Auditor General Modou K. Ceesay was on Monday locked out of his office at the National Audit Office (NAO) after a tense standoff with members of the Gambia Police Force, deepening a constitutional dispute over his removal.
According to Binta Touray, Communications Specialist at the NAO, the legality of Ceesay’s ousting remains in question. She pointed to Section 158 of the 1997 Constitution, which requires presidential consultation with the Public Service Commission before appointing or removing an Auditor General.
“The president cannot appoint the Auditor General without consulting with the Public Service Commission as indicated in the 1997 Constitution,” Touray said.
She explained that despite the lockout, NAO staff remain aligned with Ceesay as long as he maintains his claim to the position. “On the operational level, the staff will continue to work with the Auditor General who occupies the position, as the staff are hired to support the AG in executing his or her constitutional duties. NAO is an independent public institution. The office hires staff directly,” she added.
Touray confirmed that Ceesay has agreed not to confront security forces and has temporarily stopped reporting to the office. “He has agreed to leave the office in the morning when the police officers come. For now, he’s not reporting to the office. We will keep you posted on developments,” she said.
The situation comes in the wake of Ceesay’s surprise appointment as Minister of Trade, Employment, and Regional Integration, following the redeployment of Babucarr Ismaila Joof to the Ministry of Defence. The move has raised questions over whether Ceesay can legally assume ministerial duties while still serving as Auditor General.
Uncertainty also hangs over NAO’s leadership. There has been no official communication on whether Director of Internal Audits, Amadou Sowe, will take over as Acting Auditor General. This leadership vacuum has left staff in limbo and fueled further concerns about the institution’s independence.
The standoff has also left the Ministry of Trade without a confirmed head at a time when the country faces pressing economic challenges.
As Ceesay weighs his options, the outcome of this constitutional row is likely to shape both the credibility of the National Audit Office and the direction of the new Trade Ministry.
