US-based-Gambian Lamin Chamang Komma has joined scores of Gambians both at home and abroad in criticizing the government’s ongoing controversial overseas ID card issuance scheme, describing it as illegal and a ploy to rig the highly-anticipated 2026 presidential election.
Despite the widespread criticism against the government’s overseas ID card project and the deep-seated suspicion around it, the Director of the Gambia Immigration Department (GID), Mr. Ebrima Mboob, has come out strongly to defend it. The Gambia’s immigration chief asserted that he bears a duty to protect the interest of citizens in the area of documentation.
DG Mboob strenuously dismissed as false the allegations of political interference in the ongoing overseas ID card issuance process. He also dismissed as inaccurate the claims that the scheme is part of NPP’s machinations to rig next year’s general election. Mboob maintained that the GID is an independent institution that serves the interest of all.
However, for Mr. Komma and like-minded Gambians, the government’s ongoing overseas ID card issuance undertaking is egregiously unlawful and profoundly suspicious, adding that the issuing officers should immediately return home to forestall any future legal implications for the government.
“A government that is not able to deliver the needs of the citizens at home has no moral authority to ostensibly chart a path for protecting its diaspora community. The Barrow government is well aware of the excruciating hardship that it caused to the Gambian masses over the years and it’s going at full stretch to stay in power, hence its decision to issue national documents abroad as a pathway for foreigners to meddle in our elections,” Komma contended as he spoke in an interview with this reporter.
To Mr Komma, it’s ironic for the NPP government to claim to spearhead an overseas national ID card issuance exercise when it cannot provide the important national document to citizens at home.
“This failed government, headed by Adama Barrow, has clearly demonstrated that it’s incapable of providing vital national documents to citizens at home. How can it then, out of blues, dispatch teams thousands of kilometres beyond our borders to issue ID cards to Gambians in some African countries?” he wondered.
The US-based Gambian recalled the recent slashing of the residential permit fee for nationals of Guinea Conakry and Nigeria. Komma has no issues with Nigerians when it comes to interfering in Gambia’s elections, but he lamented that nationals of other African countries have a track record of meddling in the country’s elections.
“We Gambians knew very well that Nigerians have never meddled in our elections, but citizens of other neighbouring countries did,” Komma asserted.
He specifically accused some Guineans of illegally participating in the country’s elections without any consequences.
According to Komma, the reduction to D700 of residential permit for some foreign nationals was not done in good faith, describing the move as a political strategy to woo foreign voters. This, he claimed, forms part of the “broader and relentless crusade” for the ruling NPP to retain power.
“I believe this reduction is not meant primarily for Nigerians, but for the citizens of Guinea Conakry,” he pointed out, adding, “The civil society is mute over it and the citizenry is also shying away from broaching the topic due to its sensitivity. If the government can register non-Gambians to vote in our elections, what then is stopping Gambians from coming out to condemn the illegal act. Gambians are paying D5000 for passport and D500 for ID card. Instead of beating down the residency fee for Guineans and Nigerians, why not use that money to subsidize passport and ID card for Gambians. This government does not care about Gambians.”
Call on Farmers to Ensure Bumper Harvest
Komma urged Gambian farmers to endeavour harder and ensure a bumper harvest this cropping season as a way of taking full advantage of the incoming election cycle.
“After the 2021 election, this government has not been adequately buying farmers’ groundnuts and it’s still owing some peanuts farmer money. Mark my words, we are approaching the election cycle and, therefore, make sure you cultivate more crops because the government will buy all the yields this time around,” he posited.
Mr. Komma urged farmers not to allow themselves to be toyed with by the NPP government. He encouraged farmers to be prepared to teach the NPP administration an unforgettable lesson come next year’s general election as the consequence for its “carefree disposition” towards them.
He finally advised non-Gambians against meddling in Gambia’s national elections, stressing that elections are important national exercises and their outcomes determine the country’s future.
“We will not sit idly and watch foreigners decide our future for us in the coming election,” he vowed.
