Alieu K. Jammeh, Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary: setting a brighter example for The Gambia foreign service development cooperation

HE Alieu K. Jammeh, Ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary is setting the pace for greater opportunities towards improving The Gambia’s economy, regional trade, and integration. Since his appointment as The Gambia’s Ambassador to Sierra Leone, overseeing Liberia and Cote d’Ivoire, Ambassador Jammeh has drawn his development plans and priorities of the bilateral cooperation between our dear motherland The Gambia, and the countries he is assigned to as Ambassador.

Exactly one year ago since he presented his Letters of Credence to the Liberian president George Weah, Ambassador Jammeh had an interview with LamToro News during which he highlighted key areas of cooperation between The Gambia and Liberia. He cited agriculture, tourism, trade, youth empowerment, etc as his main areas of focus and had a fruitful discussion with the Liberian leader.

Agriculture is The Gambia’s economic backbone and could be the pathway to prosperity, and Regional trade, integration and improved infrastructure will be key to growing this important sector of our economy. Therefore Ambassador Jammeh is moving on the right path.

Ambassador Jammeh later presented his credentials to the Head of State of Cote d’Ivoire and advanced the Gambia’s priorities in the areas of cooperation between the two countries.

A few days ago, he welcomed the Gambian leader President Adama Barrow and his delegation during an official visit to Cote d’Ivoire.

A team of business people and officials of the Gambia Investment and Export Promotion Agency (GIEPA) joined the president’s delegation and had the opportunity to meet and discuss possible areas of regional trade and ways of improving the business sector through bilateral trade agreements, among others. Ambassador Alieu K. Jammeh with maximum support from the Office of the President, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, GIEPA and Papa Yusupha Njie, the Honorary Consul Cote d’Ivoire in The Gambia, have played a key role in ensuring such opportunities become a reality for The Gambia.

While he was Ambassador in Guinea Bissau from 2019 to 2021, Mr. Jammeh facilitated trade and transport agreements between The Gambia and Bissau. In Sierra Leone, Ambassador Jammeh facilitated agreements on trade, immigration and education between The Gambia and Sierra Leone.

Besides the above, Ambassador Alieu K. Jammeh is the first Gambian to present his Letters of Credence as Ambassador to the President of Cote d’Ivoire. And President Barrow’s recent visit to Cote d’Ivoire is the first time in history since the First Republic that a sitting Gambian president makes an ‘official visit‘ to Cote d’Ivoire.

All other visits made by former Gambian presidents were either on Ecowas or AU mission, but NOT ‘official visit‘.

Indeed, Ambassador Jammeh has a great vision and is setting the way for improved bilateral cooperation, diplomatic ties, and regional trade.

This, and many greater qualities are undoubtedly the main duties of an Ambassador. Mr. Jammeh is taking the lead in pushing forward The Gambia’s interest at the diplomatic level in the foreign service.

Ambassador Jammeh is a man of pragmatic personality, he knows his tasks as Ambassador and is working towards achieving his desired objectives. His passion for development and love for his country are unquestionable as he has demonstrated it in every task assigned to him by The Gambia government. He strongly believes in harnessing the potentials of the objectives available in South-South Cooperation. Thumbs-up Ambassador Jammeh for setting a good example. You lead and others follow. Keep up the momentum!