Africa-Press – Gambia. Several members of the National Assembly have strongly condemned the forceful removal of Auditor General Modou Ceesay, describing the president’s decision as unconstitutional and a threat to democratic governance.
The matter was first raised by Hon. Almami Gibba, National Assembly Member (NAM) for Foni Kansala, who called it an urgent constitutional crisis that undermines the independence of the National Audit Office.
The debate drew wide participation from lawmakers across the political divide. Many expressed disappointment and concern, insisting that the president had acted outside the law.
Hon. Alfusainey Ceesay, NAM for Sami, urged the president to avoid actions that could destabilize the country. “The president should be advised not to create commotion in this country,” he said.
Minority Leader Hon. Alagie S. Darboe of Brikama North emphasized that the Auditor General’s office is an independent institution, stressing that the president lacked the legal authority to remove Ceesay or reassign him to a ministerial position.
“The office of the auditor is independent, and therefore the president did not have the discretionary powers to remove the AG or reassign him to any ministerial position,” he said.
Hon. Sulayman Saho of Central Badibou described the action as a “total violation” of the constitution. “What happened on the 15th of this month was a total violation of our constitution,” he argued. “The president doesn’t have any power based on our law to give a directive or, through his IG, to give a directive to the security forces to go and remove the Auditor General from his office,” he stated, adding that the move infringed upon Modou Ceesay’s rights.
Hon. Alagie Mbowe of Upper Saloum reminded the Assembly that the Gambia is governed by laws, not personal sentiments. “And in fact that is why we say we are a democratic country, but we must also understand that the constitution and other acts of parliament created independent institutions, and when they are created, they also create laws on appointment and vacation of office,” he said.
The National Assembly Member for Banjul North, Modou Lamin Bah, also weighed in on the matter, stressing that the president cannot govern the country based on personal sentiments or ego.
“We have to understand, and I put it to the president of the Republic of the Gambia, he cannot run this country based on sentiments and ego; this country will not move anywhere. What the president and the office did this time around is wrong. What happened here is devastating and unacceptable. Forcefully removing the auditor general from his office is not correct. I will join other members to ask the president to change or reverse that decision. The auditor general must go back to his office no matter what,” Bah stated.
Hon. Lamin J. Sanneh of Brikama South warned of troubling political trends, particularly ahead of the next electoral cycle. He questioned the validity of the president’s claim that Ceesay had accepted a ministerial appointment. “The auditor general is needed in this place, and in fact, there is no written document that he has accepted. If you have it, give it to the people. The president cannot be listening to so-called advisers; you know the realities on the ground, but every Dick, Tom, and Harry told you to do X, and you continue doing it, is going to have a negative repercussion,” he cautioned.
Several lawmakers echoed the call for the reinstatement of Auditor General Ceesay, insisting that the president’s action set a dangerous precedent and undermined the independence of key state institutions.
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