Armed Forces pull retired CDS Drammeh out of service
By Fatou Dahaba
Retired Chief of Defense Staff, Lieutenant General Yakuba A. Drammeh, has been ceremoniously pulled out of the Gambia Armed Forces in a grand parade at Fajara Barracks in Bakau.
The event, a military tradition honoring retiring Generals, was attended by top-ranking military officials including the new Chief of Defense Staff Major General Mamat O. Cham, The Minister of Defense Ambassador Sering Modou Njie, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Security Chiefs, Friends and Family members.
General Drammeh was born on August 29th1963, in Bwiam Foni Kansala District, West Coast Region. He started his military career in August 1985 and held various positions nationally and internationally.
He was appointed Chief of Defense Staff by President Adama Barrow on March 2020. Prior to his appointment, he served as the Deputy CDS since May 2015, at the defense headquarters in Banjul.
General Yakuba A. Drammeh is a distinguish graduate of the Nigerian armed forces command and staff college where he won the award of the best international student. He also attended various military professional trainings in the USA, UK, Pakistan among others.
The outgoing CDS is described by Lieutenant Colonel Abdoulie Mboob, State Guard Commander as a mentor, great commander and a patriotic citizen of the Gambia. “He is a man with impeccable character, wisdom, dignity, knowledge, charisma and above all a leader who has given almost 40 years of service to the Gambia armed force and the nation.”
He is the first officer in the Gambia armed force who made it to the finish line at the top position of the ladder with merits and retired at the statutory age of retirement. Although many left at the top line but did not cut the ribbon.
During his tenure as the CDS, General Drammeh played a pivotal role in providing continues capacity building training program for the armed force and improved the welfare of soldiers in terms of feeding. He also made sure the army remains apolitical and united as people with one goal.
The pulling out parade marked the official conclusion of General Yakuba A. Drammeh’s distinguish military career, leaving behind a legacy of dedication, leadership, and contributions to national security.
