Info Ministry clarifies status of ‘alleged illegal importation and sale of petroleum products’

In the interest of transparency, accuracy, and respect for institutional processes, the Government wishes to clarify the following:

1. The report in question remains an internal document of the National Assembly and has not been officially debated or adopted by the National Assembly in plenary session.
2. In accordance with the Standing Orders of the National Assembly, a committee report attains formal status only when it has been laid before and adopted by the Assembly. Until such time, it does not constitute a report of the National Assembly.
3. Furthermore, Sections 100 and 106 of the 1997 Constitution affirms that the National Assembly acts through laws and resolutions duly passed in plenary. The Government can only respond to matters that have been formally communicated through appropriate legislative channels.
4. This has been further stipulated in Order 100(1) of the Standing Orders of the National Assembly requiring Government [or a minister in whose portfolio the matter falls] to reply within thirty days of a resolution of the Assembly or adoption of any report of a Committee of the National Assembly.
5. As of the date of this release, the Government of The Gambia has not received any official report or resolution from the National Assembly requiring executive consideration on this matter.

The Government reiterates its unwavering respect for the principle of separation of powers, particularly the respect for the oversight role of the National Assembly and remains committed to upholding the principles of accountability, due process, and the rule of law. However, executive responses must be grounded in formally adopted resolutions or reports from the Assembly, and not on unofficial, leaked, or internal Committee documents.

The public is therefore urged to exercise caution, patience, and restraint in interpreting unofficial documents and to allow due process to take its rightful course.

The Government assures the people of The Gambia that it remains attentive to developments in this matter and will take all necessary and appropriate action once the proper parliamentary procedures have been concluded and official communication has been received.

Source: Ministry Of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services