All eyes are on Gambia Justice Minister’s desk as he is expected to issue a legal advice to President Adama Barrow about the ‘poisonous’ fertilizer allegedly sold to Senegalese businessmen by officials at the Ministry of Agriculture.
State House Press Director Amie Bojang Sissoho finally broke silence over the scandal that has rocked the Ministery of Agriculture, saying President Adama Barrow has already been informed about the investigation that has been conducted on an issue that continues to generate headlines.
Mrs Bojang- Sissoho made this remark Wednesday during a press briefing held at State House as the Gambian leader is awaiting a legal advice from the Justice Minister.
The news about the scandal surrounding the expired fertilizer was broke out Tuesday by Gambia’s news site kerr-fatou.com, putting the spotlight on the Ministry of Agriculture.
Also an investigation by Kerr-Fatou revealed that 9,500 tons spoilt fertilizer were acquired by Gambia in 2009.
The Presidency’ spokesperson reiterated President Barrow’s commitment to not interfere with the judiciary.
She then added that the Justice Ministry is reviewing the investigation report.
” He will wait for the report before taking any decision,” she said.
Written by Abdoulie JOHN
“… Presidency’ spokesperson reiterated President Barrow’s commitment to not interfere with the judiciary…added…Justice Ministry is reviewing the investigation report.
” He will wait for the report before taking any decision,” she said.”
#Mr President, why didn’t you do the same whence the NEA were prosecuting the Golden-pollutants-Lead Co illegalities in Gunjur too; but you (government) overridden & overruled by twisting both the magistrates court & NEA hands, for “dialogue & out of court settlement” which never truly were factually…?
This “expired” ‘fertiliser-thing’ smells fishy; & very shamefully indeed for the current government contrary to the expectations…
But it mustn’t be exploited (by politicians) for witch-hunt for any political gains against the Minister & PPP in particular; let justice take its course naturally; & INDEED in the Golden Lead pollution saga too; for that fight (SURELY) WILL continue to very end for judicious redress for victim Gunjur community; if anything else, the duty is owed to the Innocent children & future unborn generations to come, who never chose nor decide to be born in the Innocent Gunjur Community but by Nature (God’s) ONLY; whilst Evil Golden pollutant lead co has a choice of either conforming to acceptable environmental compliance requirements or relocation…
The ‘preachers’ mustn’t just be seen donning mere headscarves & clothing(Almunafiqun); preaching hypocrically out & about in pretenses; but (preachers themselves too) must be seen to do (deliberate) honestly & behave the same in act as preached….
Truth, (Which Is God (SWT) HIMSELF) Will Always Stand By peasantry Gambia no matter what…
God bless Gambia…
Bajaw, Gunjurian still has the right to appeal to the supreme court if they feel their case is strong enough to proceed. There are levels of seeking justice if you feels that the ruling was not satisfied. The international community court is available within the sub region, my advised best not to take laws into to your own hands, even you feels violated unless is a eminent threats to life.
Sure Tafel; but when shoved (pinned) against the Wall, one gets no other option but to fight back….?
Truth is though, the Innocent Gunjur Community will never give up; no matter how it takes to right this wrong….
President Barrow can’t be any serious about prosecuting Agriculture minister on the alleged “expired fertiliser” illegality, for example, when others (including Barrow himself) are doing the very same in the Golden lead pollution in Gunjur & surrounding, etc…?
God bless Gambia…
Bajaw, do not let yourself become a detractor that seemingly tolerates double standards.
This thread is about OJ and possible malfeasance and not about an environmental issue. The topic at hand is about OJ and members of this forum must not shy away from expressing their thoughts on what is known thus far. The fact that the Office of the President comes up with a press release on the matter tells us that this is a serious matter that is worthy of debate and cannot be swept aside. We’ve all heard the adage, where there’s smoke, there’s fire. This is the same old OJ that took over the Gambia Cooperative Union from Saikou Sabally as Minister of Agriculture and succeeded in running the union aground. Thanks to the before and after as we’d say in street savvy.
This is again the same old OJ that hired a little known Asian Indian fellow called SS to manage what was then RIDEP(?) a rice project funded through loans contracted by The Gambia government. The little known SS fellow couldn’t show a decent office for his activities but was in charge of administering the project together with all other overseas purchases for the RIDEP. THe same SS was virtually unemployed and living on a shoestring budget at some hotel in Cape Point, Bakau running bills that he could hardly pay. The Gambian leaders that were sidelined by the advent of SS at the Ministry of Agriculture are still here and can bear testimony to how SS, thanks to OJ, plundered Gambian resources. Surely, you can’t trust your own brethren but you’ll hire a little known hustler called SS to administer a multi-million Dollar Gambian project. How about the glaring transfer pricing mechanisms that were commonplace in the days of the PPP. They were all in cahoots with each other and would jump up to offers from any foreigner that they felt could cover their tracks! Weren’t they? Only if we care to dig deeper do we find the demons lurking in the details!
