By Kebba AF Touray
The National Assembly’s Special Select Committee on the Sale and Disposal of Assets Identified by the Janneh Commission is beginning a weeklong visit today, September 1, 2025, to properties belonging to former President Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh.
Lawmakers said the visit will allow them to obtain firsthand information about the assets identified as belonging to Mr. Jammeh. The inquiry follows protests by members of Gambians Against Looted Assets, or GALA, which came after The Republic media published an investigative report on the matter.
In response to the report and the protests, President Adama Barrow delivered a televised address in which he said that the National Assembly will investigate the issue.
“Since the parliament is inquiring into the matter, then he would not establish another commission to investigate the matter,” he said. Mr. Barrow assured the public that “after its investigation, any recommendation by the committee, will be implemented without favor.”
The push for the inquiry began earlier this year. On May 14, 2025, the Majority Leader and Member for Kantora, Hon. Billay G. Tunkara, tabled a motion for the establishment of the special select committee during an extraordinary session. He said the motion was made pursuant to Section 109 (2) of the Constitution of The Gambia, 1997, and Order 95 (5) of the National Assembly Standing Orders.
The aim, Mr. Tunkara explained, was “to establish a Special Select Committee (hereafter referred to as ‘the Committee’) pursuant to section 109 (2) of the Constitution and Order 95 (5) of the National Assembly Standing Orders to inquire into the sale and disposal of the assets identified by the Commission and forfeited to the State.”
He moved the motion with a formal request: “I move that this august Assembly do consider and approve the Establishment of a Special Select Committee to inquire into the sale and disposal of the assets identified by the Commission of Inquiry into the financial activities of public bodies, enterprises and offices as regards their dealings with former President Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh and connected matters (hereafter referred to as ‘the Commission’).”
The Assembly debated the motion before approving it, giving the committee months to carry out its inquiry and report back.
The committee began hearings on July 14, 2025, with the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dawda Jallow, as its first witness. The next day, the Chairman of the Janneh Commission, Sourahata B. Semega Janneh, testified before the lawmakers. He was followed by Alhagie Mamadi Kurang, the Commission’s first secretary, who testified from July 16 to 17.
So far, 19 witnesses have appeared before the committee, including former sheriff of the high court and now a judge of the high court Sheriff Tabally; the Registrar General Abdoulie Colley and his predecessor, Alieu Jallow; Secretary to Cabinet, Alieu Njie, and his predecessor, Ebrima Ceesay as well as former chairperson of the Janneh Commission and the secretaries. Officials of an audit firm appointed by the court on receivership of the Jammeh’s assets also testified.
The public is monitoring the committee with closed interest.
