Ambassador Bah assumes duties in Washington, D.C.

Ambassador Bah was appointed Ambassador on 8 July, 2022. His appointment got here on the heels of the premature demise of the late Ambassador H.E. Dawda Fadera on 20 February, 2022.

Together with his appointment, Ambassador Bah is now the 13 (13) appointed Ambassador of the Republic of The Gambia to america of America because the Embassy was established in 1979. He’s tasked to solidify diplomatic relations between Banjul and Washington, Canada, Federative Republic of Brazil and Mexico.

Background

The Embassy in Washington, D.C. was established by the Authorities of His Excellency Alhaji Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara in 1979.  In response to Mr. Hassoum Ceesay, Historian and Director on the Nationwide Centre for Arts and Tradition, tradition shaped the idea for the institution of The Gambia’s first-ever diplomatic mission in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Ceesay recalled that the concept of opening an Embassy in america got here to the Jawara Authorities following the publication of Alex Haley’s e book – The Roots. He mentioned earlier than the publication of the e book, the movie on Roots was launched in 1977. This, he added, made The Gambia in style within the U.S. and the Authorities was suggested to take advantage of the publicity that The Gambia might acquire from the publication of the e book and the discharge of the movie which has its topic ‘Kunta Kinteh of Jufureh’, The Gambia.

Mr. Ceesay mentioned on account of this growth, in 1977 The Gambia Authorities determined to ship a Cultural Mission to america of America. The goal of the Cultural Mission, he mentioned, was to utilise the publicity that Alex Haley had created, thus giving The Gambia a greater picture and a greater presence in america of America, and in North America and within the Caribbean.

He mentioned a twenty-one (21) member Cultural Mission was dispatched and headed by Dr. Lenrie Peters, the then Chairman of the Nationwide Museum and Monuments Fee, who was accompanied by the next officers: Mr. Bakary Sidibeh, Tradition Officer at Workplace of the President, Mr. Charles Thomas, Assistant Secretary on the Workplace of the President, Mr. Sime Kinteh, a excessive rating officer on the Ministry of Schooling, Mr. Junydi Jallow, a Tourism officer on the Nationwide Tourism Workplace of The Gambia. The group was additionally accompanied by nice Mandinka singer and kora participant, Mr. Nana Sakliba and Mr. Jali Nyma Susso; and nice Wollof Halam participant, Mr. Abdoulie Samba.

He mentioned the amount of cash spent by the Jawara Authorities on air tickets and perdiems and the full price connected to transporting 21 member delegation to North America reveals how decided and prepared the Authorities was to begin to dialogue with the folks of America.

He mentioned that the journey was profitable and the delegation visited 13 States in America earlier than going to the Caribbean the place in addition they did a presentation on The Gambia. Mr. Ceesay defined that in every of the States, the delegation met with the Governor (now Congressman) of that State and different influential black Africans in media, politics, and enterprise and in diplomacy.

He mentioned when the delegation returned to Banjul, they submitted a report and really useful that The Gambia ought to make greatest use of Alex Haley’s e book which gave the nation a giant title by opening a diplomatic illustration within the type of an Embassy in america of America.    

The advice for opening of an Embassy, Mr. Ceesay revealed was very interesting to the then Secretary Basic Workplace of the President, Mr. Eric Christensen, who he mentioned suggested former President His Excellency Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara to approve the opening of The Gambia’s first Diplomatic Mission in Washington, D.C. He concluded that the method to open the Embassy took the Authorities a while earlier than lastly opening it in 1979.