In this edition, we bring you the profile of a seasoned diplomat who doubles as the current President of the Majmou Atu Rawdatul Majaalis, an association for reviving the Ancestral Islamic and Educational Heritage of The Gambia and the Sub-Region.

The seasoned diplomat is one of The Gambia’s most respected citizens whose image internationally is something to be reckoned with.

Mr. Drammeh a resident of Brikama town in West Coast Region served as Ambassador Extra Ordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of The Gambia to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with a concurrent accredited to the following countries:  the State of  Kuwait, the State of Qatar, the State of Bahrain, the Sultanate of Oman, the United Arab Emirates, the Islamic Republic of Iraq, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Arab Republic of Egypt, the Republic of Turkey, the Republic of Lebanon, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and High Commissioner to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the OAU and OIC.

He served as the Commissioner of Oaths from 2001 to date and a freelance translator English/Arabic during OAU and AU conferences and meetings within more than a decade in different African countries to date.

Mr. Drammeh also served as the Vice Chairperson of both the National Media Commission of the Republic of The Gambia between 2003 to 2005 and Information and cultural Committee-The Gambia Supreme Islamic Council from 2001 to date.

SERVICE HISTORY

A seasoned diplomat, Drammeh from 1991 to 1995 also served as the Consular General to the Republic of Guinea Bissau, Consular General, and The Gambian Embassy in Washington D.C. USA from 1988 to 1991.

Between1986 to 1988 he served as the Senior Assistant Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, Banjul office and from 1985 to 1986 he was the Principal Assistant Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, Banjul, The Gambia.

From 1983 to 1984 he was the First Secretary, The Gambia High Commission to Dakar, Senegal and from 1983 to 1984 he served as the Assistant Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, Banjul Office.

1980 to 1983 Drammeh was the Acting Secretary, The Gambian Embassy in Jeddah, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and from 1976 to 1980 he served as the Second Secretary, The Gambian Embassy in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

From 1974 to 1976 he served as the Consular Attaché’, The Gambian Embassy in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and from 1973 to 1974 he served as the Teacher in the Education Department of the Ministry of Education, Youths Sports and Culture of The Gambia.

EDUCATION ACHIEVEMENT

Alhaji Abubakar Drammeh has a Bachelor of Arts (B.A Hons) from at Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt in 1971 and certificate of Merit in English Language at Oxford Academy of English, England from 1976 to 1977.

He graduated with a diploma in translation from Arabic to English from the Polytechnic of Central London, England from 1977 to 1978 and a Post-Graduate Diploma in International Relations at the University of Nairobi, Kenya.

MEMBERSHIP IN GOVERNMENT BODIES

Rawdatul Majaalis President, Alhaji Baba Abubakar Drammeh served as the member of Board of Governors of The Gambia College from 1984 to 1987 and member of the Law Reform Commission of the Government of The Gambia from 1986 to 1988.

From 1987 to 1988 he served as the Chairman of the Sub-committee of the Scholarship Advisory committee of the Ministry of Education, Youths Sports and Culture of The Gambia on Arabic/Islamic Education.

He translated over five Islamic Books from Arabic to English written by Gambian Islamic scholars both within and outside the country; key among them were: Alhaji Muhammad El-Sanusi Jabbie’s Islamic Book: “Islam and Racial Prejudice”, Alhaji Basiro Darboe of Badibou Darslam’s Islamic Book  “Form of Worship in Islam”, and Muhammed Fadel Fadera’s Islamic Book “Against Ahamadiyya Jama’t” among others.

In October 2017 Members of the Majmou Atu Rawdatul Majaalis Islamic organization which comprises Majlis sects through-out the country unanimously selected, Alhaji Baba Abubakar Drammeh during their First-ever congress held at Boffer Zone in Talinding as their President.

In August 2018 they (Majmou Atu Rawdatul Majaalis) also conferred on him the grand position of Sheikh Ul-Ayingma and as an Islamic Scholar and seasoned diplomat. Baba Abubakar Drammeh has recently published his biography in a 50 page book.

Mr. Drammeh has travelled far and wide to many African, Middle East, Asian, American and European nations. He is multilingual and speaks fluent English, Arabic and French.

By Lamin Darboe