Councillor Musa Bah, Deputy Chairman of the Kuntaur Area Council, has said that the council would take action against Chairman Saihou Jawara if he does not return to the nation today, January 31, 2024.

Bah explained the circumstances, saying, “He (Chairman Jawara) wrote to the government asking a leave of absence and copied us on it. We have an emergency meeting and check into it. The answer we gave to his letter was that we did not promise him a leave of absence. Instead, we offered him a specific time frame, on or before January 20th, 2024, to return to the nation.

“When we met and thoroughly examined it as a general council, and I also showed them evidence of my constant communication with him (the chairman) via WhatsApp, which was read to everyone, that was able to calm the General Council, and we gave him until January 31st to return.” And he informed us today that he would be leaving the United States. If he appears, we will evaluate it; if he fails to do so, we will take action against him.”

The Kuntaur Area Council is now dealing with the inexplicable and extended absence of its Chairperson, Saihou Jawara, who traveled for the United States in September 2023 for what was intended to be a 14-day official meeting. Four months have passed, yet the chairman remains in the United States, sparking enormous conjecture and uncertainty.

The issue started when the council’s CEO left to The Gambia immediately after the session, leaving Jawara behind. When questioned by the press about his prolonged stay, the chairman claimed to be in talks with possible investors in the United States, looking at prospects in several industries within his control.