Corruption fights back; Gambia says No to the illegal removal of the AG

Voices of Conscience

In our ‘Voices of Conscience’ series, we share this piece, “Corruption fights back; Gambia says No to the illegal removal of the AG” by veteran journalist, Pa Louis Thomasi on the issue of the unconstitutional removal of the Auditor General. In this piece, Thomasi recalled the infamous comment by Pres. Barrow when he said audit reports were mere opinions, indicating that the removal of the AG was not by accident but a design to prevent transparency and accountability. Instead of the President relying on audit reports to combat corruption, Thomasi notes without equivocation that Barrow rather wanted to discredit the NAO itself and silence its reports just to protect corrupt officials.

Read the rest here.

By: Pa Louis Thomasi

When you fight against corruption, corruption and its cronies fight you back. Corruption indeed fights back.  It has been coming.  The writings were already on the wall but probably we did not give it the attention that it deserved at the time. When President Barrow stated in an interview in March 2023 that “Audit is just an opinion; auditors can make mistakes or can be biased” the majority of Gambians took this statement lightly and simply associated it with Barrow’s lack of knowledge on the essence of the auditing process and its significance in guaranteeing accountability and transparency in government financial circles.

What President Barrow did in March 2023, during his interview with the Late Malick Jones was simply to discredit the work and integrity of the National Audit Office. How can a democratic president make such an utterance?   Take it or leave it, the Barrow government has never been comfortable with the publication of reports on the NAO website, and would like to “stop” it by any means necessary.  President Barrow has no intention to fight against corruption.

The President’s statement in March 2023, undermined the integrity of the NAO and most especially the Auditor General. The published reports on the NAO website have in no small measure given access to many Gambians, the media in particular, a clear view of the massive corruption scandals that have engulfed the Barrow government.   Any serious government would have utilised the published Audit Report and act on them decisively. By this time heads should have been rolling and a significant percentage of ministers and high ranking government officials already in jail.

Just step across the border and look at what “our neighbours” are doing? “Les financial  malfaiteurs”  who are imprisoned in Senegal today with regards to official malfunctions are all as a result of the reports that were published  by  financial institutions like  by L’Office National de lutte contre le Fraude et la Corruption (OFNAC) and Cellule Nationale deTraitement des Informations Financieres (CENTIF).  Financial institutions like the NAO, should be given the liberty to do their work without intimidation, fear or favour. You cannot fight against corruption without putting in place strong financial institutions that have the mandate to look into the financial deals of all government institutions. It is not by chance that the tenure of service of the Auditor General is enshrined in our constitution.

Does the Barrow Government have a “Hidden Agenda” against the Auditor General?  Though there is no tangible evidence on the ground at the moment that the Barrow Government has a hidden agenda against the AG, however, the recent wrangling, yelling and panting and the orchestrated theatre performance of governments ministers trying to ascertain that Auditor General, Modou Cessay had already “accepted” the ministerial position offered to him by President Adama Barrow suggest something “suspicious”.  There have already been rumours from the grapevine that the Barrow government is not comfortable with the publication of the NAO reports on its website and that Modou Ceesay might be fired. But being aware of the Constitutional guarantees of this position, the government was therefore forced to devise another plan. Promote him to a ministerial position and fire him later.  

The press release issued by the State is a complete farce.  When did the Barrow government start to  talk about competence or qualification and referring to the Auditor General, Modou Ceesay‘s appointment that is based solely on his qualification and experience in the public sector, finance and investment.  What is the rationale then of appointing Baboucarr Ousmaila Joof as Defence Minister?   What competence does he have in issues concerning state security?   Mr. President, if there is anything that you can do very well, is putting square pegs in round holes.    What about your current choice for the AG position? People are already saying that Amadou Cherno Sowe had left a horror record at GAWFA.

Listening to former Vice- President, Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang during an interview on West Coast radio yesterday, 16 September the former VP made damning revelations that President Barrow’s choice for the Auditor General, Amadou Cherno Sowe, has a stinking record at GAWFA, where he is alleged to have embezzled funds and later absconded to the United States. According to the former VP, Amadou Cherno Sowe’s case is still pending in court. Mr. President, what lesson are you trying to teach us?

 The truth be told, President Barrow has no genuine intention to fight against corruption. Noting that we are gradually moving towards election year, President Barrow is fully aware that the continued publication of the damning corruption reports by the NAO will have a damaging negative effect on his election campaign. This in my humble view is why President Barrow wants AG Modou Ceesay out. I will not be surprised if the NAO website is pulled down any day from now.

Mr. President, you are not “ignorant” of the provisions of the 1997 Constitution and the NAO Act 2015 concerning the removal or appointment of the Auditor General. Wisdom and Understanding should be your strength and not manipulation, intimidation and the use of unnecessary brute force. If the Constitution were to be described in terms of a human body, then Mr. President you are the “Head of the Constitution”. As Head of the Constitution you must demonstrate understanding of the Constitution. “In the lips of him that had understanding wisdom is found. The lips of the righteous feed many but fools die for want of wisdom”.

Mr. President you have erred. But to err is human. Auditor General, Modou Ceesay is lawful. He is Legal. He cannot be removed unconstitutionally. In the interest of democracy, good governance and the rule of law, let Auditor General Modou Ceesay, continue his mandate irrespective if your ox is gored. We say NO to the unconstitutional removal of Modou Ceesay. This is democracy.