Gambia: Bala Garba Jahumpa is new Information Minister

By Shout-Africa.com Gambia Correspondent – President Yahya Jammeh has appointed veteran politician and diplomat Bala Garba Jahumpa as the new Minister of Information and Communication Infrastructure, a news release from the presidency announced Tuesday evening.

Bala Garba Jahumpa the new Minister of Information and Communication Infrastructure

Bala Garba Jahumpa the new Minister of Information and Communication Infrastructure

A graduate of Vassar College in the United States of America, Jahumpa, who until his appointment was Gambia’s ambassador to Venezuela, will fill a post that has been vacant since Jammeh named his new Cabinet in January 2012.

A bachelor’s degree holder in international relations and political science, Bala Garba Jahumpa served as Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs from 1994 to 1995.

On 20th March 1995, he was named Minister of Trade, Industry and Employment, but on 5th July, he was again appointed as Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, serving in that position until 1997.

He was then Deputy High Commissioner of the Gambia in the United Kingdom from July 1997 to May 1999 and was Acting High Commissioner there from May 1999 to June 2001. After serving for a time as Ambassador to Cuba, he became Secretary of State for Works, Construction and Infrastructure in October 2003.

On 26th October 2006, President Yahya Jammeh revoked Maba Jobe’s appointment as Secretary of State of Foreign Affairs and appointed Jahumpa in his place, with effect from the previous day.

Jahumpa himself was replaced in this position by Crispin Grey Johnson in mid-September 2007.

Born on 20th July 1958, Jahumpa was subsequently designated as Ambassador to Venezuela.