Ghanaian judge in Gambia grants leave to victimized journalist

His Lordship Justice Alexander Osei Tutu, a Justice of the High Court, seconded to the Republic of The Gambia by the Government of Ghana, has granted leave to a victimized journalist, Ida Jagne, to file an application for an order of mandamus to compel the Gambian Government to compensate her as a direct victim of the Deyda Hydara shooting incident

Ida Jagne claims among others for the court to order the Gambian Government to compensate her as they did to the family of late Deyda Hydara who was the co-founder and editor of The Point newspaper and was shot and killed on December 16, 2004, by security operatives of the country

The ECOWAS Court ruled that The Gambian Government failed to conduct a proper investigation into his murder and ordered the state to pay US$50,000 to his family

The applicant/journalist, therefore, contends that the Government of Gambia should not compensate the family of Deyda Hydara and neglect her because they were both victims of the same incident which claimed the life of the veteran journalist in the country.

Justice Alexander Osei Tutu of the Banjul High Court on Wednesday, 22nd January 2020, granted the order which was made upon request, one Lawyer, Malick H.B Jallow, Legal Representative for Ida Jagne, now paves the way for the substantive matter to be heard on the 3rd day of February 2020.

The President of Gambia, His Excellency Adama Barrow on Thursday, December 12, 2019, swore into office two new Ghanaian justices to the High Court of The Gambia.

The Two Ghanaian justices: Justice Alexander Osei Tutu and Justice Francis Apangabuno, are both High Court judges in Ghana as well.

While congratulating and welcoming the new appointees to the Gambia's Superior Court, President Barrow recognizes the values of a well-equipped bench to efficient justice delivery in the country.

“This development is part of the process to reinforce professionalism within the legal sector and rebuild our judicial system, which has suffered years of disruption and interference,” he said of the event, which took place at the State House.

The judges are in the country as part of technical assistance from the Republic of Ghana.