Gambia Speaker Lauds Special Committee’s Role in Jammeh Assets Probe

Speaker of National Assembly of the Gambia, Hon. Fabakary Tombong Jatta, has described the establishment of a Special Select Committee to investigate the assets of former President Yahya Jammeh as a significant milestone for transparency and accountability.

He made the remarks on Tuesday at the National Assembly as the report of the Committee on the Inquiry into the assets was about to be presented to lawmakers for scrutiny, consideration, and adoption.

“This moment represents an important milestone in the exercise of the National Assembly’s constitutional mandate of oversight and accountability,” he said.

He added that the establishment of the Special Select Committee reflects the Assembly’s commitment to ensuring that matters of significant national interest, particularly those concerning the management and disposal of public assets, are subjected to thorough parliamentary scrutiny.

The Speaker noted that the work of the Committee is rooted in the findings of the Janneh Commission, which was established to investigate the financial dealings of public institutions and the alleged misappropriation of state resources during the previous administration.

“The assets identified through that process were deemed to belong to the people of The Gambia, and therefore their management, sale, and disposal must meet the highest standards of transparency, legality, and public accountability,” the Speaker said.

He explained that it was against this backdrop that the National Assembly constituted the Special Select Committee to investigate concerns raised regarding the processes surrounding the sale and disposal of these assets.

According to him, the Committee was tasked with examining whether the procedures followed were consistent with the principles of good governance, due process, and the protection of the public interest.

He commended the Chairperson, Committee Members, and staff for their dedication, diligence, and commitment in undertaking what he described as an important national assignment.

The Gambia parliament had on May 15, 2025 established a Special Select Committee tasked with investigating the sale and disposal of assets formerly belonging to ex-President Yahya Jammeh.

The committee was set up during the first extraordinary session of the 2025 legislative year, held on May 14th and 15th, following public outcry regarding asset sales.