PUBLIC STATEMENT
EFSCRJ Calls for the Establishment of the Anti-Corruption Commission
Today, December 9 is the International Anti-Corruption Day, designated by the United Nations in 2003 to raise awareness about corruption. The theme of the Day is, ‘Time to Tackle the Murky World of Climate Negotiations.’ The theme focuses on the youth to stand up to protect our future’s integrity. The failure of the COP29 is a reminder that our youth must take responsibility to protect the environment in their own interest.
The Day is coming exactly one year since the National Assembly passed the Anti-Corruption Act 2023. One year on, the President has not established the Anti-Corruption Commission as provided in Section 3. The Edward Francis Small Centre hereby calls on Pres. Adama Barrow to urgently establish the Anti-Corruption Commission with competent men and women of integrity and character as commissioners, and to provide the Commission with the necessary resources, space, and independence to do their job diligently and effectively.
The Gambia is confronted with numerous injustices, violations, discrimination, inequalities, and tragedies which are all tied to corruption. The effects of corruption can be glaringly noticed in the illegal degazetting of forests to land allocations to businesses which encroach on our forest parks, wetlands, beaches, and our waters. The death of tens of Gambian children from acute kidney injury due to consuming contaminated syrups, to the tragedies of flooding in our towns and villages as well as the scores of our youth dying in the Backway all indicate deep-seated corruption in both the public sector and private businesses. The murky award of Government contracts to local and foreign businesses as well as the overall poor service delivery in education, healthcare, utilities and poor ferry services all indicate corruption, disregard of the rule of law and negligence of duties by public officials.
All these cases have been proven through investigations by the National Assembly, the Auditor General, Commissions of Inquiry, CSOs and investigative journalists, among others. Yet, except in a very few cases, no one is held accountable. While these massive corruption cases are perpetrated by top officials, it is always middle and junior level officers who are rebuked for corruption.
Edward Francis Small Centre is deeply concerned at the deep and widespread incidence of corruption in the Government which is denying citizens indispensable public services and opportunities. Corruption is at the core of the poverty, deprivation, and hopelessness in this country. We therefore call on the State and its officials to uphold and enforce the law without favour or ill-will as corruption is a threat to national security.
In the Spirit of Edward Francis Small, For The Gambia Our Homeland
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Madi Jobarteh
