(JollofNews) – A spokesman of Gambia’s new coalition government has questioned the veracity of reports that millions of Dalasis are missing from the country’s coffers following the exit of President Yahya Jammeh and his APRC government.
Halifa Sallah who is also a senior partner in the coalition government, said the new administration of Adama Barrow is yet to audit any government institution to know whether money has been illegally removed from the state coffers by the previous regime.
He warned people against rushing to make allegations of financial impropriety by the Jammeh regime without any audit of government accounts.
On Sunday an adviser to President Adama Barrow, Mai Ahmad Fatty, alleged that more than US$11m is missing from the country’s coffers.
Mr Fatty told reporters in the Senegalese capital, Dakar that Mr Jammeh stole nearly D500 million in the past two weeks alone and the Gambia is in financial distress and financial experts were trying to evaluate the exact loss.
“The coffers are virtually empty, it has been confirmed by technicians in the ministry of fi
nance and the Central Bank of the Gambia.
That’s a lot of money, considering that we spend about D200 million on required expenditure relating to payment of civil service and so forth,” Mr Fatty told reporters.
But Halifa Sallah questioned the accuracy of Mr Fatty’s allegations. He said officials of the Central Bank of the Gambia have stated with clarity that the bank and all the commercial banks in the country are working and functioning with normality.
“President Barrow has aides but also has his spokesperson in my very person. If you want authentic and reliable information, please rely on what he says and what I say,” Mr Sallah said.
He added that ministers are being appointed by the regime and once they assume office, they will find out what has happened in the government institutions. He said any wrong doing will be made public in the interest of accountability.
Speaking on BBC’s Newsday programme he added: “You cannot make allegations without any auditing of accounts. You don’t know what has happened there. These are things that you as a journalist and we as a people that intends to run a government base on processes should not be let to believe.”
Reinforcing the message at a press conference on Monday afternoon, Mr Sallah said:”A government must work on the basis of its institutions and institutional processes. Allegations of theft etc cannot just be made by any member of the executive. It is not the domain of the executive. Allegation of anything that is a crime must be passed on to the Inspector General of Police and they are the competent authority that should conduct investigations of anything reported to them and eventually prefer charges against the accused. They must also be presumed innocent until found guilty by the courts.”
He said the Inspector General of Police has been tasked with the responsibility of examining the financial state of all government institutions and anyone who has information of any wrong doing should hand it over to the police for investigations.
hello to all,
I am biginning to smell a rat from this new government in the Gambia. This is not a good beginning. Mai Ahmad Fatty is just acting as someone doing eye service to President Adama Barrow. I am indeed not happy with the way he is uncontrollably pewing out unverified stories. Cant he leave everything with Halifa Sallah the Coalition Spokesman. Mai Fatty is acting so erratic and unprofessional speculating informations which are totally unfounded.
I dont trust him at all and not comfortable with him being a socalled adviser to President Adama Barrow because he has started misleading him with his unverified and unfounded stories he gathers from the comforts of his Dakar based hotels.
H. E. Adama be cautious in taking advice from any other person except the Coalition spokesman the most careful Halifa Sallah who goes by facts and facts only not speculations or rumours.
concern citizen of the Gambia
Yes MA I agree with you on this issue mai fatty needs to slow down and leave this jobs for the competent authority.
Fake news Good start It’s a shame sad It is very sad, sadness col poverty that we are in Gambia, but hey we are always the citizens who paid the broken dishes the shame of African politics how many politicians have money stolen and hidden in switzerland london or paris? While people are dying for lack Of medicine etc?someone or jammeh where is the money ???
Agree… Mai Fatty should chill and follow protocol.
Reliable informations concerning the Financial situation of the country were supllied by the coalitons spokes person.Reliable because the act was sourced by the latest budget speech by the house of representatives.
And the spokes person is known for his transparency from all or even his peers.
Mai Ahmad Fatty should be made Minister of Information, this he will fit well. What is seen as lies to many is what Western Nations calls diplomacy, but then such diplomacy should not be too cheap. And it’s dangerously too early to start criticizing exiled Jammeh as he has followers (from the vote results) and this is more a reconciliation transition for Gambia. In the interest of the Gambia children and elderly, please let’s focus on looking forward and develop the country. What you say is captured internationally, and that is what donor agencies in Western Nation reads and claims that Gambia country is broke and refuse to assist. So, Mai please take note of the other side of your comments as it impacts the way people see Gambia. All countries have issues, but publicising your issues without solutions is not best for private investors.
But something does not square smells bad Mr Fatty new finance minister? Error errors or plan to hide the money and blame outgoing president we have to forget about him and focus on the future of the country but yeah our problems is money money money soon everyone open his account in Switzerland Oh poor Africa
@peace= Is too premature to believe anything at this time. We just have to wait to get to the bottom of whatever transpired. Unfortunately, corruption is a global problem that cannot be completely eradicated, but it can minimized.
I meant to say it can be minimized!
I meant to say corruption cannot be eradicated completely, but it can be minimized.
I think Mai as a lawyer should not talk like a layman in law,he should know better that allegations must go with proofs,besides it is too early to talk about these things.Gambians are eager to know their cabinet,Gambians need to know what is ahead of them in terms of governance,development,etc etc.
So please save us from petty talks for now.
Free buffet corruption vs corruption =innocent people pay for it its a shame African leaders never change all the same no surprises!!!