Show us the evidence his enablers will say. Well, what papers that you haven’t set ablaze or consumed by termites are still there for perusal and/or auditing purposes.
And Luntango, I neither subscribe to the “Court of Public Opinion” nor am I an “Agent Provocateur” Dr Sarr. Just telling it like it is! Maybe we know too much but it always pays to be a keen observer and an avid listener.
“…Bajaw, do not let yourself become a detractor that seemingly tolerates double standards…adage, where there’s smoke, there’s fire…”
#Quite far from that Andrew; contrarily, anybody following will not afford to miss that I have, ub fact, asked for justice to take its course naturally to conclusion only & not to witch-hunt OJ on political affiliated gains; Mai Fatty’s case is a right example, recently…?
UDP officials too & associates are doing the very same but nor prosecutions have come to be so far; so Bajaw is rather against the double-standards, never for it; if any, the government chose to interfere, override & overruled the legitimate courts when Golden lead were being prosecuted on UDP & others’ interests but can play some hypocrisy in pretense because this particular Dirimoh is a different political affiliate…?
Andrew, just for a word; please don’t push me to speak with my “whole mouth”; I’m sure you know what that means locally…
God bless Gambia….
Rectification please – in fact, asked for justice to take its course naturally…
Thanks
OK Koto Bajaw, I understand the term, Al Kunuuto. Haha.
Mai Fatty retired with millions of dollars from the state and nobody say piu
Agri ministers inhuman actions and where about 1 millions tone of the rice donated by China
= kick out the dictator to bring the most ever corrupt people??
“kick out the dictator to bring the most ever corrupt people??”
Very very interesting thought =peace#
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Tilli Bo,
I’ve just sent you an email with my telephone number for ease of communication. I hope others will follow suit for the exploration to make headway.
Mwalimu,
Got it, I’ve added you to whats app.
The Minister of Agriculture has come back with an attack on online media for publishing false information. So who’s to believe?
The question is that OJ can claim to be unaware of this event albeit that he is indeed the head of the Ministry of Agriculture. Furthermore, the Office of the President has confirmed, through the Director of Press, that the matter has been investigated and that the report is with the AG’s office. No smoking gun?
The business of superiors claiming that they signed nothing and therefore cannot be held to account has been with us for far too long and is clearly untenable. There’s what’s called, wink, wink, nod nod scenario (SUMA BOY BI/NNA DINDINGO) where staff unwittingly act on verbal instructions from the top at their own peril. Does anyone recall the case of Gassama Jobe-Abou Deton-RDP where poor Gassama went to jail but the superiors that tipped the kitty walked free? So whether the fertilizer was purchased in 2014 or thereafter or sold by the “boys” at the ministry is immaterial as long as the fertilizer remained in storage and on the books of the ministry.
OJ cannot be seen to be shirking his responsibility here and must be held to account for whatever transpired with this fertilizer. So it’s alright in OJ’s mind to let this fertilizer disappear in bits and pieces but not alright to go through the proper channels to take stock of the mysterious powdered fertilizer, put it up for public auction and pay the proceeds into the treasury. Worthless or not, this stock of fertilizer was paid for with government funds that are still up in the air on account of corrupt practices at the Ministry of Agriculture.
OJ knows very well that the business of not being able to account for farm inputs and other resources has always dogged his tenure from when he was the Minister of Agriculture under the PPP. To make matters worse, the Gambia Cooperative Union, under OJ’s watch, has been known to make huge stocks of fertilizer disappear through our porous borders into thin air. This time around, the same thing may have happened. The buck stops at the Minister’s desk and again, the same old OJ.
If someone impugn my integrity and call me a thief, I will unsheathe my sword with dispatch, without fanfare without hesitation. Heads will role. I will not waste time with irrelevant pronouncements and semantics. Since OJ chose to do this ill advised press release. I did not find his explanation compelling.
You be the Judge.
Now the damage is done. It really does not matter if he is guilty or innocent, the bond of trust with the citizens is broken, if nothing but the fact that he is acting like a guilty man and demonstrating poor judgement he can no longer serve the people of Gambia. The President must sack him immediately pending the findings of the AG. This is precisely why he should have waited for Ba Tambadou to complete his investigation before this press conference.
It begs the question, why do smart people make stupid decisions. It is important to note that OJ served Gambia with distinction to the best of his ability. I wish him well.
Finally Mr Barrow, there are young smart Gambians with knowledge and experience in field of modern agriculture that can bring new ideas, leadership and vigor to this extremely important ministry.
God Bless The Gambia.