Hon. Abdoulie Ceesay has said that the inconsistencies between the records of various Government Institutions entrusted with the custody and control of all movable and immovable properties were troubling.
The Chairperson of Special Select Committee on the Inquiry into the Sale and Disposal of Assets Identified by the Commission of Inquiry into the Financial Activities of Public Bodies, Enterprises and Offices in their dealings with Former President Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh and other connected matters (otherwise referred to as the ‘Janneh Commission’) made these remarks when he was presenting his Committee’s for the consideration at the National Assembly
“These discrepancies contributed to uncertainty about the true status of several properties and assets,” he elucidated.
He noted that his committee observed significant variance in institutional performance, adding that certain agencies, such as the Central Bank of The Gambia, demonstrated strict adherence to statutory mandates and financial governance norms.
In contrast, he said others exhibited profound gaps, ranging from missing files and incomplete asset registers to improper reliance on verbal directives and undocumented decisions.
He stated that the Assembly mandated this inquiry to re-establish a complete and authoritative account of how public assets, including lands, vehicles, livestock, aircraft, monies, and other properties, were managed, preserved, disposed of, or otherwise treated during and after the work of the Janneh Commission.
He further noted that the Committee approached this responsibility with the seriousness it deserves, conscious that public trust in institutions depends on the integrity with which public assets are administered.
“Over the course of our work, the Committee received and reviewed a substantial body of evidence, including testimonies from senior public officials, legal practitioners, receivers, technical experts, board chairpersons, directors of government agencies, and members of the defunct Janneh Commission,” Hon. Ceesay said.
According to him, they examined documentary exhibits sourced from multiple public institutions, reviewed administrative and legal instruments, and scrutinised financial records, Cabinet-level memoranda, and correspondence relevant to the disposal of assets.
These testimonies and documents, he said, formed the evidential foundation of the Committee’s findings and recommendations.
The chairperson of the committee pointed out: “The Report reveals a number of systemic weaknesses. Witness testimony consistently pointed to fragmented institutional arrangements, poor documentation culture, and lapses in inter-agency coordination. At several junctures, evidence disclosed serious governance failures, including instances where disposals occurred without proper legal authority, where oversight responsibilities were unclear or unexercised, and where critical public assets continued to be handled through informal practices inconsistent with the standards expected in a modern democratic State.”
In discharging its mandate, he said the Committee was guided by the Assembly’s constitutional role to uphold transparency, demand accountability, and strengthen public governance systems.
He believed that their purpose has been forward-looking: to identify gaps in existing frameworks, to recommend reforms that will prevent a recurrence of the failures identified, and to reinforce institutional safeguards for the future.
The NAM for Old Yundum highlighted that this Report, therefore, serves not merely as a record of what transpired, but as a blueprint for strengthening the legal, administrative, and financial architecture that underpins public asset management in The Gambia.”
He said his Committee is firmly convinced that the recommendations contained in the report will support the Government in enhancing compliance mechanisms, improving asset-disposal procedures, and ensuring that public resources are managed in a manner consistent with the highest standards of accountability.
He extended his profound appreciation to all witnesses who appeared before the Committee, many of whom provided extensive documentation and cooperated fully with the inquiry.
He commended the Committee’s Lead Counsel and legal team, investigators, technical staff, Communication & ICT, and the Secretariat for their diligence, professionalism, and unalloyed commitment throughout this demanding exercise.
He acknowledged the Members of the Committee whose dedication, impartiality, and collective resolve were instrumental in completing this task.
He said the work presented in this Report reflects their shared commitment to strengthening public institutions and advancing the public interest in line with the constitutional values of accountability, transparency, and good governance.
