By: Nyima Sillah
Scores of Gambians in Turkey have accused Gambian Ambassador to Turkey, Alkali F. Conteh of his failure to take up responsibility for the Gambians living in Turkey, especially for those that are in prison.
In a telephone interview Ya Combeh Gaye, Assistance Secretary of the Gambia Association Istanbul Turkey expressed dismay about the Ambassador saying the Gambian Embassy in Turkey is not doing its best for them.
She disclosed that since Ambassador Alkali Conteh came to Turkey, he has never at any time met the Gambian community in the country.
She expounded that when Ambassador Alkali came to Istanbul the executive members of the Gambian Association met him and explained their challenges. He (Ambassador Conteh)then stated that President Barrow told him that he is aware of the issues Gambians are facing in Istanbul and he assured them that he will make issues of Gambians in Turkey a priority before the president.
Now, “Even to reach him on the phone is a problem. They gave us a lot of flimsy excuses they are here because of us. But if they are not executing their work right, we have all the right to speak up and tell them they are not doing what is required of them. I want to tell President Adama Barrow that if they are to appoint the people that will be working in the embassy, let them appoint people that are willing to do the work as required and able to do the work as expected and not in their personal interest,” she stressed.
However, she said the way some Gambians are living in Turkey is very disheartening especially those in prison, adding that every day “if you wake up, you should expect to see yourself in prison especially if you don’t have document because the police used to stop people on the road before but now they do house-to-house control, too.”
She opined that even the Secretary of the Gambian Association has been deported and now most of the people rely on her to explain their difficulties, noting some even wanted to be deported because the way they are living in Turkey is terrible.
She reiterated that reaching out to the Gambia Embassy or the Ambassador is always a problem, saying this is one of the reasons some of them stay long in prison.
“We lodge our complaints to all the previous vice presidents of the Gambia during their visit here same to the Foreign Minister who promised to look into the matter. Now that President Barrow has appointed a Protocol and a Welfare Officer, SherrifoSonko, whom we are waiting to receive, we hope that there will be changes, we hope that he will make a change because he would be responsible for the welfare of the Gambian community. We have that trust in him and we expect him to fulfill his responsibility.”
Another Gambian who wants to be anonymous urged the Gambia Embassy in Angara to always respond to the calls of Gambians, adding “The Embassy is here for the citizens of the Gambia so he (Ambassador) should always respond to our needs.
He pointed out that whenever they need the consular in Istanbul he usually says he “will work with the students rather than those that came to hustle. We are pleading to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to talk to Ambassador Alkali Conteh, and the Consular in Istanbul to change their ways of work, take up responsibilities and note that we are all Gambians, and for the Foreign Affairs to dialogue with Turkey’s government to solve the issues of Gambian’s in Turkey.”
However, an extract from the audio of a Gambian prisoner from one of the camps there said the authorities are talking about deporting them to the Gambia. “The Embassy never called this camp to know how we are fearing and we are 6 Gambians here. We want to leave this place it has been 11 months and we don’t even know our status we are not here to joke. We are here to struggle and we have a family that relies on us.”
Another Gambian prisoner in audio also said they are in Ankara camp for over 3 months and is about three of them there, noting they are there before Ramadan without knowing their status. “I called the Ambassador but he never picks up and the situation here is terrible likewise the food.”