In a letter conveying the news to Dr. Touray, Swaebou Conateh  of the Dippakunda based Gambia Communication Agency and Baroueli  Enterprise, the publisher of  The News and Report” weekly, stated that her selection was because of the way she has, courageously accepted, with great commitment dedication and tenacity,  to serve as the main driving force behind   the pursuit for gender equality and against harmful traditional practices affecting the health of women in the socio-cultural context that still distances itself from any serious public discussions of such well rooted sensititive taboos and traditional practices.

The release said, she has unabashedly and resolutely taken front on, and with remarkable success, the fight to “Drop the Knife” for female circumscision.

The release further noted that she also used irrefutable proof, conducted with tact, sensitivity, perseverance and due regard, this anti-FGM campaign with over 40 communities and group in The Gambia and –to include Gambian, Senegalese, Malian and Mauritanian communities in Europe, a measure which has saved many girl children from the ill-effects of FGM thus improving the maternal and child morality rates of Gambia’s health index.

The release pointed out that, she persuaded Gambian religious leaders and convinced community elders, women’s groups and women circumcisers themselves to join and support the “Drop the Knife” campaign.

According to release the management of “The Gambia News and Report” magazine is satisfied that she   has met all the criteria for selecting her as “Gambian of the year 2008” (Man of the Year for male)
 
It could be recalled that the Gambia News and Report magazine designated “Gambian of the Year 2007” to the Gambia leader President Yahya Jammeh.