By: Kebba AF Touray
The National Assembly Member for Foni Jarrol Constituency Kebba Tumanding Sanneh, tasked President Adama Barrow to probe into issues affecting the Gambia Livestock Agency (GLMA) and the Central Abattoir in Abuko respectively.
According to Sanneh, the Board of Directors at GLMA was recently dissolved but no proper handing over of the leadership of the Central Abattoir was done. He described the handing over as ‘so-called’.
“This is because it was illegally taken with the help of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, and the reason why it was not handed over was because the position is reserved for the retiring GLMA Director in case he is not contracted,” he alleged; that this is the reason why the Central Abattoir has not been handed over, saying “it is still under the management of a retired Director who is still a signatory to the account of the Abattoir under the Gambia Livestock Management Agency of which the PS is a signatory and manager of the account.”
Sanneh alleged that the reason that led to what he described as the sudden dissolution of the GLMA Board, is to give room to the retired GLMA Board Director, to be part of the board and to continue to manage the said place.
“Please President Barrow send your intelligence to investigate GLMA and the Central Abattoir. The Central Abattoir has turned to be a property of a few, and the animal dealers, butchers and staff are not happy”, Sanneh said.
He assured his willingness to join in the crusade to fight against the current status quo and further alleged that both GLMA and Central Abattoir are in a mess; that the new staff have been handpicked and are paid travel allowances whilst the old staff are not paid travel allowances. This he said is aimed to discourage the old staff, stressing that he was the Manager and was employed by former President Yahya Jammeh.
“The Abattoir is a property of Kanilai Family Farm, and it was bought from Modou Gaye in October 2008. My contract was illegally terminated at the end of July 2021, and my salary was stopped forcing me out of office. There was no formal handing over because I did not sign anything,” Sanneh further said.
When contacted to comment on the matter, the Former Director of GLMA Dr. Demba Jallow, told this reporter that he has handed over as the Director General of GLMA two weeks ago (at the time of this interview).
On the sale of land at the abattoir, he advised this reporter to contact the Permanent Secretary at the Lands Ministry, and that on the appointment of staff at the abattoir, he further advised this reporter to contact the PS at the Agriculture Ministry.
Foroyaa will endeavour to contact the said authorities and get their versions on the matter and inform the readership accordingly.
