Africa-Press – Gambia. Attorney General and Minister of Justice Dawda A. Jallow appeared before the National Assembly Special Select Committee to provide an update on the sale and management of properties formerly owned by ex-President Yahya Jammeh.
During his testimony, Mr. Jallow detailed the current status of the asset sales and the role of the government task force overseeing the process. He said the disposals were conducted in three phases, with the fourth and final phase still pending.
“So it’s the phase four final sales that are pending. Valuations of the properties were done and submitted to the task force. The task force met over those valuations and decided that those valuations were overtaken by time in the sense that they were done a long time ago,” Jallow said.
The attorney general indicated that the government is carefully reconsidering whether all remaining properties need to be sold. “I have received instructions that, let’s hold on, because the government might not necessarily have to end up selling those properties. Because the government is in need of certain properties for use, that is where we are,” he said. The cabinet or another competent authority will make decisions on the future of these assets.
Mr. Jallow explained that sales were temporarily halted to allow the National Assembly Select Committee to conduct its inquiry. “It would have made sense that you launch an inquiry, and then we would be busy selling. We need to allow you to do your job and probably advise.”
On specific properties, he noted that a property on Daniel Goddard Street in Banjul, recommended for allocation to the Gambia Tourism Board, was sold according to the receiver’s report and did not revert to the government. He also referenced Hamza Barracks, which had initially been sold but later reverted, noting that both the initial sale and reversal occurred before his tenure as minister.
Mr. Jallow emphasized that phase one of the sales had been approved before he was appointed attorney general. He concluded that the government is advising itself on the best way forward and will act based on recommendations from competent authorities.
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