A commentator and keen follower of the Grand Bantaba said to me:

 ‘What’s On Gambia, The Grand Bantaba is the Government of the People on Facebook’ – they do and continue to do what the Government is supposed to be doing.  It is a platform that keeps the Government on its toes’

Introduction

Boasting over 340+ thousand likes and 519+ thousand followers on Facebook, and 203 thousand followers on Instagram and other social platforms – imagine how much that number is of Gambia’s 2 million plus population, the Grand Bantaba has attracted so much attention from both the general populace and the Government Institution on its online and groundwork in the past years. Having such likes and followers on Mark Zuckerberg’s platform and others – the Bantaba leverage such huge followers and anonymous foot soldiers to raise awareness, unearth corrupt practices both in and out of Government, render humanitarian and philanthropist assistance, advocate for the rule of law, good governance, respect for human rights and democracy to take root in The Gambia. These remarkable steps made the platform a cut above the other online media platforms. It made it a go-to platform for many when they possess critical information that could stop or reveal happenings that are detrimental to the economy or livelihood of Gambia and Gambians or want to read breaking news or interesting stories. This article highlights the social and economic impacts likewise the steps taken to unearth abuse, corruption, marginalization and how the rule of law, good governance and democracy are all impacted through its work in The Gambia in private and public institutions. All these make it a platform to celebrate and glorify. That is why it is called THE GRAND BANTABA. I write about this because I wish to recognize and celebrate the work that the platform does for ordinary people in The Gambia.

On Social and Economic impacts

On the social front – the platform has facilitated and assisted many people in all spheres of life. From support it has rendered through scholarships from its donors to students, medical assistance to many in dire need, providing water through borehole projects and always brought to public attention and continuous to – lifestyles of celebrities, business moguls, gossips, and more importantly social issues that have the potential to attract public attention and opinions. Knowing how fans are important in the development of celebrities – both artists and others, these social issues are important because they inform such fans about happenings in and out such of spheres and allow them to share opinions on how they should improve or change their styles as fans. Also, assistance rendered to others has changed conditions too. A few instances are shared below.

In a recent post, a video was shared on its platform that a landlord’s overfilled septic tank (locally called ‘soakaway’)was causing a nuisance around the neighborhood. The landlord ignored that longtime and allegedly told the neighborhood to ‘fuck off’ but just after seeing the post on Facebook, the service of a septic tank truck was hired promptly to empty the underground tank causing a nuisance. This is due to the number of comments and aggressive reactions the video attracted. This shows how impactful the platform is. Many of these kinds of issues are addressed through the platform. Everyone everywhere seems to be becoming an agent of the platform – because once anything is seen or ongoing and considered as detrimental to societal development, it is always and will be shared with them to post for a wind of change to blow.

Just three days ago, after hearing that a sick father struggles to feed his family, the platform through its most responsive donors sent an amount of D6,000 to assist the family to have food. This shows how the platform is not just about sharing information and fighting corruption or the rule of law to take root but also about helping the poor and underprivileged to have food and sleep well. That is its humanitarian face. It has also facilitated a ram gift received by four Police Officers and one Senior School Principal – all to motivate and support hardworking officers and educationists as the ‘Muslim Tobaski’ feast nears. It has facilitated for the last few years and offered so much assistance of such nature to many – like giving clothes for the feast. The agents of the platform give such clothes to children and those in need around the country. On 4th June 2024, the platform gave two siblings a cash amount of D10,000 who were hit by a car when walking from school.

On 26th May 2024, the platform posted that it also bought a new horse for a young man whose horse was hit by a car to death. The livelihood, food and keeping of the family of that young man depends on that horse and many others after getting paid by carrying people and goods from one place to another. It has also given an extra D34,000 to the man as well from what is left of the donation. On the same day, it posted that it secured a full scholarship for one of its active followers to study Community Health Nursing at Hadigala College School of Nursing. This and other efforts initiated and facilitated by the platform are self-evident that it is so impactful and has focused on many things that have changed and continue to save and change lives. D10,000 was given to another nursing student on the 13th of May to settle school bills.

On changing lives and bridging gaps between the underprivileged and the poor – the platform has also sought donations to support water borehole projects and other initiatives. Of recent is in Nioro Jattaba, a village in the Lower River Region of the Gambia whose water drilling Project was given to a Gambian entrepreneur to get water to the people there. Lobbying such projects for the people is one but also giving it to a Gambian entrepreneur is another big conscious decision the platform took. This is what it means to support local entrepreneurs in their growth and the nation as well.

