Madi Jobarteh
In June 2024, the Alkamba Times published a story written by their correspondent Kebba Ansu Manneh alleging that the Minister of Environment Rohey John Manjang was involved in corruption. The report stated that,
“Multiple sources in the country’s Lower River Region (LRR) have disclosed to TAT the involvement of Rohey John Manjang, Minister of Environment, and Seedy Lamin Bah, former Governor of the Lower River Region, in disposing of remnants from a Mahogany tree that was illegally cut down in Kaif Village, Kiang East District…
TAT findings further revealed that Lamin Jassey bought the Mahogany tree from Minister John Manjang for D200,000, which was paid into two accounts; D150,000 has allegedly been credited into an account provided by the Minister, while the outstanding D50,000 has been deposited into the account of one Bakary Fatty of Kaif.”
Since then, the Minister Manjang has refuted the report and now threatens a D50 million lawsuit against the reporter. The case may be heard in court next month.
The Edward Francis Centre for Rights and Justice hereby calls on both the Inspector General of Police and the National Assembly select committee on the environment to subject the story to further investigation to determine the culpability or not of Minister Rohey John Manjang.
The Alkamba Times and their reporters such as Kebba Ansu Manneh engage in investigative journalism. The principal aim of investigative journalism is to uncover abuse of power, corruption and other malpractices and make them public. The stories of investigative journalists are usually the basis for police and parliamentary investigation, audits and other accountability measures in democratic societies. Without investigative journalists how would citizens know about the wrongdoings that take place within the corridors of power and in public offices?
Therefore, we demand that the Police and the National Assembly investigate this story to ascertain its veracity and ensure accountability of perpetrators.
The Constitution, under Section 207 has guaranteed the duty of the media to hold the Government accountable on behalf of the people. Hence what Kebba Ansu Manneh and the Alkamba Times did was to perform their constitutional duty. In this regard, what was expected since June was for the public to demand transparency and accountability, and for the authorities to launch an investigation of the Minister and concerned persons.
The attempt therefore by Minster Rohey Manjang to threaten legal action against journalist Kebba Ansu Manneh is nothing but an attempt to silence the media from performing their constitutional role. If Rohey John Manjang honestly believes in her innocence, she should have immediately asked for an independent inquiry into the story so as to cleanse her name, and not to run to court.
The EF Small Centre wishes to express its deep concern at the frequent threats of court action by public officials against journalists and activists who are fighting corruption and abuse of power. Since 2017, we have noted several legal threats from the President and Ministers against journalists and activists over allegations of corruption. We consider these actions by these officials to be an attempt to shield themselves from accountability hence undermining democracy and the good governance of the Gambia, including threatening press freedom.
Public office is not private property. Public officials are not private citizens. Hence the EF Small Centre wishes to inform all public officials that they must uphold the principles and standards of transparency, accountability and probity in their decisions and actions as they manage public affairs and resources. Failure to do so, will trigger news reports, public speculations, or rumours of allegations of corruption for which it would be wrong for them to go to court.
For that matter, we call on the Inspector General of Police to rely on the reports of investigative journalists to open investigations on allegations of corruption within the public sector. Since 2017 numerous such reports have been published by investigative journalists without the IGP taking any action. The time has come for the IGP to be reminded of his role and function in strengthening accountability within the public sector.
In this regard, we wish to call on the President to expedite the establishment of the Anti-Corruption Commission as per Section 3 of the Anti-Corruption Act which was passed in December 2023. Corruption has become an epidemic in this Government which must be exposed and tackled.
In the Spirit of Edward Francis Small, For the Gambia Our Homeland