Talibeh Hydara, Standard Newspaper

Banka Manneh, a Gambian resident in the United States, is the chairman of the Gambia Civil Society Associations. Banka left for US in the early days of the Jammeh regime and has since been an outspoken critic of the former dictator who went into exile last month.

In December 2014, Banka was involved in the ill-fated plot to overthrow the Gambian regime of former president Yahya Jammeh. He was later arrested in the US, tried and sentenced to six-months in prison by a court in Minnesota for aiding and abetting in preparation of the failed coup. He was also given three years probation and US$200 fine.

Banka was jailed along with three other US-based Gambians—Cherno Njie, Papa Faal, and Alagie Saidy Barrow—all pleaded guilty to violating the Neutrality Act.
In this Q&A, Banka talks to Standard Editor about his exile in the United States and his preparation to return home after more a decade in exile.

When did you go to US?
I moved to the United States in 1995, a year after the Yaya Jammeh led military coup.

What were the reasons?
I went to the U.S on a mission but then decided to stay because of the uncertainty back in The Gambia.

During your stay in the US, how did you turn your life into a meaningful one?
Mostly working two jobs (and sometimes three), I went to college and earned a bachelor’s degree in Information Technology. This gave me the opportunity to secure very good jobs. Some years later, I went back to school to earn my Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA). During this period, I also began to get more vocal against the human rights abuses being meted out on innocent Gambians by Yaya Jammeh and his henchmen in The Gambia.

You have been against Jammeh’s regime for years, what do you hate the most about him and his leadership?
Total lack of the rule of law. The man treated the country as his personal fiefdom to the point where the Constitution was totally disregarded. This led to the sorts of callous brutality, corruption, sycophancy, “flamboyant life style,” and maladministration never before witnessed in this once peaceful country. In the end, all the institutions crumbled rendering the country unrecognizable to even a casual observer. By the end of 2000, Gambians had lost whatever little dignity they had left.

Where do you think he could have done better?
Respect the Constitution, allow checks and balances by letting the media function freely and coming to terms with the idea that our system had three branches of government for a reason.

After many elections, Jammeh remained and you were involved in the team that tried force against him in 2014. Why?
John F. Kennedy once said “Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.” Yaya pretty much made it impossible for a change of government to take place without resorting to force. If anyone had any doubts, the intervention of ECOMIG to enforce this past December election results should finally put that issue to rest for him/her. His recent actions have fully vindicated the December 30 incident. The fact is; we were dealing with an evil monster who wanted to stay in power by any means necessary, including committing the worst crimes unimaginable.

You were tried in US for violation of the Neutrality Act and subsequently jailed for six months. While in prison, did you regret going that far?
United States is a country of laws, she is bound to act when those laws are violated. The U.S gave me everything I got, including a good life, education, and many other wonderful opportunities. So I have never had any intentions to offend this country at all, and that’s why I have lived here for more than two decades and never been arrested until the December 30 incident. The only thing I regret about December 30 is the breaking of U.S laws and the loss of lives of Njaga Jagne, Alagie Jaja Nyass, and Lamin Sanneh. I love the U.S.A.

Many exiled Gambians lost their parents or loved ones while Jammeh looked certain to rule for a billion years, did you lose anyone back home but couldn’t return to pay your last respect?
Of course yes. I have lost brothers, uncles, cousins, step-mother, aunties etc. and could not visit to pay my last respect. As you know, there are many Gambians in that same boat.

How much has this struggle to get rid of Jammeh taken from you? And is it worth it?
Financial security. I used to have, first marriage, a business, time away from my wife and kids, and my mother not being able to return home for 13 years. It’s all worth it. Country first – always.

Your release was widely celebrated in the Diaspora; people consider you a hero. Do you feel like that?
I am not a hero. I was only doing what any citizen would do for his/her country. I am sure any Gambian that had access to the information regarding the kinds of horrors taking place against our people in that country would do the same if called upon. So I was just an ordinary guy doing what I had to do.
Jammeh has gone into exile. Do you feel satisfied that he’s gone or you want him to face justice?
He has to face justice. I hope that is high on the agenda for the coalition government. We won’t rest until the victims have their day in court.

When will Banka Manneh return home and do you have any intention of serving in government when you return?
I am just working out some few issues here in the U.S and I will be heading home. I have not given the idea of serving the new government much thought so I am not ruling it in or out.

