Ibrahima Garba Jahumpa

Ibrahima Muhammadu/Momodou Garba-Jahumpa (22 November 1912 – 4 September 1994) was a Gambian trade union leader and politician who served as the Minister of Agriculture, Minister for Health and Minister for Finance.

Early life and education Ibrahima Momodou Garba-Jahumpa was born on 22 November 1912, in Bathurst (now Banjul), the Gambia, into a Muslim Wolof family. He was the son of Momodu Jahumpa. He began his education at the Mohammedan School in Bathurst (1925–1930). He earned a government scholarship to St. Augustine's Secondary School.

Ibrahima's political journey began in 1942 as a nominated member of the municipal council, with his success a result of his connection to the Muslim population.

During his formative years, Ibrahima embarked on his political apprenticeship and trade unionism under the guidance of Edward Francis Small, who is widely regarded as the father of Gambian trade unionism. Small took Ibrahima to the 1945 World International Trade Union Conference in London, where he had the opportunity to meet influential African leaders such as Jomo Kenyatta and Kwame Nkrumah. Ibrahima also participated in the Fifth Pan-African Congress held in Manchester, representing the Gambia Labour Union which he was Secretary, which was a significant point in his life.

In May 1946, Ibrahima played a pivotal role in reviving the Bathurst Young Muslims Society (BYMS). He also ran as a candidate in his home area of Half Die during the 1946 election and was elected as one of three BYMS candidates to the (BTC), a seat he held almost continuously until 1968. In 1959, he became the first Gambian to assume the position of Chairman (now known as Mayor) of the BTC. Simultaneously, he continued work as a tutor at the Teachers' Training College in Georgetown from 1949 to 1950 and served as the headmaster of Bakau School from 1950 to 1951.

In 1951, Ibrahima founded and led the Gambia Muslim Congress and was elected to the Legislative Council of the Gambia, alongside John Colley Faye and Henri Madi. and subsequently was present at Marlborough House, London, as the Gambia Independence Act 1964 was signed, before its independence on 18 February 1965.

In 1965, Ibrahima aligned himself with the United Party to successfully oppose the republic referendum, campaigning against Dawda Jawara's alleged intention to merge with Senegal's Léopold Sédar Senghor and create the Senegambia Confederation.

Finally, in the 1966 election, Ibrahima was elected to the House of Representatives, representing Bathurst South (Half Die). However, in a surprising turn of events in March 1968, he disbanded the GCP and joined Dawda Jawara's People's Progressive Party. This decision proved fruitful as he was appointed the Minister of Health. Ibrahima successfully retained the Banjul South seat in the 1972 general election and was subsequently promoted to Minister of Finance a few months later.

He has a street named after him in Bakau New Town, Banjul.