Africa-Press – Gambia. President Adama Barrow’s address to the nation today was not just disappointingly brief but a blatant evasion of responsibility at a time when tensions are high and citizens demand answers. His refusal to institute a presidential inquiry into the sale of Jammeh’s properties, instead delegating it to the NPP-dominated National Assembly and the National Audit Office (NAO), is a calculated delay tactic designed to bury the issue until public outrage fades.
President Barrow’s sudden reliance on the NAO is surprising. This is the same leader who dismissed audit reports as “mere opinions” when they exposed corruption under his watch, including the D300 million Ports Authority scandal and missing COVID-19 funds. Now, he claims to trust their investigation? His record speaks louder:
-Faraba Banta Report: Ignored.
-TRRC Recommendations: Slow-walked, leaving victims in limbo.
-Anti-Corruption Law: Passed under pressure but lacks enforcement.
His promise to implement recommendations to the letter is a recycled joke. Gambians remember his unfulfilled vows on not serving more than 3 years, term limits, the 2020 draft constitution, and justice for Jammeh-era crimes.
The National Assembly, stacked with NPP loyalists, cannot deliver impartial oversight. Their rejection of the 2020 constitution, to protect Barrow’s term ambitions and rejection of diaspora voting, proves they prioritize party over nation. Expecting them to investigate Jammeh’s assets fairly is like asking arsonists to probe a fire.
Barrow’s government consistently blocks anti-corruption protests and threatens critics like activist Madi Jobarteh, whom he accused of “setting the country ablaze” for demanding accountability. Today’s speech further confirms his intolerance for scrutiny.
UDP demands for:
An Independent Presidential Commission to investigate Jammeh’s asset sales, free from NPP interference.
Immediate Implementation of all TRRC and Faraba Banta recommendations.
Release all audit reports and prosecute those named, including Barrow allies.
End the politicized denial of permits for anti-corruption demonstrations.
President Barrow’s address was a masterclass in deflection. Gambians see through his theatrics. The UDP will not relent in exposing this government’s corruption and fighting for justice, whether through the courts, streets, or the ballot box in 2026.
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