Barely 24 hrs after a group of security officers from The Criminal Investigations Department of The Gambia Police Force, went to the Yundum residence of the former director general of prison, David Colley, they finally got him. David was nowhere to be found on Sunday, February 26, when officers wanted him for questioning.

A security source told us few hours ago “He is in his office handing over to Manneh, will let you know once he is arrested” he said.

Security sources say the team went to his residence to invite him for questioning based on allegations against him, but could not find him at that time.

Colley is seen as one of the biggest enabler of former President Yahya Jammeh especially when it comes to ungodly treatment of detainees. Known as ‘wicked man’ by prisoners at Mile II Central Prison, Colley is said to have executed orders of inhumane treatment of political prisoners under the directives of former President Yahya Jammeh.

A group of security officers from The Criminal Investigations Department of The Gambia Police Force, Sunday, February 26, went to the Yundum residence of the former director general of prison, David Colley, but could not find him.

Security sources say the team went to his residence to invite him for questioning based on allegations against him.

Colley is seen as one of the biggest enabler of former President Yahya Jammeh especially when it comes to ungodly treatment of detainees. Known as ‘wicked man’ by prisoners at Mile II Central Prison, Colley is said to have executed orders of inhumane treatment of political prisoners under the directives of former President Yahya Jammeh.

Meanwhile, the search for David Colley continues.

Brigadier general Alhagie Martin, former commander of The Kanilai Camp and The State Guards battalion has bounced back into the army reliable sources have informed The Fatu Network. Gen. Martin who was a very close aid to former President Yahya Jammeh has been disgraced, dismissed and discharged from the army many times.

“Gen. Martin is one of those who used to ask Jammeh how high he wants them to jump, he even bragged about putting his life on the line before one could get to Jammeh.” A security source told The Fatu Network.

We do not know if Martin will have his rank back, but what is clear is that he is back in the army.

Meanwhile, Brigadier General Seckan is also back in the army.

Britain has affirmed its support for Gambia`s new government and its efforts to track down stolen and misappropriate assets, this development came weeks after the country`s new administration say the scale of looting by former President Jammeh, was much higher than previously thought and left the country with $1billion debt.

Speaking from the floor of the House of Commons (Parliament), in response to a question from Liz McInnes, Shadow Minister for Africa, on what steps his government are taking to help track down any missing assets, including any that might have ended up in the UK, and to make sure that any proceeds of corruption are returned to the Gambia without delay.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson told MPs” President Barrow has indicated that he would like the UK to be the Gambia`s principal partner of choice in tackling corruption in that country and putting Gambia back on an even keel. We are doing everything we can to support the Gambia`s judicial system.”

He added “when I recently visited the Gambia, there were crowds in the streets dancing because they are delighted that the Gambia is being welcome back into the Commonwealth. I can say that their joy was unconfined.”

Ms McInnes also applaud the positive political development in the Gambia.”Am sure the whole House will welcome the recent political development in The Gambia. The authorities are already investigating allegations that the former President smuggled millions of dollars worth of assets out of the country before his departure.”she said

Alieu Badara Ceesay of CHRG-UK, said “We will seek cross party support in the House of Commons (Parliament) to ensure that these stolen assets are returned to the people of the Gambia. Former President Jammeh and all those involved in this theft will be pursued with their ill gotten wealth”

The Government of United Kingdom recently tabled in Parliament, new powers to stop “blood stained dictators” and despots from laundering their money through the UK, by freezing their assets.

The Government`s proposal which brought forward an amendment to the Criminal Finances Bill, will expand the scope of proceeds of Crime Act 2002 to include instances of gross human rights abuses and violations.

Security Minister Ben Wallace warned “This measure will send a clear statement that the UK will not stand by and allow those who have committed gross abuse or violations around the world to launder their money here.”

A major reshuffle has taken place within the Gambia armed and security services in recents days. Among those who lost their jobs is the  Kanilai Camp Commander Gen. Musa Savage and three other generals.

The reason for his termination security analysts say is related to the December 30 attacks on State House which led to the death of Lamin Sanneh, Njaga Jagne and Jaja Nyass. Savage is said have played a key role in leaking their plans to Dictator Yahya Jammeh.

Brigadier Gen. M.A Bah, former Interior Minister who was alleged to have planned a  palace Coup during the political impasse to subvert the will of The Gambian people, has also got his services terminated. Analysts said his termination could be related to holding the whole country hostage which also displaced many for fear of a crisis situation.

