The president, according to the GRTS television news yesterday evening, has appointed Mr. Balla Garba Jahumpa as the new Minister of Information, Communication and Information Technology, which has been vacant since February 2012, following the formation of the new cabinet after the 2011 presidential election. The last holder of the portfolio was Mr. Alagi Cham, who was the former General Manager of Gamcel GSM Company.

Mr. Jahumpa, who until recently was serving in the diplomatic service, is not a new entrant to cabinet. He first served in the Jammeh cabinet as Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs under the AFPRC transitional military government. He was later transferred as Minister to the Ministry of Trade and Industry and then Works and Communication and finally Foreign Affairs before being relieved of his cabinet position.