The Gambian government Tuesday held an extraordinary meeting to discuss the controversial sale of assets belonging to exiled former President Yahya Jammeh.
His successor Adama Barrow convened the emergency cabinet meeting to discuss the next step following pressure from Gambian activists demanding transparency over the entire process of the sale.
Gambian activists last week took to the streets calling for more details about Jammeh’s properties, how they were sold and who the buyers were.
Several protesters including leaders of the Gambians Against Looted Assets (GALA) were arrested and detained last Thursday for going ahead with their protest without police clearance, triggering a bigger and more spontaneous demonstrations demanding their release.
The government later buckled to public pressure by releasing information identifying the buyers of Jammeh’s assets which included land, vehicles, heavy machinery among others items which were in his name. The ten-page list also shows prices for items which were sold lower than their market values.
According to the list published by the Attorney General and minister of Justice Jammeh assets include a14.32% state in Gam Petroleum, shares with GSM provider Comium Gambia Ltd.
D202.75 million was realised from the sale of Jammeh’s landed properties, including one in the upscale settlement of Brufut Gardens costing D41.75 million.
The national assembly is also set to convene an emergency session.
The controversy follows an online publication late last month of the concealed details of the transactions selling off Jammeh’s properties which many believe failed to meet transparency rules, causing widespread anger from Gambians who accused the government of a deliberate coverup.
WN/as/APA