Yahya Jammeh Under Fire

As Gambians React To The Transfer Of The GPA And GCAA To The President’s Office

Jammeh Accused Of Arms And Drug Trafficking

By Staff Reporter James Jammeh, and Modou Barry Banjul

Following Jammeh’s  sudden takeover of  the affairs of The Gambia Ports Authority and The Gambia Civil Aviation, Gambians are expressing concern over the President’s “greed” and lack of respect for the nation’s constitution. The mentally challenged Gambian President has been accused of steeping his bounds as a head of state. The concerned Gambians believe that Jammeh is an idle President who wants to poke his dirty hands into every aspect of the country’s economy.

A senior Civil Servant who wished not to be named for fear of possible reprisals said the President constantly violates the constitution with impunity. The Civil Servant said Jammeh has no right to transfer the GPA and GCAA to his office without the blessing of the National Assembly. The official adds that he now believed that the President is mentally unstable with his lack of leadership foresight and fortitude. 

Mr. Jammeh is currently heading the Defense Ministry,  Information, Religious Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture, GCAA, GPA, the Kanilai Aids Foundation, and the Energy Ministry.  The Civil Servant said Jammeh has failed as a leader and is hell bent on blaming innocent Gambians for his shortcomings. He says he has lost faith in Yahya Jammeh and his Government.

An insider at GCAA in an interview with the Freedom Newspaper said it is time for Gambians to realise their mistakes and correct themselves before it would be too late. He lamented that the main  idea for the president’s move  to transfer these two departments to his office was to pursue his business ventures. He said Jammeh wants to get rich to the expense of the impoverished masses. "Gambians  should be matured enough to know that Jammeh is only concerned  about himself and his family. He does like this country. He is anti development. All he wants is to enrich himself,” said the GCAA official.

The official observes that "Both  the GPA and GCAA make a lot of revenue on a daily basis. The 2011 elections are in the offing. He wants to fund his elections campaign from the coffers of these institutions.”

A top officeial at the GPA also echoed similar sentiments by calling on the heads of departments to resign if Jammeh fails to stop meddling into the affairs of Government agencies. The official said it is a waste of time to work for a discredited Government. He adds that Jammeh’s Government lacks credibility, as corruption is the order of the day.  He says the President encourages corruption in the country,  since he is openly stealing from Government coffers. The official said President Jammeh is ten times more corrupt than the deposed PPP regime. He says he regrets serving the Jammeh Government and he always prayed for God’s intervention so that the  nation would be salvaged from such a rotten system. The official said Jammeh’s Government is a curse for Gambians.

A top security chief said the recent transfer of the GPA and GCAA  to the President’s office was meant to facilitate Jammeh’s drug trafficking schemes on the continent. The official said the President also wants to use the ports for arms trafficking with the sole aim of destabilising neighbouring Senegal. He says Jammeh has been supplying arms to the MFDC rebels.

“ The President wants to use the ports for arms and drug trafficking. Guinea Bissau has already intercepted one of his arms vessels. If the UN fails to intervene, this man is posed to wreck the region,” said the Security Chief.

The Gambian leader is believed to be insane. Many here are worried about his ailing health conditions. He constantly cursed his Ministers and security chiefs without hesitation. One thing is evident though, Jammeh  has succeeded in intimidating the country’s security forces, including the civilian population. He is widely feared. Some even equate him with great spiritual leaders. He shared his night dreams with his trusted confidants, which often leads to the massive arrest of civilians and army officials.

 ENDS 12/20/09