Tourism Minister Hamat Bah has been given an ultimatum by the Public Petitions Committee of the National Assembly to appear before the committee as part of its investigation into allegations of corruption at the Gambia Tourism Board.
The committee is investigating allegations of corruption made by GT Board employees in 2021, implicating former senior GT Board and Ministry of Tourism and Culture officials.
Cordou Jabang-Senghore, the former permanent secretary who is now assigned to the Office of the Vice President, testified yesterday. She denied any malfeasance in the awarding of contracts for the construction of eco-lodges, the decision not to occupy the Tropics building as stipulated in the contract between GT Board and Construct Limited, and the reduction or elimination of investor levies, among others.
Also invited to testify, Minister Hamat Bah did not appear. Over an hour passed before committee members were informed that the minister was attending “Gambia Day” in Dakar, Senegal with a Gambian delegation and therefore could not attend.
The committee then held a meeting behind closed doors to deliberate their next actions. After the meeting concluded, the chairperson of the committee, Suwaibou Touray, informed waiting correspondents, “We are rescheduling this meeting with the Minister of Tourism. The permanent secretary has informed us in writing that the minister cannot attend this meeting due to circumstances beyond his control. Therefore, we are postponing this meeting until November 1, 2023, and the minister must attend.”
The GT Board employees who petitioned lawmakers accused their authorities of engaging in various corrupt practices, including the awarding of contracts for the construction of eco-lodges, the dubious cancellation of a contract agreement between GT Board and Construct Limited for the construction of an office complex, and the allocation and waiver of 3 percent from levies that were supposed to be paid by Kaijiang Holding Group and MOAB Capital, all of which, according to the petitioners, resulted in the throttling of the GT
Former GT Board Director General Abdoulie Hydara, who is currently assigned to the foreign service after being negatively mentioned in the petition, testified on Tuesday, while Ousainou Senghore, who was also implicated in the allegations, testified on Monday. Mr. Senghore, who is now employed by GIEPA, refuted any malfeasance and urged NAMs to “take action” against those who disseminated the allegations in an attempt to discredit them.