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MADIBA
United Kingdom
1275 Posts |
 Posted - 21 Nov 2006 : 11:19:21
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News from Banjul, has it that Gamtel MD Omar Ndow has been fired. He was serving his second stint at the helm of affairs. The news continues that he has been fired along with some other directors and senior officials.
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madiss |
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serenata
Germany
1400 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2006 : 13:33:35
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This is not too surprising; I hope they fired the right ones. I don't know whose fault Gamtel's bad performance is, but incompetent/irresponsible/corrupt Managers of key industries like telecommunications today are able to 'bomb' a country back into the stone age.
Yesterday and on Sunday we tried to call Gambia for almost the whole evening. Once we had a connection, but after a few words it broke down. This was a private call, but I don't know what I would do if I depended on Gamtel in business. |
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MADIBA
United Kingdom
1275 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2006 : 14:31:12
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quote:
Originally posted by serenata
This is not too surprising; I hope they fired the right ones. I don't know whose fault Gamtel's bad performance is, but incompetent/irresponsible/corrupt Managers of key industries like telecommunications today are able to 'bomb' a country back into the stone age.
Yesterday and on Sunday we tried to call Gambia for almost the whole evening. Once we had a connection, but after a few words it broke down. This was a private call, but I don't know what I would do if I depended on Gamtel in business.
The Guy is said to be a fine engineer but a bad administrator. That was his second chance. He was MD back in 1994 or so when the soldiers came to power. He was also shortly fired. The situation in which Gamtel is today is similar to the one it was when he was first given his marching orders. There are many directors who are past 60yrs but happen to be still around whilst young competent staff never get the chance to rise up and prove something. Most of these young graduates had to leave and look for better working conditions elsewhere. His replacement a certain Katim Touray was a senior Manager in Gamtel before he left along with others to join the parastatal watchdog PURA. Amongst the blunders Omar did was to take notorious directors as his advisers. Prior this communication problems Gamtel was said to be in serious financial crisis.
I hope all the hopeless old fools parading Gamtel House are shown the red card. The young ones coming in should know that Gamtel is a National institution and Gambians and non-Gambians deserve better services. |
madiss |
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serenata
Germany
1400 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2006 : 15:31:53
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| In almost every business I prefer a mixture of young and older, experienced managers - under the condition that both are willing and able to learn from each other. |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2006 : 17:11:06
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madiba, agree some of the old fools should go, they are too clicky. |
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Santanfara
3460 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2006 : 17:52:30
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quote:
Originally posted by serenata
In almost every business I prefer a mixture of young and older, experienced managers - under the condition that both are willing and able to learn from each other.
YOU GUYS SHOULD'NT JUMP TO WRONG CONCLUSION.YAYA IS BEEN DEEPING HIS HAND IN GAMTEL'S FUNDS SO HOW CAN THEY FUNCTION PROPERLY.SCAPE GOATING WILL NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. |
Surah- Ar-Rum 30-22
"And among His signs is the creation of heavens and the earth, and the difference of your languages and colours. verily, in that are indeed signs for men of sound knowledge." Qu'ran
www.suntoumana.blogspot.com |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2006 : 18:19:37
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Please. Gamtel is being asked to take on projects that are not within its terms of reference. They are practically running the TV station and i believe building schools. The TV is not self sustaining and Gamtel puts in millions to pay salaries and equipment in the form of subventions to the treasury when ends up be used at the TV station. Its a fact that the TV is not financed from the recurrent budget. Government does not sustain it but the parastatals and revenue generation is almost negligible.
There has to be cash flow to manage recurrent expenditures and routine maintenances. It also affects its ability to invest in modern technology which we badly need. Gamtel is not a charity organisation. It has to be in business to compete or be reconstituted as an NGO. You cant have it both ways. Its central government's role to spear head development projects and not parastatal institutions.
This is what happened to GPMB when they were required to set up many other corporations beyond absortive capacity like Citro Products, SSHFC, Coommercial bank and many others. Gamtel cannot finanace other companies or create new ones. Its too much to ask from them and then we expect to stay float with modern technology.
Gamtel used to be very efficient in its infancy. You could call for repairs and within an hour there is technician by your office to do the job. You apply for telephone and you are connected under a week. Now, there is a queue and in many places embargos because they cannot have extra lines.
