Just as we ask, where did Yaya Jammeh get the money to build those massive buildings in Kanilai so also we ask from where did Adama Barrow get the money to build such massive structures in Mankamang Kunda? Yes, it is not strange to see African leaders immediately begin massive infrastructural developments in their home villages as soon as they gain power. We can recall former Ivorian president Houphiet Boigny who built the largest church in the world in his village of Yamoussoukro which he made the official capital of the country. We can also recall the huge castles and an international airport Mobutu built in Gbadolite in the jungles of Zaire just like the massive structures in Sirte built by Gadhafi of Libya.
In light of the foregoing these buildings and ceremonies in a tiny rural hamlet called Mankamang Kunda, home village of Pres. Adama Barrow do not send a good picture for this country. I do not know exactly when the face of Kanilai began to change to what it became by December 2016 but it is clear that within three years the face of Mankamang Kunda has changed tremendously.
The incidence of corruption was one of the major hallmarks of the Jammeh Misrule. His open display of unchecked power and outlandish opulence were so blatant that he normalized abuse of power and at the same time encouraged an unconcealed culture of immorality in the society. With abuse of power and opulence, he weakened the very foundations of the cultural, religious and legal values of our society thereby perpetuating a life of vanity and self-centeredness.
Therefore, when this country came of that past we do not deserve another leader who will follow the footsteps of such past leaders. Unchecked power and opulence when combined are greater than a nuclear weapon. Not only do they destroy the leader himself but they also end up destroying the entire society. Barrow should have advised himself to pursue contentment, humility and self control and not to succumb to power, wealth and sycophants.
Just like Jammeh and his mansions in Kanilai so also in Mankamang Kunda the masses of our people who are impoverished and deprived stand in awe in the middle of their poor huts and dusty homes to gaze at such luxurious buildings especially at night with their scintillating lights! How many people in Mankamang or Kanilai ever got to celebrate a birthday much more get a cake? This display of luxury can only come by through power since Jammeh or Barrow never built any structure of significance in their home villages before they became President. It is such images of lavishness and luxury that pollute the minds of our people to believe that indeed politics and power are about self aggrandizement.
As Gambians we must not accept any elected and appointed public official to engage in such open display of opulence and abuse of power. Clearly this is a stark indication of corruption that must be investigated. While the Anti-Corruption Commission is yet to be set up, it is necessary that the National Assembly raise concern over this matter for special consideration. Yes, Barrow has a salary of D3 million per annum (D255,000 per month) but there is a need to justify if that is the only money used to build these mansions or not? Barrow should not accept gifts of any kind or from anyone to build houses for him. Failure to investigate these houses is to encourage a culture of corruption which can only destroy our society as it has been over the years.
Furthermore, both the IEC and Ombudsman should disclose the assets of the President. This is necessary for the health and strength of our democracy and good governance and to combat corruption, abuse of power and open display of opulence. Assets declaration by public officials, especially by the President must be disclosed publicly otherwise the very purpose of assets declaration is defeated.
Section 223 of the Constitution requires that all public officers under the purview of the Ombudsman declare their assets every two years. While this may not include the President, but in the interest of transparency and accountability and in the interest of fighting corruption I challenge Pres. Adama Barrow to declare his assets publicly, ASAP. By so doing, he would have generated immense public trust and confidence in his leadership as well as make a clean break from the past to build a future we deserve.
For The Gambia Our Homeland