Gen. Modou Sowe’s services have also been terminated with The Gambia Armed Forces. The reason for his termination sources say could also be related to the political impasse which led to the deployment of  ECOWAS Troops in The Gambia.

Sowe was said to have teamed up with MA Bah alongside Police Commissioners Landing Bojang and Lamin King Colley in instigating fear and threatening their subordinates. The three were also said to have advocated for no inauguration for President Adama Barrow and have asked that all security personnel be armed to crush out whoever goes out to attend Barrow’s inauguration. According to sources, they have also argued that ECOWAS do not have any mandate to interfere in the internal affairs of The Gambia and advised members of the security forces to continue to be loyal to Jammeh.

Director general, Divid Colley of the notorious Mile 2 central prison was also been removed. His termination has been linked to the inhumane conditions prisoners are faced with under his watch. David Colley is replaced by commissioner Ansumana Manneh.

Commodore Sillah Kujabi has also been discharged from the Armed Forces.

The Chief of Defense Staff, Gen, Ousman Badjie has also been relieved and deployed to the foreign service.

By Lamin Sanyang – The properties of Gambia’s exiled former President Jammeh in his native village of Kanilai are abandoned without security guards except a handful of village youths who are acting as guards.

The military encampment was removed while the armed security men were disarmed and redeployed to other military camps by the joint forces of ECOMIG and The Gambia Armed Forces.

The place used to be called ‘the second State House’ where the former president spent most part of his vacation or weekends. It has a very high wall with three gates before reaching the entrance to his house. There were heavily armed security men mounting checkpoints at each of the gates.

Multi million dollar housing projects, farm and zoos among other things were built there by the former President from the state coffers. He used to organized festivals including wrestling competitions, and invited civil servants, public institutions and party supporters to work at his farm.

Apart from the above listed, the place was also known to be dangerous during Jammeh’s era. A deep well said to be the dumping ground for bodies of his victims is located somewhere near his home. Many said he fed the crocodiles in his zoo with the remains of his victims.

The exiled former president was defeated in the last presidential polls. He first conceded defeat but later made a U-turn causing a political impasse prompting sub-regional military intervention. He was forced to relinquish power and went into exiled in Equatorial Guinea.

Meanwhile, walking to the home of the former dictator was quiet interesting but historic as well. There were no sign of security men at the gates. Few youths were brewing green tea at the first gates while the farm workers were going to his farm.

The village youths at the gates said there are no security guards but they took it upon themselves as family members of the former dictator to protect his properties. They said the person in charge is the farm manager, one Major Alieu Sowe, he is the one they working with to guard the properties.

Sowe was called on his phone but declined to talked to our reporters. He ordered them not to allow anyone to enter, saying the order for access should come from the military high command.

“We are family members of the big man and we will protect his properties,” one of the youth said.

Meanwhile, the journey to the former president home was full of unexpected surprises as one could barely see green flags on the road like before.

The men arrested are Abdoulie Jallow alias “Jalino”, Amadou Badjie, Bussoh, Lamin Badjie and one Sambou former orderly to the former Inspector General of Police Ensa Badjie, “Jesus”. Sambou was one of the Intelligence officers of the “Jungulers”, former President’s assassin team.

According to a security source, authorities have informed The Chief of Defense Staff, Ousman Badjie to withdraw the participation of all five men in the upcoming mission to Darfur, of which they have all been trained for. The withdrawal the source said have already been made.

The men are arrested in connections with unnecessary tortured, forced disappearances and killings under the command of former President Yahya Jammeh, who was also commander in chief of The Gambia Armed Forces.

The men are current detained and are helping the police in their investigations. Bussoh and Sambou were active members of the Police Intervention Unit before they were moved to the State House.

The chief of defense staff of The Gambia Armed Forces, Brigadier General Ousman Badjie has confirmed to the Fatu Network that he is still the CDS as far as he knows. “I have not received an official letter of removal or deployment as at now ( Friday, February 24, 2017 )”  CDS badjie said.

“I still have my official vehicle and my guards are still here with me” he added. Asked if other Generals have been removed, The CDS said he is not aware of any removal or deployment in the army. “I’m not sure if I will be fired tomorrow saturday, but as at now I am the CDS” he concluded.

The Director of Gambia Prisons Service, David Colley has been fired with immediate Effect from today, Friday, February 24, 2017, this medium has confirmed.

