Dispute Erupts Over Village Health Project in Gambia.
A fight broke out over plans to build a health center for mothers in Chamen village. The government stopped the project, which angered many people.
Momodou Cham runs the project for Chamen Nianija Diaspora Club. His group wanted to spend 7.2 million dalasis on a new ward for mothers. The club helps poor people in Gambia with money from citizens living in other lands.
Seedy Njie sits high up in the government as deputy speaker. People say he blocked the project for his gain. But Njie says this isn't true. He claims the government got money from a big African bank to fix up the whole health center instead.
Cham says Njie isn't telling the truth. "We met at the health center last year," Cham said. "Njie heard all about our plans then." He thinks Njie wants to make their good work look bad.
The project leader wonders about the government's new plan. When President Barrow came to town, he never said a word about fixing the health center. "If they had real plans, someone would have talked about them," Cham said.
This fight shows how hard it can be when people from abroad try to help their hometowns. What seemed like a simple gift turned into a big argument between local leaders.
A fight broke out over plans to build a health center for mothers in Chamen village. The government stopped the project, which angered many people.
Momodou Cham runs the project for Chamen Nianija Diaspora Club. His group wanted to spend 7.2 million dalasis on a new ward for mothers. The club helps poor people in Gambia with money from citizens living in other lands.
Seedy Njie sits high up in the government as deputy speaker. People say he blocked the project for his gain. But Njie says this isn't true. He claims the government got money from a big African bank to fix up the whole health center instead.
Cham says Njie isn't telling the truth. "We met at the health center last year," Cham said. "Njie heard all about our plans then." He thinks Njie wants to make their good work look bad.
The project leader wonders about the government's new plan. When President Barrow came to town, he never said a word about fixing the health center. "If they had real plans, someone would have talked about them," Cham said.
This fight shows how hard it can be when people from abroad try to help their hometowns. What seemed like a simple gift turned into a big argument between local leaders.
