We join the rest of the Gambian population in welcoming the news of the release of the youths who were detained for protesting against the looting of Jammeh’s assets. These young people have demonstrated true patriotism and a profound love for their country, standing against a greedy government plagued by corruption from its inception to the present day. It is time we held the government accountable and ensure that justice prevails. Corruption must not be tolerated in our society, as it remains one of the primary obstacles to national development and growth.
A majority of the country’s youth, including many university graduates, remain unemployed. A serious government would have already implemented policies to create employment opportunities for young people, who represent the backbone and future of our nation. Now that the list of buyers of Jammeh’s assets has been made public, we must intensify our efforts to ensure the proceeds from these sales are properly deposited into the government’s coffers. Assets that were sold at unfairly low prices should be confiscated and resold at fair market value.
Moreover, we must exert pressure on the government to launch a full investigation into the sale of these assets. Notably, local councils such as the Kanifing Municipal Council and the Brikama Area Council have already begun denying involvement in the sale of tractors mentioned in the published list.
The questions we should be asking include:
1. Who sold the assets, and at what prices were they sold?
2. Is the list released by the government authentic?
3. Does the list account for all the assets that were sold?
4. Where is the money from the sales?
5. What is the actual market value of all the assets sold?
In addition to these concerns, urgent attention must be directed towards broader, pressing issues that are critical to our socio-economic development, good governance, and democratic consolidation. These include the rising cost of living, widespread corruption, escalating crime rates, inadequate healthcare, and the general welfare of our people.
These challenges are further compounded by the laissez-faire attitude and partisanship within the National Assembly under the current regime, which continues to undermine effective governance in The Gambia.
Lastly, there is a pressing need to repeal the Public Order Act. In recent years, the government has manipulated this law for political convenience, frequently using it as a tool to prevent citizens from organising peaceful protests. It is high time we repealed such draconian legislation and move forward as a democratic society. The recent youth-led protest clearly demonstrates the urgency of this reform.
GANU encourages the youth of The Gambia to remain steadfast and continue holding the government accountable.
Hon. Sheikh Tijan Hydara
Secretary General & Party Leader
GANU