David Colley is been replaced by one Commissioner Ansumana Manneh.

Manneh held several portfolios at the Gambia Prison Department. He was one time Director of Administration and also Camp Commander at Jeshwang Prison.

It is not yet clear whether Mr Colley is arrested after his removal. He is seen as one of the biggest enablers of former President Yahya Jammeh especially when it comes to the ungodly treatment of detainees. Known as ‘wicked man’ by all prisoners especially those in Mile II Central Prison for been heartless to them, Colley have been executing all orders of inhumane treatment to political prisoners under the directives of former President Jammeh.

It could be recalled that Mr Colley was sometime back in 2011 accused of feeding prisoners with a dead bull. This resulted to the death of many of them. He was fired and arrested but later bounced back after he was freed by the courts.

by Edward McAllister and Emma Farge for Reuters

Funds from a dollar bank account in the name of the Jammeh Foundation for Peace, a charity founded by Gambia’s former president Yahya Jammeh, flowed to Jammeh himself, not to foundation projects, according to bank records and interviews with a former charity official and a former presidential staff member.

In 2012 and 2013, over $8 million was paid into the account at Gambia’s Trust Bank. Over half of the money was withdrawn in cash, Reuters has found.

Reuters was unable to determine whether donors intended to support the charity, or if donors, charity officials and the bank were aware that Jammeh was using the account to build his personal wealth. Reuters could not determine how the withdrawn money was spent.

Gambia’s new government has accused the former president of plundering many millions of dollars during his 22-year rule. On Monday, Finance Minister Amadou Sanneh said Jammeh had committed fraud on a massive scale including siphoning off tens of millions of dollars in public money into various bank accounts not in his name but from which he withdrew cash, including at the central bank.

The Jammeh Foundation for Peace’s former deputy CEO, Modou Lamin Manga, told Reuters that the charity did not at the time receive donations via the dollar account, which was one of two accounts held in the foundation’s name at Trust Bank during Manga’s tenure from 2010 to 2015. Manga was let go from the foundation during layoffs in 2015.

The Jammeh Foundation for Peace did not respond to multiple requests for comment. An official at Gambia’s Trust Bank Ltd, who declined to be named, confirmed the foundation banked there but declined to give further details.

Attempts to contact Jammeh in Equatorial Guinea, where he fled into exile last month after an election defeat, were unsuccessful.

Edward Gomez, Jammeh’s lawyer until last month, said he was unaware of any misspending by Jammeh. “I know that many people have benefited from the foundation but I can’t say where the money came from and who had access to it,” Gomez said.

The bank statements reviewed by Reuters showed that over $8 million was deposited in 11 instalments into the U.S. dollar account in the foundation’s name at Trust Bank in 2012 and 2013. All of the money was withdrawn.

There were 15 cash withdrawals in 2012 and 2013, ranging from $75,000 to over $500,000: $4.3 million in total. A further $1.5 million was transferred to overseas accounts, the statements show. The remainder was drawn down in letters of credit, miscellaneous withdrawals and interest charges.

Some cash withdrawals give direct reference to Jammeh, who at the time was the foundation’s chief patron, meaning he lent his name in support of its work. Manga said Jammeh played only an occasional role in the foundation’s activities. These include education, health and agricultural projects, according to its website.

In March 2013, a $75,930 withdrawal was detailed as: “CASH WDL B/O DR YAHYA AJJ JAMMEH”. A Trust Bank worker interviewed by Reuters said that B/O stood for “by order of” and WDL stood for “withdrawal”.

Reuters was unable to determine the source of most of the money in the account.

But five payments into the account in 2013 totaling $2.55 million reference Euro African Group, or its acronym EAGL, according to the transaction details on the statements, including one $500,000 payment on May 8, 2013 described as “FUNDS TRF B/O EURO AFRICAN.”

Euro African held exclusive rights to import fuel to Gambia between 2008 and 2013 and a fuel supply deal to the state-run utility.

Euro African head Mohamed Bazzi told Reuters the company made three payments to the foundation totalling $1.3 million in 2013. Bazzi did not specify which account the money was paid into. Reuters was unable to account for the difference between this total and that reflected on the bank statements. Bazzi was unable to explain the difference.

