By Kebba AF Touray
The ongoing parliamentary inquiry into the petroleum product saga has been marred by an “in-camera” interface between members of the committee and the entities summoned to appear before it.
The said inquiry is being conducted by a joint committee of the Public Enterprise Committee (PEC), and the Finance and Public Accounts Committee (FPAC) of the National Assembly.
The inquiry seeks to establish facts on the petroleum product which amounts to 36,935.614 metric tons, valued at US30 million, or approximately two billion and forty million Dalasi (D2,040,000,000).
Since the approval of parliament for the inquiry to proceed, various government entities have been engaged in the matter.
While some of the entities such as GRA, PURA, and GNPC appeared and provided their testimonies, other institutions such as the CBG and Access Bank Gambia, requested to hold their interface “in camera”, during their second appearance.
The holding of such crucial inquiry in camera is premised on the justification that it relates to the economy of the country which could have an impact on the Gambian economy, and most importantly affect their customers.
The appearance of the officials of Access Bank Gambia on Tuesday 8 October 2024, was also held in camera, a request that the officials made to the joint committee, stating that “the issue is quite sensitive and involves customers.
The co-chairperson of the joint committee, Hon. Alhagie S. Darboe, put the request of the officials of the bank to the members of the committee who resolved to consider the request on the merits attached to their plea.
“In this case, we are appealing to the media that we have no choice but to conduct the discussion in camera. It has to do with customers and therefore, their privacy should also be protected. It is in this vein, the committee decided to consider their request and sitting will be done in camera,” Chairperson Darboe said.
