A Mineral Mining Company allegedly owned by the former President was Thursday, August 17, revealed at the Commission of Inquiry set up to look into the financial activities of the former President Yahya Jammeh and his close associates at the Djembe Beach Hotel, Kololi.
The Assistant Director of Geological Department, Mr. Alieu Jawo said Kanilai Group International KGI was the parent body of the Alhamdulillah Petroleum Mining Company.
Alieu Jawo after swearing on the Quran, said his department acted on the directives of the then Minister of Minerals (Former President Jammeh) to issue Mining License to the Alhamdulillah Petroleum APAM that was part of the Kanilai Group International (KGI) allegedly owned by the former President.
Jawo said the company was issued with a prospective license as it failed to specify the type of mineral it was going to mine, saying the license was for mining operations in the Upper River Region URR.
“They did not provide that information to the department,” Assistant Director Alieu Jawo said.
“We were only told KGI was the parent body of Alhamdulillah Petroleum APAM,” he asserted.
The Geology Assistant Director said his department was providing technical jobs and making recommendations to the Minister of Minerals who was the former President Yahya Jammeh. He spoke about a letter from office of the Office of President through Secretary General, Head of Civil Servants and Minister of Presidential Affairs to issue license to APAM in 2012. The said license was for the exploration of oil, mineral mining and quarry as well.
The documents for exclusive mining and mineral license for the Upper River Region URR and other relating documents were admitted and marked as exhibits.
The Assistant Director explained the discovery of heavy mineral sand which he said was one of the biggest minerals endowed in the country. He spoke about the Carnegie Mineral Mining Company which was an Australian Mining Company licensed in the Gambia in 2005 and the license was terminated in 2008. He said the department received a letter from the Minister of Petroleum (former president) to terminate their license. Subsequently, the former president gave instructions to issue license to another company called the Gambia Africa Mining International Company GAMICO.
He explained that the new company GAMICO is owned by foreign shareholders including Tony Ghattas who was one of the signatories. The two other signatories are Manhal Oueidat and Fade Nazegi.
Meanwhile, Jawo was asked about his Director who was reportedly attending a mining meeting in Nairobi, Kenya.
