In our Thursday edition, The Alkamba Times reported that Dr. Baboucarr Cham had resigned as Principal of the Sami Institute of Nursing and Health Sciences amid concerns over an alleged conflict of interest in his roles within Gambia’s nursing education and regulation sector.
We wish to clarify and correct this report. Dr. Baboucarr Cham has NOT resigned as the substantive Principal of the Sami Institute of Nursing and Health Sciences. He continues to discharge his duties as Principal with full authority.
The error arose from misleading information provided to our newsroom. What actually occurred is that Dr. Cham resigned as a council member of the Gambia National Licensing Examination (GaNLEX), not from his position as Principal. This resignation was in response to public scrutiny and concerns regarding potential conflict of interest arising from his dual roles in nursing education and the examination process.
We deeply regret this inaccuracy and the confusion it may have caused to our readers, to the management and staff of the Sami Institute of Nursing and Health Sciences, and particularly to Dr. Baboucarr Cham himself. We sincerely apologize for the error and any distress or inconvenience it may have caused.
For the avoidance of doubt, the official position of the institution, as communicated in an internal memorandum dated 27th March 2026 and signed by Vice Principal Lamin Jaiteh, categorically states that reports alleging Dr. Cham’s resignation as Principal are “completely false, misleading, and unfounded.” The memorandum reaffirms that Dr. Cham remains the substantive Principal and continues to serve with commitment.
We value accuracy and responsible journalism. Unfortunately, our sources on this matter led us astray, and we have taken steps to verify future information more rigorously through official institutional channels.
We once again extend our unreserved apology to Dr. Baboucarr Cham, the Sami Institute of Nursing and Health Sciences, and our esteemed readers.
The Alkamba Times remains committed to transparent and factual reporting on matters affecting Gambia’s health education sector. We will continue to monitor developments regarding the GaNLEX and broader issues of conflict of interest in nursing regulation and training, and will provide updates through proper verification.
We appreciate your understanding and continued trust in our publication.
Signed
TAT Editorial Board
