The outgoing Executive Secretary of Gambia’s Truth Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC), Baba Galleh Jallow has confirmed his resignation from the truth commission, disclosing that he has tendered his resignation letter to President Adama Barrow.
Jallow a renowned journalist whose media house, The Independent Newspaper, came under numerous attacks including arson said his resignation will take effect from the 31st July, 2021, when the commission submits its recommendations to the President.
“I wish to confirm that I have tendered my resignation to the President and given him notice that I will be leaving my position as Executive Secretary of the TRRC with effect from July 31, 2021.
The mandate of the Commission expires on June 30, and according to our schedule, the final report and recommendations would have been submitted to the President before July 31,” outgoing TRRC executive secretary disclosed.
He added: “As at this time the Legal Team assisted by two consultants and a team of legal assistants and our Research and Investigations Unit are working closely with Commissioners to put together the final report. My office is not directly involved in the drafting of the report.”
According to him, the TRRC Secretariat will remain open for a few more months after July 31 to wrap up some administrative matters, adding that deputy executive secretary and the remaining staff are more than equal to that task.
“I will be available to offer any support and advice they might need. I think my substantive service with the TRRC is completed and I need to start looking ahead in terms of career matters, hence the early notice that I will be quitting on July 31, God willing,” Jallow further advance ahead of his resignation date.
He added: “I wish to take this opportunity to thank all the staff who has worked so diligently to make sure that our promise that failure was not an option is realized. Every single person who worked at the TRRC contributed significantly to the success of the Commission and I thank each and every one of you wholeheartedly, may God bless you and your future career paths.”
TRRC Executive Director continue to hip special thanks to the Gambian public for their encouragements from the onset when many doubted the capacity to make anything significant of the TRRC, noting today, thanks to God and the support and confidence, TRRC has literally set up and operated the most successful truth commission in the history of truth commissions in the world.
“This has been affirmed by many international media and experts on truth commissions and transitional justice. We are happy to note that TRRC was set up by Gambians and staffed exclusively by Gambians with the exception of one South African technical support assistant who worked with our psycho social support team,” Jallow revealed.
He added: “I thank everyone, and especially our Gambian compatriots with the UNDP TJ team, we say thank you and God bless. Now we all proceed to ensure that the TRRC recommendations are implemented and that Never Again shall we have dictatorship or rampant human rights violations and abuses in this country.” “Never Again”