His Excellency the president of the Republic of The Gambia, Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya AJJ Jammeh, has effected changes in cabinet, according to a press release from the Office of the President.

According to the release, the president, acting under the provisions of Section 71 (4) (b) of  the Constitution of the Republic of The Gambia, has decided to relieve Crispin Grey-Johnson, secretary of state for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, and Fatim Badjie-Janneh, secretary of state for Communications, Information and Information Technology, of their cabinet appointments, with effect from yesterday, February 5th, 2009.

 In another development, the release added, His Excellency the president, in exercise of the powers conferred upon him under Sections 71 (1) and 71 (3) of the Constitution of the Republic of The Gambia, has appointed Omar Ndow as secretary of state for Communications, Information and Information Technology. The portfolio of  secretary of state for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, the release added, has been brought under the Office of the President, to be overseen by the Secretary to the Cabinet with effect from yesterday, 5th February, 2009.

Reacting to this development, Crispin Grey-Johnson expressed his gratitude to the president for giving him the opportunity to serve his country.  A seasoned diplomat, Crispin has served The Gambia for a span of 10 years as a diplomat. He has served in Washington DC as The Gambia's ambassador to the US.

He also served as the country's representative in Sierra Leone, accredited to Liberia and Ivory Coast and until his appointment to Cabinet, was at the United Nations in New York, as the country's permanent representative.