Mr. Balla Garba Jahumpa, affectionately called Action Man, former Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, has been appointed first Gambian Ambassador to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, reliable sources informed this paper. Mr. Jahumpa joined Diplomatic Service in 1982.

Following the take over in July 1994, Mr. Jahumpa was appointed Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs before being assigned to Trade, Industry and Employment from March 1995 to July 1995. Thenceforth he was re-appointed as Finance Minister until 1997. He was thereafter deployed to the Diplomatic Service from July 1997 to May 2001 as Deputy High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. Between May 2001 and September 2003, he served as the first Gambian Ambassador to Cuba, where he remained until his recall and subsequent appointment as Secretary of State for Works, Construction, Infrastructure and National Assembly Matters from 2003 to October 2006.

He got appointed as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs from October 2006 to August 2007.

Mr. Jahumpa is among the top stalwarts of APRC. He is fluent in English and Spanish and his appointment as Ambassador to Venezuela is believed to be a good move for the reinforcement of relations between the two allies.