By Fatou Krubally
UDP leader Ousainou Darboe has accused President Adama Barrow’s government of shielding corrupt officials from accountability.
Darboe alleged that the Barrow administration protects corrupt officials while making empty promises to the Gambian people. Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, the long-standing opposition leader said corruption, favoritism, and impunity have become the defining features of the current administration.
“You can’t fight corruption by hiding from it,” he said, referring to the controversial provision in the newly signed Anti-Corruption Bill that protects government officials, who served between 2017 and 2024, from investigation.
Darboe criticized what he called the “recycling and mortgaging” of the country’s strategic assets, warning that state institutions and assets such as NAWEC, the Trans-Gambia Bridge, and ferry services are being mismanaged or sold off to private interests.
He also raised concerns over the handling of the D301 million disbursed to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), a portion of which allegedly ended up in the personal bank accounts of IEC staff.
“This is a clear attack on election integrity. Gambians deserve free, fair, and transparent elections, not a process tainted by financial mismanagement,” he said.
Darboe also gave new details about the Mega Bank scandal, where D1 billion in loans was reportedly issued to two companies with links to the President. He revealed that D400 million was loaned to the National Food Security, Processing and Marketing Corporation and D600 million to KM Holdings.
“The more we ask questions, the more scandals emerge. How can a government that promised transparency and accountability operate like this?” he questioned.
He further criticized “extravagant” government spending, citing the D63 million allocated to renovate the Vice President’s residence, despite it being renovated twice in the past eight years. He also cited the allocation of the Chief Justice’s official residence to the President.
On the recently unveiled 2024 Draft Constitution, Darboe asserted that it was designed to weaken accountability, particularly regarding asset declarations by government officials.
“This government does not want to be held accountable. That is why they are crafting laws that protect them from scrutiny,” he argued.
