Gambian Lawmakers Call for Full Implementation of Jammeh Assets Inquiry

Lawmakers in The Gambia are calling for the full implementation of recommendations made by a Special Select Committee investigating the assets of former President Yahya Jammeh.

The call was made on Tuesday during debate on the committee’s report on the sale and disposal of assets linked to Jammeh.

The report presents a comprehensive account of the work carried out by the Special Select Committee, detailing its activities, findings, and recommendations on the legality, transparency, and administrative procedures surrounding the disposal of assets identified by the Janneh Commission and later forfeited to the state.

According to the report, the committee relied on public hearings, witness interviews, statement-taking, documentary analysis, site inspections, and forensic assessments to reach its conclusions.

During the debate, Hon. Suwaibou Touray raised concerns about discrepancies in the financial records related to the sale of Jammeh’s assets.

He noted that the opening balance as of 1 January 2020 stood at more than D94 million, representing proceeds from the sale and trusteeship of Jammeh’s assets in 2019. However, the closing balance for the same year reportedly fell to just over D16 million, leaving a shortfall of more than D78 million.

Touray called for an investigation to ensure accountability for the missing funds.

Member for Upper Fulladou West, Hon. Bakary Kora, expressed disappointment with key government institutions, particularly the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Agriculture.

He argued that if the relevant institutions had carried out their responsibilities effectively, the issue surrounding the management of the assets might not have escalated to its current level.

Meanwhile, Member for Lower Saloum, Hon. Sainey Jawara, accused Jammeh of systematically looting the country, noting that while the Independent Electoral Commission presidential declaration in 2016 listed 32 properties, the committee’s report identified 236 properties linked to the former president.

Several other lawmakers echoed similar concerns during the debate, highlighting what they described as institutional weaknesses, poor record-keeping, and lack of transparency in the handling and disposal of the recovered assets.

Some members also questioned the procedures used in the sale of livestock and other movable assets from Jammeh’s farms, arguing that many transactions were conducted without clear guidelines, transparent valuation processes, or proper oversight.

Others stressed the need for stronger accountability measures and urged the government to act decisively on the committee’s recommendations to prevent similar governance lapses in the future.

The lawmakers emphasised that implementing the recommendations would be crucial in restoring public trust and strengthening transparency in the management of state assets.