Gambia Government is expected to sell four presidential planes of the former President Yahya Jammeh who ruled the country with iron fist for the past 22 years. Jammeh later lost elections to Adama Barrow in the last presidential polls in December 1, 2016.
The revelations about Jammeh’s aircrafts was made by the country’s Finance Minister during the presentation of the Government Budget to the National Assembly in Banjul.
“Asset sales are expected to yield D471 Million in 2017. These include the 4 Presidential planes, and sale of land, including those in prime tourism development areas which could generate investment,” Minister of Finance Amadaou Sanneh said.
The Finance Minister explained some of the measures taken so far by the new government which includes expenditure cuts of D475 Million mainly in goods and services, including from the budget of the Office of the President. He spoke about the policies governing the bloated vehicle fleet and its cost will be reformed, with expected savings in spending on goods and services in the tune of D942 Million. He also spoke about recapturing previously diverted non-tax revenue from the international voice gateway.
“Plans are underway to vigorously pursue recovery of stolen assets of the government through all available channels, including the assistance of the World Bank Stolen Assets Recovery Unit,” Sanneh pointed out.
Minister Sanneh also talked about removing the rent-seeking nature of fuel supply to NAWEC to better manage its cost of production. He added that the gradual monthly reduction of pump price of fuel at the petrol stations aimed at passing on the gains from the reduction in international oil prices which should have impact on transportation cost among others.
“This new administration intends to prioritise macroeconomic stability with emphasis on addressing the burgeoning debt situation by instilling fiscal discipline,” Minister Sanneh asserted.
He added: “This revised budget has a total financing gap of D955 Million, compared to the D4.7 Billion Budget that was previously approved in December 2016.”
Meanwhile, the Minister has submitted the revised estimates, recurrent and development expenditures for fiscal year 2017, for consideration and approval by the National Assembly.