People pray that someone defaults in his payment so that the line is disconnected and given to hungry customers who are on the waiting list. Something went wrong.
The MD used to be the Chairman of the International Telecommunications Union, the world body on communications due mainly to the great strides Gambia had in telcommuncations. We were the best in Africa but today its like trying to have a conversation with the Cave Man.
Certainly Mr. Ndown cannot be reponsible for such a u turn. The signs were there. I dont believe in suprises. |
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MADIBA
United Kingdom
1275 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2006 : 18:28:00
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quote:
Originally posted by kondorong
Please. Gamtel is being asked to take on projects that are not within its terms of reference. They are practically running the TV station and i believe building schools.
There has to be cash flow to manage recurrent expenditures and routine maintenances. It also affects its ability to invest in modern technology which we badly need. Gamtel is not a charity organisation. It has to be in business to compete or be reconstituted as an NGO. You cant have it both ways. Its central government's role to spear head development projects and not parastatal institutions.
This is what happened to GPMB when they were required to set up many other corporations beyond absortive capacity like Citro Products, SSHFC, Coommercial bank and many others. Gamtel cannot finanace other companies or create new ones. Its too much to ask from them and then we expect to stay float with modern technology.
Its more than just financing other projects. Its capability. Managerial excellence. Bakary Njie was also financing but Gamtel has never gone down its knees as it has done under Omar Ndow for two times. During Abou Mboob's short stint too Gamtel was fine with healthy accounts. The man was simply zero in management and administration period.
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madiss |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2006 : 18:36:59
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Madiss
Under Bakary Njie, there was almost complet autonomy with performance contracts signed with the NIB. Targets set and management given the latitude to operate independent of the invisibile hand of the state. You are bound to have results.
Now, its the opposite. All performance contracts have beeen abolished and only one person pulls the strings. Certainly Mr. Ndow is not responsible for that. Our biggest problem is the erosion of authority of office of senior public officials to such a point that messengers are almost co-managing Directors. It all depends on the color of your tie you wear.
Bakary Njie does not have a university degree, but he so has the guts to lead his people. Now you have over 10 Chartered accontants in Gamtel, more than 10 MBAs and countless graduates yet the results are dismal.
The latitude to make decisions without undue interferance is the single most important issue to address. Gamtel should either become a charity organisation and start using the Drum as means of communications or leave them alone to make decisions refelecting their terms of reference.
Technology is very expensive and need huge capital outlays. Proper cash flow management is necessary to finance expenditures. Thats what closed Continent Bank and Gamtel is heading to the days of Cable and Wireless. A company can be making profit and yet bankrupt at the same time.
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MADIBA
United Kingdom
1275 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2006 : 19:05:47
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quote:
Originally posted by kondorong
Madiss
Under Bakary Njie, there was almost complet autonomy with performance contracts signed with the NIB. Targets set and management given the latitude to operate independent of the invisibile hand of the state. You are bound to have results.
Now, its the opposite. All performance contracts have beeen abolished and only one person pulls the strings. Certainly Mr. Ndow is not responsible for that. Our biggest problem is the erosion of authority of office of senior public officials to such a point that messengers are almost co-managing Directors. It all depends on the color of your tie you wear.
I concur to some degree. Abou Mboob though had a short stint, he was known to have strong financial discipline, but the mafia group within misled him and got him into trouble. Mr. Ndow is to blame to some extent, he was there before and should have known the terrain better. The mafia is very strong group they got the former Finance Director Foday Ceesay sacked along with Abou during the $3Million scam with a fictitious company in swiss or Germany can't remember now. Its Mr. Ndow who made Gamtel's coffers free for all. For example during the World u-17 championship in Peru, besides donating handsomely towards the preparation of the team, he authorised the financing of the trip to peru of a number of people some who were even non-Gamtel staff and even paid them per diem. Its insane!!! |
madiss |
Edited by - MADIBA on 21 Nov 2006 19:15:56 |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2006 : 20:17:28
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You see every parastal paid for the Peru trip not only gamtel. This is what Gambians are not being told. The Under 17 team was a baby of every company not the department of state for sports. Confidential memos go around each parastatal to pay for projects in the name of coprate citizenship.
Over time, it only worsens the balance sheet given the fact that most of these expenses are not planned but large enough to affset the financial statements. GRTS was set up by funds from all Parastatals in the name of share capital. Unfortunately, GRTS is not generating any money to her share holders.
