Rasta presidential aspirant, Banky's campaign manager is in trouble. He's languishing at the Mile 2 prison in Banjul for allegedly trafficking marijuana.

Famara Sillah was last month brought before Magistrate Mbeng Faal of the Kanifing Magistrates Court and charged with possession of prohibited drugs for the purpose of drug trafficking contrary to section 43 (4) (b) of the Drug Control Act 2003.

He pleaded not guilty on all charges against him and was sent to Mile 2 prison until March 20, when his case resumes at Kanifing. 

When we asked one of the prosecutors at the Drug Law Enforcement Agency The Gambia (DLEAG) why Sillah wasn't granted bail, he responded: "His lawyer has applied for bail at the High Court. He wasn't denied bail but the offense that he is charged with is only bailable by the High Court and that can take a bit of time."

Banky, whose real name is Bankole Yao Jojo Ahadzie, is the country's first Rastafarian presidential aspirant. The 43-year-old is an internet engineer.

In a Facebook post, he disclosed that his campaign manager is "being targeted and provoked to react in a way that looks bad in the eyes of the general public."

The presidential aspirant continued: "We resolved to show everyone that we will not be defeated by provocation. Already we are the voice of the voiceless. We want to be good examples that others will follow.

"We know that Rastas have an undeservedly bad image but we have never been associated with violence. We don't believe in it, we don't condone it. We will show the world that we are ready, willing and able to do the work. Rasta don't come to bow. We come to conquer." 

If found guilty, Famara could spend more than 10 years in prison.