Africa-Press – Gambia. The Barrow administration is neither committed to these principles nor have the courage to be servants of the people.
Janneh Commission of inquiry was set up by the government according to the constitution to investigate the financial dealings and related matters of former President Yahya Jammeh. Recommendations were given and the white paper issued by the Government.
A Committee was set up to recuperate the losses of the Gambian people during the presidency of Jammeh.
Despite the rejection of some of the recommendations, the assets were auctioned inappropriately without transparency, accounting to the Gambians.
An independent medium investigation revealed disturbing revelations on the sales of the former president’s assets.
On the 8th May, some concerned Gambians gathered in Banjul as a sit down protest to demand their right to information on these assets and got arrested.
This act of the government is not in conformity with Section 25 of the 1997 constitution which governs the Gambia. It is disgraceful that the government is forgetting the “never again” mantra by using the out dated public order Act as an instrument to punish the citizens on any form of assembly. If the government was transparent and willing to be accountable to the people, respect the constitution and understand that the citizens’ demand are participatory in the governance process , this arrest would not take place. Considering the energy, cost national and international media attraction caused by this , the Gambia Police Force should engage and permit individuals and groups to prevent such incidents by working together with them. These public institutions should also not allow themselves to be used as instruments to protect what is unjust. We have enough to learn from in the past.
I urge the Government to take responsibility in this lack of transparency and accountability they endured and release these individuals unconditionally and uphold the rights and freedoms of the people.
This unlawful act of the government and its agents should be stopped by ensuring a change of government in 2026 as the only way forward otherwise risk of returning to dictatorship and even worse type than before.
Cllr Mc Cham jnr
Source: Kerr Fatou Online Media House
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