THAT’S JUST THE BEGINNING OF THE FABLES AND LIES FROM THE BARROW CLIQUE OF CORRUPT AND UNQUALIFIED PEOPLE. THEY WANT TO MISLE THE GA,MBIAN POPULACE INORDER TO START THEIR CORRUPT, FAVOURIST, NEPOTIST AND TRIBALIST TENDENCIES. TELLING FABLES AND UNFOUNDED STORIES WOULD ALLEVIATE THEM IN SUBSTANTIATING THEIR LIES.
READ THIS PIECE, PLEASE
HOW CAN MAI FATTY SAY THAT JAMMEH STOLE MILLIONS AND IN HOURS HALIFA SALLAH REFUTES THOSE STATEMENTS.
IF THESE ARE THE PEOPLE TO STEER OUR DESTINY, WE BETTER START CRYING AND LAMENTING. THE FUTURE IS BLEAK!
Gambia: Breaking News: Halifa Sallah Debunks Mai Fatty’s Claims Of Jammeh Stealing $11 M Within Two Weeks!
The spokesman of new government Halifa Sallah, has debunked claims made by a member of the Transition government Lawyer Mai Fatty, who accuses dictator Yahya Jammeh of fleeing with over $11 million dollars. Mr. Sallah, who was…
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January 23, 2017
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The spokesman of new government Halifa Sallah, has debunked claims made by a member of the Transition government Lawyer Mai Fatty, who accuses dictator Yahya Jammeh of fleeing with over $11 million dollars. Mr. Sallah, who was speaking during a news conference today, said there is no factual evidence to that effect to substantiate Fatty’s wild allegations against the former Gambian leader, who is now living in exile in Equatorial Guinea. Sallah said all financial institutions in The Gambia, including the Central Bank of the Gambia are functioning well, and that there is no such missing funds as claimed by Fatty, have been reported to the new government.
Mai Fatty, had earlier told newsmen in Dakar, the Senegalese capital that: “As we take over the new government, the Gambia is in financial distress. Within a period of two weeks alone, nearly D500 million dalasi was withdrawn from the Central Bank by the former president. That’s a lot of money,” Mr. Fatty told reporters in Dakar, during a press conference.”
“The coffers are virtually empty. It has been confirmed by the officials of the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of the Gambia that Jammeh left with over $11 million dollars,” he further claimed.
Reacting to Fatty’s allegations against the former Gambian tyrant Mr. Sallah said: “I have said to the international press that a government must work on the basis of its institutions and its institutional processes. Allegations of theft, etc cannot just be made by any member of an Executive. It is not the domain of the Executive. Allegations of anything that is a crime must be passed onto the Inspector General of police. And they are the competent authority that should conduct investigation of anything reported to them. And eventually proffer charges against the accused, who must also be presumed innocent until a trial takes place before we find him guilty of a crime. We are saying that this new government intends to be a civilized and democratic government, which would abide by its instruments and institutions in order to fight any injustice.”
Mr. Sallah was responding to a BBC reporter, who asked him to shed light on Fatty’s allegations that Jammeh has allegedly left with over $11 million dollars. Mr. Sallah emphatically denied such allegations coming from a fellow Transition Member.
“So, I have told you, without any ambiguity that the Inspector General of police was asked to go to all the public enterprises; all public institutions to examine their current state. Well, what I am reporting to you, is that as far as the Central Bank of the Gambia is concerned; those who are in charge of it, have stated with clarity that not only the Central Bank is normal and functioning normally but all the banks in the country are functioning normally. If other people have allegations or whatever has been done, I will advise them to hand it over to the Inspector General of police for investigation,” Mr. Salah posited.
When asked by the BBC reporter, as to whether Mai Fatty, was talking nonsense, Sallah, who never minces his words on the purported missing millions, challenged the reporter to take up the matter with Fatty, who made the allegations.
Mr. Sallah, repeatedly denied Mai Fatty’s claims that $11 million dollars have been stolen by Jammeh. He cautioned that officials associated with the new government should be mindful of making statements that might encroach into the territory of law enforcement (police). He said it is not the duty of any member of a cabinet to make such statements. He said such allegations should be passed to the Inspector General of police for investigations. Sallah also said all accused persons should be presumed innocent until found guilty by a competent court of law.
Mr. Sallah said the Central Bank and the Treasury are functional. He said he is not aware of any missing millions as claimed by Mai Fatty.
Note: The new government of president Adama Barrow, has been marred by mixed messages coming from different officials. Mr. Sallah is the official spokesman of the government, but occasionally Mai Fatty, would organize press briefings here and there. The lack of decorum within the new dispensation is troubling. There is too much auditioning coming from folks, who want to remain relevant during this historic moment. We need one spokesman at a time please!
Today, Mr. Sallah, has publicly rejected Fatty’s unsubstantiated allegations against the former Gambian iron fist ruler. It’s Sallah’s opinion that issues relating to corruption, and financial crimes falls within the domain of law enforcement and not cabinet. Hope Mai Fatty gets Sallah’s message. Sallah said neither the police, nor the financial institutions in the country, including the Central Bank of the Gambia, could validate Fatty’s allegations. Mai, being a legal mind he ought to know better.
Written By Pa Nderry M’Bai
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Yes babu soli, mai fatty is the one meesing up . He got to be careful and not to make every one upset.
Halifa also should not throw away what Mai Fatty i’s claiming too.
All the information’s and wealth this man has is to be checked properly.
Where is Taiwan funds.
We have to be very careful and Frank.
Some romours can be true.