Gambia’s president Adama Barrow on Wednesday issued a statement announcing the death of Vice President Badara Alieu Joof.
“It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing away of my Vice President, His Excellency, Badara Alieu Joof,” the statement reads.
According to President Barrow, Joof was in India at the time of his death where he was seeking treatment after a short illness. The Vice president left Gambia three weeks ago to seek medical treatment.
The case of his death is not clear but unconfirmed reports of his illness began circulating in December 2022.
Badara Joof was appointed vice president in December 2021 after President Barrow was re-elected for his second term.
Before being appointed vice president, he served as the Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology from 2017 to 2022.
Joof Badara was born in 1958. He attended his High school at Armitage High School and trained as a teacher at Yundum Teachers’ College.
He attained a bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Bristol, a master’s degree in English literature from the University of London, and a master’s degree in development economics from the University of Bath.
He began his career as a qualified teacher, teaching English at the Gambia College. He was then made the head of the department of languages and literature at Nusrat High School.
He also became the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Education for many years.
On 22 February 2017, President Adama Barrow appointed Joof as his Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology.
In December 2021, Joof was appointed Vice president, an office he served in till the time of his death.
Joof Badara becomes the first Vice President to die in office. He will be remembered by the Gambians as their favourite politician for his views on government.
Furthermore, he will be remembered for the famous statement he made during a meeting with senior civil servants where he was quoted saying, “ it can not be business as usual in the civil service. We must deliver to the Gambian people”.
