This revelation has sparked serious concerns about the legality and transparency of these transactions.
In a public address, President Adama Barrow acknowledged that sales of livestock, tractors, vehicles, and other valuables took place during the Commission’s proceedings, a period when, according to established procedures, asset disposal should have been suspended until the Commission completed its work and the government formally adopted its recommendations.
Legal experts and anticorruption practitioners have expressed suspicion that these sales were conducted "ultra vires", beyond the legal authority granted, raising questions about whether proper oversight and due process were followed. The government’s own White Paper, published in September 2019 following the Commission’s conclusion, clearly outlined that asset disposal was to be managed by a Ministerial Taskforce only after the inquiry’s findings were accepted.
President Barrow revealed that upon learning of these premature sales, he convened an urgent Cabinet meeting on May 13 to address the issue. While initially considering the establishment of an independent investigative panel, he emphasized that ongoing inquiries by the National Assembly and the National Audit Office would take precedence. The President pledged full transparency and vowed to enforce any recommendations arising from these investigations to hold those responsible accountable.
“The assets recovered belong to the people of The Gambia,” President Barrow stated. “My administration will not tolerate negligence or wrongdoing in safeguarding our nation’s resources.”
Civil society groups and anticorruption experts are calling for swift and thorough investigations, warning that the premature sale of assets could have deprived the state of rightful value and undermined public trust in the government’s commitment to accountability.
As the investigations continue, Gambians have been urged to remain calm and confident that the matter will be resolved within the bounds of the law.
This report highlights the critical concerns surrounding asset recovery efforts in The Gambia and underscores the importance of transparency and rule of law in combating corruption.