Africa-Press – Gambia. In a bold display of civic engagement, the youth-led advocacy group Gambians Against Looted Assets (GALA) on Wednesday, 23 July 2025, staged a large protest march from Iceman Junction in Kanifing to the Westfield Youth Monument.
The demonstrators, drawn from across the country, delivered five comprehensive petitions to key government institutions, demanding urgent and decisive action against corruption, malgovernance and public sector impunity.
The peaceful protest, organized under the theme of accountability and transparency, marks GALA’s second major demonstration this year. Which uncovered questionable transactions and asset disposals linked to former President Yahya Jammeh. The disclosures have reignited national concern over public sector accountability and the state’s handling of looted assets.
Omar Camara spokesperson of GALA, led the protest, emphasizing the group’s non-partisan stance and its commitment to national interest. Addressing the crowd before delivering the petitions, Camara said, “We are not here to play politics. We are here to defend the future of our country. Corruption is bleeding this nation dry, and we demand action not tomorrow, but today.”
The first petition, addressed to the Office of the President, called for immediate executive action on the findings of a joint committee report from the National Assembly, which uncovered alleged embezzlement amounting to thirty million dollars in the petroleum sector. The petition urged President Barrow’s government to act swiftly on the report’s recommendations and hold those responsible to account.
A second petition was delivered to the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly, urging lawmakers to initiate an independent investigation into irregularities surrounding land allocations across the country. GALA cited growing public concern about the opaque and often discriminatory processes involved in the distribution of state lands, calling for fairness and transparency in land governance.
The third petition, directed to the Gambia Association of Local Governments, demanded a thorough audit and investigation into financial mismanagement within local councils. GALA is pushing for the recovery of looted funds and disciplinary measures against officials implicated in corruption, arguing that local government remains a critical point of service delivery that must not be compromised by malpractice.
In the fourth petition submitted to both the National Sports Council and the Gambia Football Federation, urging them to release long-awaited investigation reports concerning alleged corruption within the GFF. The group emphasized that the integrity of national sports institutions must be safeguarded, especially given their role in youth development and national representation.
The final petition again targeted the Office of the President, this time urging swift and tangible action on the recommendations issued by the National Assembly’s inquiry into the Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) crisis, which led to the tragic deaths of over seventy children in 2022. GALA warned that justice must be served and that institutional negligence must not go unpunished.
Each of the five petitions was formally received by representatives of the various institutions. Protesters expressed hope that the government would move beyond acknowledgment and deliver concrete responses and reforms.
Speaking at the close of the demonstration, Camara reiterated the group’s resolve to keep pressing for change. “This is only the beginning. If there is no action, we will return stronger and louder. The Gambian people will not be silenced,” he said.
Wednesday’s protest concluded peacefully, in a clear message and the demand for integrity, justice, and good governance.
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