Gambia’s Right2Know Coalition is making big push for an increased transparency in the Semlex contract.
Amid huge controversy, the Belgian company reached a deal with the Gambia Government to be the sole producer of biometric passports, identiy cards and voters cards.
“Gambians are eager to know the facts and assumptions on whether due process was followed in awarding our vital social possessions (passports and IDs) to an opaque company whose reputation is questionable,” the civil society group said Thursday in a statement issued at a presser held at Gambia Press Union (GPU) headquarter in Kanifing.
Semlex has been under fire for alleged involvement into corruption scandals and money laundering. The company’s offices in Brussels were raided by law reinforcement officers as an investigation was launched into the supplier of biometric products.
Right2Know Coalition expressed concerns over ‘contradictory public pronouncements’ made by some government officials linked with the outsourcing of the contract to Semlex.
Jeggan Grey-Johnson, a prominent figure of Right2Know Coalition, made it clear that Semlex was part and parcel of the state capture under the Jammeh regime.
Former Gambian minister Sidi Sanneh, who is also a member of Right2Know Coalition, spilled the beans about Semlex. He exposed how Semlex was involved in ‘unethical practices’ that prompted some African countries (Mozambique, Comoros) to put a halt to their contract.
National Assembly Member for Serrekunda West Madi MK Ceesay told journalists that investigation is underway after Semlex was confronted with allegations of malpractices.
Mr Ceesay, who threw his support behind R2K, said Gambia gov’t will face of being blackmailed if Semlex is indicted.
He quizzed Gambia gov’t about why it should associate itself with a company that has lost credibility at international level.
Meanwhile, Gambia Information Minister Demba Ali Jawo told reporters Wednesday that gov’t has amended some clauses of the contract, and Semlex has to provide feedback before starting the production of passports and ID cards.
Written by Abdoulie JOHN
Good job, Abdoulie JOHN. Keep up the good work.
I think Semlex should NOT get the contract AT ALL. Simple. It is Belgian, it is corrupt and corrupting, and there are perfectly qualified Gambians who can produce ID Cards and passports in Gambia for fellow Gambians. That I am is Uncle Sidi Sanneh’s, Bro Madi MK Ceesay’s and most Gambians position.
The “part and parcel of the state capture under the Jammeh” argument is silly, and what’s more, should not be coming from a Grey-Johnson! I am sure JOHN knows what I mean.
Here’s to the new boss///same as the old boss.
Gambia government should avoid gambling with rogue companies which reputation as no credulity. If simlex is facing legal issues due to criminals investigation, best to wait or try another one. Africa is a easy target for foreign criminals companies, most of them will not pass the standard operational test by local government and they will rather not to waste time and run down to countries like in Africa, that is badly in need of their service, at the end results disaster.
Luntango, Tabaa Bong!
The old saying goes, if it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck and walks like a duck, it is indeed a duck! Unless one pretends to, or inadvertently mistakes a duck for a goose. Now, in The Gambia that we know all too well, there’s no shortage of DOFF DOFF LU or TAWUNTAY YAA. And yes, all involved are our own brothers, uncles, sons and daughters!
What if any will stop SEMLEX, a company that has been known to wreak havoc on African sister countries, from selling the personal information of Millions of Gambian citizens for their own selfish gain?
Why would forward thinking Gambians trust a shady and tainted company with our Electronic Private Information (EPI)? The wrongs in the award of the initial SEMLEX contract/deal cannot be made right by what is increasingly becoming a public relations (PR) gimmick by a company that is clearly in this business to make a quick buck and not in the interest of The Gambia!
Hands tied or not. Precedence set or not. This deal, that presents an odious and disconcerting practice in the award of contracts, must be squashed and/or rescinded. Period. It doesn’t bode well for The Gambia, under the current dispensation, to continue doing business with a tainted company like SEMLEX.
The Ministries of Information, Technology and Interior cannot be seen to be sitting in their hands for too long while SEMLEX works feverishly to pull the wool over our faces. Should we also add, working in cahoots with the aforementioned ministries?
First it was the shady SEMLEX contract, then a $50 Million forensics laboratory, a fleet of luxury cars, then the revelations about MGI-GAMTEL Gateway back and forth malfeasance. Folks, these scandals tend to add up, leading one to conclude that one doesn’t have to be a college professor to figure these things out
After all, who knows how many favors have been exchanged behind the scenes?
Belgium may be the seat of the European Union (EU) secretariat today but sadly, there have been too many Belgian companies, agencies and successive governments over time that have been complicit in sub-human and ungodly behavior in Africa. What is yet to be made right in my book!
SEMLEX may very well be one of such outfits hiding behind an African facade!
The whole saga smells and the sooner the government come clean the better. How can our technocrats behave in such a utter disregard to sound financial conventions and hope to provide value for money services for our nation.
Financial convention call for prudence and probity in awarding contracts to ensure the contract goes to a conpany with excellent/verifiable track record of delivery a similar project. A company with social responsibilty, financial muscle, reputation/credibility, relevant skill and expertise. Our technocrats should give weight to local expertise with requisite experience and credibility because that will help employment, more skill training, less risk in term of foreign currency volatility etc.
Most European companies with specialist skill like this know our Achilles heel so they prey on us and can afford to provide substandard services since there is little or no scrutiny.