President Adama Barrow of Gambia
In Gambia until recently, journalists were routinely imprisoned and tortured for criticising the government.
It would now appear that the media is enjoying a new lease of life.
Not surprisingly, after decades of oppressive dictatorship ended in the country, new privately owned newspapers, radio and TV stations have sprung up, and more are on the way.
Former dictator Yahya Jammeh
The fact is that the airwaves are still dominated by the state-owned Gambian Radio and Television Services (GRTS), which still operates the main stations. However, for the first time in the history of Gambia, a private TV station, QTV, has been awarded a licence to operate. A second newcomer, Paradise TV, is coming soon.
Before Mr Jammeh was removed in a shock election in December 2016, he ruled with an iron fist. Writers and journalists were murdered or held without charge. More than 100 who fell foul of the regime fled into exile.
“The journalists are less than 1 per cent of the population, and if anybody expects me to allow less than 1 per cent of the population to destroy 99 per cent, you are in the wrong place.”
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