Bazzi, a prominent Lebanese businessman who has done business in Gambia for over a decade, told Reuters the money went towards a mosque, a hospital and bringing in foreign doctors to Gambia. Bazzi said Euro African made the payments on behalf of a telecommunications company that he declined to name. The telecommunications company was a separate entity and the money was not Euro African’s money, he said.

The statements also show a $99,982.50 payment was made on April 17, 2013 by Selectra AG, a Swiss-based engineering firm. Selectra did not respond to requests for comment.

MONEY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS

The foundation’s former deputy CEO Manga said he first became aware of the account and the deposits when Trust Bank accidentally sent him statements for the dollar account in 2013. He said he thought the money could be used to fund scholarships and a hospital.

Unlike the Trust Bank account that the charity used for everyday expenses, this one held dollars, not dalasis, the local currency, and had far more money.

When Manga approached officials at Trust Bank Ltd about the account in 2013, they told him not to touch the money, he said. The account manager told him it was “Yahya’s” (Jammeh’s) account, Manga said.

“We were struggling to run communities and we had all this money in this account. Why couldn’t we make use of it?” said Manga.

A former member of Jammeh’s staff, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he frequently collected money from the foundation dollar account at the president’s request and returned to State House with bags filled with cash in bundles of $10,000, wrapped in a paper band carrying the Trust Bank seal.

“Whenever Jammeh needed money, he would go to that (foundation) account and withdraw money. If his wife went travelling, they would take money out,” he said.

Reuters was unable to reach Jammeh’s wife, who until last month was the foundation’s president and closely involved in the running of the charity, according to the website.

Another source who worked as a personal assistant for Jammeh from 2009-2012 and who was fired and jailed for espionage, charges he denies, said he withdrew hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash in 2011 and 2012 from another account called the National Security Account at Trust Bank, on Jammeh’s behalf.

Other times, he said he wired money from that account to Jammeh’s wife’s personal account in the United States.

Trust Bank declined to comment on the National Security Account and who had access to it.

ROLLS ROYCES, MANSIONS

Jammeh’s spending hinted at his riches. He had a fleet of black Rolls Royce limousines whose headrests carry his name embroidered in dark thread, and a house in Maryland, according to a Reuters witness and a U.S. official.

On a trip to New York for a UN summit in 2002, Jammeh had $1 million in cash in cellophane wrapping brought to his hotel room, his former lobbyist John Aycoth told Reuters. He bought expensive watches and tipped a dental hygienist $20,000, said Aycoth, who successfully sued the Gambian government in a US court for failure to compensate his firm in 2006.

Reuters could not independently confirm these accounts.

“I know he had great wealth. I have no doubt about that,” said Jammeh’s former lawyer Gomez.

Gambia’s new leaders said Jammeh took a fleet of luxury cars with him into exile.

Now, in the aftermath of his rule, many Gambians demand his wealth be returned immediately. The country’s economy is in tatters with only three weeks left of import funds.

“The president and his government will take all steps and measures to ensure that all the lost, stolen and misappropriated assets are returned to the Gambian people,” Gambian Finance Minister Sanneh told reporters on Monday.

The former Director General of the notorious National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and eight other officials of the agency were on Thursday charged with conspiracy and murder before the Banjul Magistrate Court.

Yankuba Badjie & Co are charged with the murder of Ebrima Solo Sandeng, the opposition United Democratic Party member who was tortured to death on April 15, 2016.

The other accused persons are Louis Gomez, former Deputy Director, Saikou Omar Jeng, former director of Operations, Haruna Susso, Yusupha Jammeh, Tamba Masireh, Lamin Darboe and Baboucarr Sallah, all operatives and Lamin Lang Sanyang, the medic.

The NIA under the 22 years of former President Yahya Jammeh were the most feared agency in the country. Their only duty was to arrest, detained, torture, forceful disappearances and even killing innocent people on the orders of Jammeh.

Yankuba Badjie and Co like many others have ever been pointed finger at for aiding and enabling former President Jammeh in executing ungodly acts in the country.

The late Solo Sandeng was arrested on April 14th 2016 at Westfield Junction while staging a peaceful demonstration calling for electoral reforms. He was picked up, taken to the NIA where he was reportedly tortured to death. He was buried in an unknown location by the NIA.

His death prompted another peaceful protest on April 16th, 2016, led by the UDP Party leader Ousainou Darboe and members of his executive, calling on the then government of Yahya Jammeh to produce Solo Sandeng ‘dead or alive’. They were equally rounded up and detained, charged and later convicted to three years imprisonment for each of them.

