The Director of Geology Department, Mr. Abdoulie Cham has said that he was sacked after he complained about the way and manner the mining license of Carnegie Mineral, an Australian Mining Company was terminated by the former President of the Gambia, Yahya Jammeh.
Director Abdoulie Cham revealed that APAM, mining company belonging to the former president has an outstanding royalty of D4,341,235 Million including surface, training and institutional fees for the period 2013 to 2017. He revealed a total outstanding balance of D8,120,885 Million Dalasi. He added that the company has paid D20,000 license fees.
He however indicated that GAMICO Mining Company has paid royalties of D137, 407,338.48 for the period 2009-2014 to the Central Bank.
Cham made these revelations before the commission of inquiry set up by the new government to look into the financial activities of the former President Yahya Jammeh and his close associates at the Djembe Beach Hotel, Kololi.
“I was not happy with the way and manner the license of Carnegie Mineral was terminated. I indicated that the due process should be followed,” Abdoulie Cham said.
He added: “I was sacked the next day”.
The Director of Geology Department disclosed to the commission that some of the activities of GAMICO Mining Company were not captured by his department. He said the movement of some materials were not accounted for. He complained about the difficulties his office had with the said company.
Cham said he was reinstated in 2012, but after six months he was dismissed again.
He explained it has something to do with the directive to stop GAMICO from exporting heavy mineral sand by ordering them to returned the loaded containers to the mining site.
“Tony Ghattas was very bitter with me,” he added.
He explained to the commission that Mr. Tony Ghattas, a Lebanese Businessman was totally in charged of mining, transporting heavy mineral sand, exportation, staff and everything about GAMICO Mining Company.
The Director added that his office has received a directive from the Office of the former President requesting for a change of management of GAMICO in 2014.
“We received directive from the Office of the President that myself, Ismaila Sanyang, former Permanent Secretary Office of the President, General Saul Badjie and Yankuba Badjie, former Director General of NIA are to supervise things,” Cham disclosed.
He said things could not materialized due to the failure of GAMICO to fulfilled certain obligations.
“We found out that the business registration of GAMICO was not renewed for many years,” he asserted.
Cham told the commission about the executive directive to transfer the businessman Muhammed Bazzi’s 50 percent share of GAMICO to the Alhamdulillahi Petroleum and Mining Company APAM.
“All these things were punctuated by executive directives,” he asserted.
Director Cham told the commission there was no handing over to APAM as the staff of GAMICO were laid off. He submitted the payroll of APAM staff. He also submitted $700, 000 royalties deposited at the Central Bank.
At this juncture, APAM royalties, geology department documents sent to GAMICO together with NRA letter regarding the Sumbuya road construction were admitted and marked as exhibits.
Cham was questioned about the mining at Badari area in the Upper River Region URR.
“Present investigation by the department does not confirmed any precious mineral occurrence in that site,” he said.
He disclosed to the commission that samples were taken from the site but stressed that the former president was not issued with any license to conduct mining at the site.
Meanwhile, he was released but was told he could be recalled whenever needed.
