what they think the institution should improve on for the development of the City.
• Introduction of the all-inclusiveness approach for the effective running of the Banjul City Council. A clear manifestation is partnering with Civil Society Organizations and other relevant stakeholders.
• Introduced Accountability and Transparency in the operations of the daily running of the institution.
• Initiated ‘BANJUL RELIEF INITIATIVE’ during the COVID-19 to help the residents of Banjul with essential foods items for them to adhere to the WHO and our Ministry of Health and Social Welfare Regulations in suppressing the spread of COVID-19 by staying at home.
• Initiated “KNOW YOUR COVID-19 STATUS” for the people of Banjul. This initiative gave the residents and commuters of the City the opportunity to know their COVID-19 status.
• Initiated “OPERATIONS 100 THOUSAND FACEMASKS INITIATIVE” for the people of Banjul and by extension The Gambia, in order to fight against COVID-19 in Banjul-The Gambia.
This noble woman is the president of African capital cities sustainable forum, President of Refella The Gambia chapter, Executive member global parliament of mayors, Second vice president of the united democratic party UDP, Founder of the Rohey Malick Lowe women and girls initiative, Advocate of the SDGs and an Active advocate of the fight against Covid-19 pandemic.
Breaking: Speaker Obasa Debunks Allegation Of Spending N17b On Assembly Gate
The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, on Thursday described the allegation that the House spent N17 billion on the fixing of a gate as spurious and funny.
A self-proclaimed group, Lagos State Anti-Corruption Coalition, had accused the Assembly of spending the amount to construct a gate. The group also sought investigation of the claim.
Speaking at plenary, Dr. Obasa said the allegation stemmed from the fear of some people over 2027 which is still more than two years away.
Obasa further debunked the claim that the House spent N200 million on its recently organised 22nd thanksgiving service for staff.
“It is so funny. How much is the allocation of the Assembly in the whole year that we will decide to spend N17 billion on a gate? They even claimed that we expended 200 million on thanksgiving that did not hold.
“We are aware that at a period like this when we are approaching elections in 2027, we should expect such things. I think some people are scared and I don’t know why.
“This House did not and has not embarked on any such project. We are not that reckless. We had our thanksgiving last Friday and dignitaries from various parts of the State attended it,” the Speaker said.
Addressing further claims by the group about the alleged relationship between him and the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, the Speaker denied attending the latter’s screening and confirmation by the National Assembly.
“They said that I was at the National Assembly when they were confirming the EFCC chairman. I want to believe that there are CCTV cameras at the National Assembly to identify those who attended the event. The press must have written about it too. So the group should do more to confirm if I was there.
“This is just to deny the allegations in the interest of the public and not the writers because the writers are not those we should be joining words with,” the Speaker said.
Earlier, the House, through its spokesperson, Hon. Stephen Ogundipe, had addressed the allegations noting that the Assembly bases its activities on integrity, transparency and accountability.
“It is ludicrous the claim about constituency intervention funds and constituency project funds and their handling by Speaker Mudashiru Obasa and Clerk of the House, Barr. Olalekan Onafeko as claimed by the group.
“One would have expected a self-acclaimed anti-corruption crusading group to do its groundwork before jumping across the fence with conviction that it hit a jackpot to malign an institution of repute in the name of politics.
“Simply put, the Lagos State House of Assembly does not have any such funds. The Assembly does not embark on constituency projects. Instead, once every year, the House holds stakeholders’ meetings simultaneously across the state where constituents have the opportunity to tell the lawmakers their expectations and make requests for the betterment of the state.
“These requests and expectations are compiled and sent to the executive arm of government for consideration as inputs in subsequent budgets. If this is what the group takes as constituency intervention or project funds, we are sure this explanation has given the required education, moreover, it is common knowledge that it is the responsibility of the Executive arm to execute such projects,” the earlier statement by Ogundipe read.
Eromosele Ebhomele
Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
- Catholic Bishops Conference of Ethiopia: Pastoral message for Advent, December 2024 December 22, 2024
- The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) Applauds Egypt’s Milestone Achievement in Medicines and Vaccine Regulation December 22, 2024
- Viewing of State House Christmas Decorations Attracts Record Crowd December 22, 2024
- Uganda, Kenya and South Sudan hold 4th Tripartite Technical Boundary Committee Meeting in Kampala December 22, 2024
- Eritrea: Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare Activity Assessment Meeting December 22, 2024
- Africa Financial Industry Summit (AFIS) 2024: Building African Unicorns (and Gazelles) for Continental Economic Growth (By Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede) December 22, 2024
- Eritrea: President Isaias Holds Talks with Special Chinese Delegation December 21, 2024
- United States of America (US) Government and Ethiopia: Sustaining Gains and Accelerating Progress Toward Ending the HIV Epidemic December 21, 2024
- United Arab Emirates (UAE) Condemns Car Ramming Attack at Market in Germany December 21, 2024
- His Excellency Sheikh Shakhboot Bin Nahyan Meets President of South Africa December 21, 2024
- Catholic Bishops Conference of Ethiopia: Pastoral message for Advent, December 2024 December 22, 2024
- The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) Applauds Egypt’s Milestone Achievement in Medicines and Vaccine Regulation December 22, 2024
- Viewing of State House Christmas Decorations Attracts Record Crowd December 22, 2024
- Uganda, Kenya and South Sudan hold 4th Tripartite Technical Boundary Committee Meeting in Kampala December 22, 2024
- Eritrea: Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare Activity Assessment Meeting December 22, 2024
- Africa Financial Industry Summit (AFIS) 2024: Building African Unicorns (and Gazelles) for Continental Economic Growth (By Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede) December 22, 2024
- Eritrea: President Isaias Holds Talks with Special Chinese Delegation December 21, 2024
-
Entertainment6 months agoAkanke Amororo: The New Yoruba Movie Everyone Is Talking About + Why People Are Rushing To YouTube To See It
-
Politics7 months agoGov Fubara And One Year of His Signature in Rivers By Nath Odili
-
Business7 months agoFIRSTBANK WINS 2024 BEST SME BANK IN NIGERIA AND BEST SME BANK IN AFRICA BY ASIAN BANKER AWARDS
-
Business5 months agoPROFILE: JESSICA AMARACHI OKU BY CHINEDU NSOFOR