Another entrepreneur, a car washer was given D5,000 to support his business. This was posted on the 12th of May 2024. All these showed how the platform supports young people. Additionally, many physically disabled were assisted with either a wheelchair or other forms of support to ease movement and break the stigma. This is what I call impactful support. A post on 14th May 2024 on its Facebook page is to that effect. On the same day, it was posted that a maternity cost of D7,000 was given to an amputee and his wife who is also an amputee for such cost. This is not any ordinary media house – it is an advocacy and humanitarian platform as well at work.  The platform has always and continues to expose the conditions of school-going children, their classroom, lack of equipment and all needed for quality education which the Government is under a Constitutional duty to provide for compulsory basic education to be realized.

On gossip and lifestyle, it chooses ‘Wednesday’ as a gossip and fooling day. Anything posted on Wednesday is usually to attract just attention and nothing else. This shouldn’t be confused with its serious work on other days. The revelations above are self-evident.

Instances that are highlighted here are just a few considering the work the platform does that has both social and economic impact. If one is to percentage is – just 10% of what it does has surface here.

Impact on those marginalized and abused

On marginalization and other forms of abuse, the platform on the 17th of May posted that there is ‘modern-day slavery’at one of the leading hotels in Gambia called Coco Ocean Resorts & Spa – this is because, none of the senior staff is a Gambian, from General Manager to the head of Security and Gambians are only low-income earners and at the lower rank. This was contrasted with the reality in other hotels like Kombo Beach Hotel where Gambians are at the top. This shows the reality of some of the private institutions and how our people suffer by working there. Suffer from lack of promotions, good pay and other heavy benefits enjoyed by others just because they are Gambia. Many messages were received by the platform after the post from former and even staff that stayed anonymous. In 2023 around April, a young woman was dumped and kicked out by her husband after marrying a second wife – the Platform took it as its business to gather financial and emotional support for the lady and the children. This is a step against domestic violence. Through Lamin Jarju, a good friend of mine and Nurse who was assisting the lady, donations were received by the lady from the Grand Bantaba amounting to D45,000+. This lady was living in an unfinished house and pregnant at the time. She was assisted by the Nurse through the delivery. This also showed the supportive nature of the platform.

The platform has also revealed similar abusive situations and marginalization in public offices faced by certain staff that disagreed with the status quo.

Impacts on the Rule of law, good governance and democracy

The Grand Bantaba always celebrates itself as a platform that embraces divergent views, freedom of expression and democratic practices. That is a good mood for any media platform. On allegations of corruption, and disrespect for the rule of law and democracy – the platform has revealed a lot. Anytime it posts, the power corridor shakes and reveals even more about itself. The Bantaba’s thirst to impact and trigger change for sustainable socioeconomic development cannot be easily contained or satisfied in the ‘New Gambia’. It has a strategic way of attracting attention to critical issues that would have usually been brushed under the carpet by the Government or those involved.

In 2022, it presented a petition to the National Assembly Petition Committee against The Gambia Ports Authority on corrupt practices and holding onto reports of an investigation into such. Nothing has yet been heard of the outcome from the last time I checked. The Bantaba has also exposed a lot from both private and public institutions. One private is Alvihag Supermarket, where the CEO and the Supermarket allegedly sell expired foodstuffs and goods, abuse and maltreat staff. This was not thoroughly investigated by the Gambia Police for whatever reason. However, the Police are known for their lack of will to thoroughly investigate issues and press charges. So that is that. But the post has attracted focus and perhaps the supermarket lost a few customers.

Of recent also is the post regarding the missing cocaine at the Kanifing Magistrate Court. The matter was administratively handled, and recommendations made by the Judiciary but persistent call from the Grand Bantabaseems to trigger the involvement of the Police. One Magistrate was arrested with the Registrar and staff but was granted bail pending the outcome of the investigations. Swift reactionary measures by Government and private individuals and institutions are always taken whenever the Bantaba posts about happenings that are most times internally suppressed. A host of other posts were made that strengthened and called for respect for the rule of law, good governance and democracy. All cannot be brought to the fore here.

Conclusion

This article highlights the work that What’s On Gambia, an online media platform fondly called the ‘Grand Bantaba’ in The Gambia does and the impact it has on the rule of law, good governance, democracy and socioeconomic living conditions of the people of the Gambia. In my view, the simple support and humanitarian assistance and exposing of corrupt practices within the Government institutions and privates are very important to uphold the values of society and hold together the fabric that holds strong our country and its people. Every support should be given to the platform to continue its good work on all matters that affect our country.

Follow them on Facebook by typing “What’s On-Gambia” and on other social media platforms. For more interesting news, gossip, breaking news on corrupt practices etc.

Sheriffo Jobarteh