Jammeh Fired 120 Ministers in 15 Years-OJ Tells VOA

Says Jammeh Has Sacked More Ministers Than Any Leader In Africa

Jammeh Is Taking The Wrong Approach To Fight Corruption

“The Gambia has seen the most hostile environment for the independent press, I think in  the whole of Africa for the last fifteen years,” OJ opined.

By Pa Nderry M’Bai, Raleigh NC.

Leader of Gambia’s People’s Progressive Party (PPP’S) Omar Amadou Jallow (OJ), has disclosed that President Yahya Jammeh has so far sacked over 120 state Ministers since coming to power fifteen years ago—ranking (Jammeh’s) Government as the highest list of  Ministers ever sacked on the African continent in history. Mr. Jallow was speaking in an Exclusive interview with the Voice Of America Daybreak Africa Service. The erstwhile Agriculture Minister strongly faulted Jammeh’s way of fighting graft in the impoverished West African country—saying that Jammeh has woefully failed in tackling corruption in The Gambia. Mr. Jallow was the least pleased with the way Mr. Jammeh hires and fires Ministers without justification. Jallow said a credible government would have explained the circumstances surrounding of such massive sacking of Ministers and if need be—investigate and prosecute those linked to corruption related practices.

“These are all whitewashing policies because I didn’t see any effective means—that he is using to eradicate corruption. If he wants to eradicate corruption, the Ministers who are sacked has to be investigated and taken before the court of law.  But I think The Gambia has become the country that would go in the disciples of records as the country that has sacked more Ministers in fifteen years than any country in the world. Sacking of Ministers has been the policies of this Government since 1994,” Jallow said.

The popular politician said Mr. Jammeh’s failure to advance reasons for such sackings rendered his decisions questionable. He argues that the Jammeh administration should investigate and prosecute Ministers suspected of corruption.

“ People are not following the historical perspective of The Gambia since 1994.  He has already sacked over 120 Ministers in fifteen years and he has never given reasons for sacking Ministers,” Jallow told the VOA.

Mr. Jallow also strongly rejected claims that such hiring and firings would promote good governance in The Gambia. Mr. Jallow said the Jammeh administration is instead undermining democratic values and principles. He said in the absence of a level political playing field and free press—there cannot be good governance.

“The two good steps in governance is not self censuring, or self investigation.  The good step for governance is to allow the opposition parties to take their rightful places in Gambia, but this is not happening. The independent press should be given its place as the fourth estate. The Gambia has seen the most hostile environment for the independent press, I think in  the whole of Africa for the last fifteen years,” OJ opined.

Jallow observes that in the face of right abuses— characterized by gross human rights violations, there cannot be good governance. He said the country’s opposition has been marginalized by the Jammeh Government- with the police routinely denying the main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) the right to hold political rally.

“ Recently, the main opposition United Democratic Party—the UDP applied for six meetings, all of them were turned down. They went and held the meeting and the campaign manager of the party is now charged. He was detained in prison and he is now going to court for allowing the meeting to go ahead without the permission of the police,” OJ said.