While serving their jail term, the coalition that nominated current President Adama Barrow from the same UDP Party as leader to challenge former President Jammeh was formed.

On December 1st, Gambians went to the polls and elected President Barrow ending the long time ruler Yahya Jammeh’s 22 years regime.

During the first week after loosing the elections, then President Jammeh ordered his controlled courts to released Mr Darboe and Co in a sign of smooth transition, though it never ended well as he later reversed his decision of conceding defeat and rejected the results, thereby plunging the country into a political impasse which almost ended with a military intervention until the last minute when a solution averted such to happen. Mr Jammeh then flew to Equatorial Guinea where he is now living in exile.

Diaspora Gambians have on Thursday, February 23, paid a courtesy call on President Adama Barrow at Kairaba Beach Hotel.

President Barrow has commended the role played by the diaspora during the campaign period especially the online radios and social media among others.

” You have the liberty to come home,” President Barrow said.

Barrow further acknowledged the financial contribution they made to the struggle, saying it would not have been easy without them. He said his government would ensure that everyone enjoys the rule of law in the country.

“The system of animal farm would not be allow in this country again,” he pointed out
President Barrow explained that the struggle has now moved to a new phase which is the development of the country. He said there is a lot of work to reform the system. He called on those with expertise to come home and contribute their quotas to national development.

He also talked about the state of the country’s economy which he said was not in very good shape but added that the new government has lots of goodwill around the world.

Several speakers representing various organizations in the diaspora took turns to raise their concerns with the new government.

“We could not understand your reinstating the group of ambassadors that have been vilifying us in the diaspora. These are the people who called the police on us when we protest at the embassies,” Alkali Conteh said.

Conteh called on the new government to help them to exercise their civil rights to vote in the elections.

Lamin Jatta of GDF from the United States said they participated in raising fund to end dictatorship, saying they would continue to support the coalition efforts for development.

Musa Jeng, another diaspora Gambian paid tribute to those who lost their lives in the struggle such as Njagga Jagne, Lamin Sanneh, Solo Sandeng and Solo Krummah among others. He said he will speak on their behalf because they are not present to speak for themselves, saying they cannot allow their families to feel their absence.

“We have some of our people arrested in the United States for their involvement in the 30th December attacked. Some of them have lost their jobs,” Musa Jeng said.

Jeng called on the new government to reach out to the Trump Administration to release these people.

Saul Mbenga of DUGA also made a request for family members of Jammeh’s victims to meet the president of the republic.

Meanwhile, several speakers spoke on behalf of different organizations including Madi Jobarteh, Alhagie Kanteh, Sohna Sallah and Tuku Jallow.

The spokesperson of the coalition government and President Barrow’s adviser on governance has finally cleared the air on his position in the ‘New Gambia’ by announcing his intention to contest for the Serrekunda Constituency Parliamentary seat in the upcoming April election.

Halifa Sallah who was expected by many to be the next Speaker of the National Assembly since he did not occupy any ministerial position in the new government said he wouldn’t be qualified to be Speaker if he contest as candidate according to the Constitution of the Gambia.

Sallah was speaking on Thursday, February 23, during a Press Conference to clear the air on the position of the Coalition government in the coming Parliamentary elections.

The Gambia goes to the polls to elect its 53 Parliamentarians who will be joined by five other members to be nominated by the President from whom the Speaker will be elected from.

Sallah made it clear that the coalition did not make any conclusion as to how they will contest the coming Parliamentary elections but promised that by Friday, February 24, they will make a conclusion and convey the message to the Gambian people.

Mr Sallah expressed appreciation and acknowledged all the comments and phone calls for him to take a ministerial position in the government.

“Everybody wants Halifa Sallah to occupy a big position and I thank them for that. Even the president wishes the same but it is not about Prestige, it is about serving the nation” he said.

According to him, if he contest for National Assembly seat, its another way of serving the nation.

“National assembly is as important as the executive. It guides and checks the executive in governance. Remember ministers will be bringing bills and policies to the Assembly and it is important when they look around they see faces that they respect” he said.

According to him, they want to make sure there is a National Assembly that represents the people and not the president or a party and he will work to make sure that it will not be a rubber stamp.

“We need to get the best National Assembly that acts as an oversight institution, holds the government accountable and stand for the Gambian people. This is the Assembly we want” he concluded.