Recent developments have raised serious concerns about transparency and fairness in recruitment processes at the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA). A graduation ceremony for newly recruited officers was recently held but many Gambians, myself included, are left wondering: When was the recruitment exercise even announced?
At no point do I recall seeing a public notice, advertisement, or call for applications that would have allowed every eligible Gambian a fair chance to apply. This raises an uncomfortable but necessary question: Is GRA operating as a national institution or as a private club accessible only to the well-connected?
The most disheartening part of it all is the growing rumour that the NPP Masembeh candidate, who lost the recent elections to a UDP opponent, is among the newly recruited officers. If true, this would be yet another instance where a failed political candidate is compensated with a lucrative public sector job paid for by the Gambian taxpayer.
Why is it that every time an NPP candidate loses an election, they are seemingly rewarded with employment in government institutions? This trend not only undermines public trust in our institutions but also robs qualified, hard-working citizens of opportunities they rightfully deserve.
Public institutions are meant to serve the nation not political interests or individual connections. The GRA must come forward to clarify its recruitment procedures and demonstrate its commitment to merit-based hiring. Anything less is a disservice to democracy and a betrayal of the Gambian people.