Its expensive to run a TV station only to show wrestling matches that do not provide returns in the form of commercials. Gambians must start to pay for TV licenses if they want proper TV programms otherwise it will affect other sectors like Gamtel. We cannot have it both ways. Free TV means poor services in other sectors like Gamtel, Ports Authority, Nawec, GCAA GIA, GPTC which have become cash cows of most development projects in the Gambia.
As our loan profile worsens, overseas capital is curtailed. The option is to look internally and these parastatals become the only option. GPTC is now dead as the DOSE is not paying them for school bus services as agreed but instead asked to offset these cost against possible taxes. The problem is such taxes can only be paid if there is a profit and also at the end of the year. It affects cash flow but also anticipates revenue even before it is realise which is against a key accounting principle called prudence. |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2006 : 20:39:28
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quote:
Originally posted by MADIBA
quote:
Originally posted by kondorong
Madiss
Under Bakary Njie, there was almost complet autonomy with performance contracts signed with the NIB. Targets set and management given the latitude to operate independent of the invisibile hand of the state. You are bound to have results.
Now, its the opposite. All performance contracts have beeen abolished and only one person pulls the strings. Certainly Mr. Ndow is not responsible for that. Our biggest problem is the erosion of authority of office of senior public officials to such a point that messengers are almost co-managing Directors. It all depends on the color of your tie you wear.
I concur to some degree. Abou Mboob though had a short stint, he was known to have strong financial discipline, but the mafia group within misled him and got him into trouble. Mr. Ndow is to blame to some extent, he was there before and should have known the terrain better. The mafia is very strong group they got the former Finance Director Foday Ceesay sacked along with Abou during the $3Million scam with a fictitious company in swiss or Germany can't remember now. Its Mr. Ndow who made Gamtel's coffers free for all. For example during the World u-17 championship in Peru, besides donating handsomely towards the preparation of the team, he authorised the financing of the trip to peru of a number of people some who were even non-Gamtel staff and even paid them per diem. Its insane!!!
there is nothing like a mafia group. if such a group really existed, then they must have been sanctioned to operate that way. Mbood used to work for the Finance ministry and infact i believe aslo for the National Investment Board. He may have worked in the Policy Analysis Unit. That is not very clear to me.
Changing the name NIB to PURA makes no difference. Infact this very government dissolved the parastatal watch dog called NIB when they came to power in 1994 but never filled the vacuum with any supervisory body. So do you blame Mr. Ndow for that. Hell no. |
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MADIBA
United Kingdom
1275 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2006 : 20:56:10
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quote:
Originally posted by kondorong
You see every parastal paid for the Peru trip not only gamtel. This is what Gambians are not being told. The Under 17 team was a baby of every company not the department of state for sports. Confidential memos go around each parastatal to pay for projects in the name of coprate citizenship.
Over time, it only worsens the balance sheet given the fact that most of these expenses are not planned but large enough to affset the financial statements. GRTS was set up by funds from all Parastatals in the name of share capital. Unfortunately, GRTS is not generating any money to her share holders.
Its expensive to run a TV station only to show wrestling matches that do not provide returns in the form of commercials. Gambians must start to pay for TV licenses if they want proper TV programms otherwise it will affect other sectors like Gamtel. We cannot have it both ways. Free TV means poor services in other sectors like Gamtel, Ports Authority, Nawec, GCAA GIA, GPTC which have become cash cows of most development projects in the Gambia.
As our loan profile worsens, overseas capital is curtailed. The option is to look internally and these parastatals become the only option. GPTC is now dead as the DOSE is not paying them for school bus services as agreed but instead asked to offset these cost against possible taxes. The problem is such taxes can only be paid if there is a profit and also at the end of the year. It affects cash flow but also anticipates revenue even before it is realise which is against a key accounting principle called prudence.
My brother are you speaking in the past? As far as i know there are no school buses safe for one that stops somewhere in serrekunda. |
madiss |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 22 Nov 2006 : 23:08:29
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Then that school bus should go to Yoro Bawol. |
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LEMON TIME
Afghanistan
1295 Posts |
Posted - 23 Nov 2006 : 00:10:26
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| On route to SUTUKUNDING and BASSE |
There is no god but Allah |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 23 Nov 2006 : 00:18:28
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| No there will be no stops. Its Express Yoro Bawol. |
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