Hon. Bakary Kora, the National Assembly Member for Upper Fulladu West, has criticised the Ministries of Finance, Justice, and Agriculture for their handling of assets linked to former President Yahya Jammeh.
He described the situation as having administrative lapses, sparking concerns over transparency and accountability.
Kora made the remarks during the ongoing parliamentary proceedings on the sale and disposal of Jammeh’s assets before the National Assembly.
Findings presented to the National Assembly reveal administrative shortcomings and inadequate records of financial transactions related to the sale and disposal of assets associated with former President Yahya Jammeh.
The Janneh Commission, established to investigate Jammeh’s financial dealings, identified several assets, including cattle farms, vehicles, and landed properties.
Addressing lawmakers, Kora said the findings have drawn significant public attention and raised questions about the outcome of the inquiry and the management of the assets.
“This is a time when many Gambians want to know the outcome of the inquiry and the work of the committee,” Kora said. “If you go through the report, it is difficult to address everything contained in the document. However, I would like to express my disappointment with the line institutions, particularly the Ministries of Justice, Finance and Agriculture. If these ministries had performed their duties effectively and accurately, we might not have reached this point.”
He added that although the institutions operate independently as prescribed by law, the report of the Special Select Committee pointed to institutional weaknesses.
Referring to page 28 of the report, which addresses wildlife and livestock linked to the former president, Kora also expressed concern over the absence of a comprehensive record detailing the number of animals sold.
“The committee noted that the commission did not provide a comprehensive report as a standalone class of assets,” he said. “This means there is no clear record indicating the exact number of livestock that were sold.”
Kora attributed this gap to the Ministry of Agriculture, noting that the Gambia Livestock Marketing Agency (GLMA) operates under the ministry. He further stated that the sale of the animals was conducted without an order from the High Court.
“The total number of cows and other animals should have been properly documented,” he said. “However, the animals were sold without a High Court order authorizing the sale.”
According to Kora, the manner in which the former president’s assets were handled reflects broader administrative shortcomings involving the Ministries of Justice, Agriculture and Finance, institutions he said play key roles in ensuring governance, accountability and transparency.
“These line ministries were central when the commission of inquiry was established,” he said. “When they fail to perform as expected, these are the kinds of issues that arise.”
Kora also noted that while opinions about Jammeh may differ, the handling of the assets should still follow due process.
“Some people may not support the former president,” he said, “but after 22 years in power, the fact that all assets linked to him were sold, with none remaining, raises questions about fairness in the process.”
