Corruption Persists in The Gambia
The Gambia’s President Adama Barrow has been in office since January 2017, following a coalition of opposition parties’ victory in elections. However, corruption remains a significant issue in the country.
A Legacy of Kleptocracy
The previous government, led by Yahya Jammeh, was notorious for its kleptocratic tendencies. Under his rule, there were numerous reports of widespread corruption and embezzlement of state funds. Jammeh’s lavish lifestyle, which included expensive cars, private jets, and sprawling mansions, despite the country being one of the poorest in the world, highlighted the extent of his corruption.
Recovering Stolen Assets
Jammeh’s assets in The Gambia are currently being searched for millions of dollars that he is accused of siphoning from state firms. His ownership of at least 14 businesses across various sectors has also been revealed.
New Government’s Efforts to Combat Corruption
The new government under Barrow is attempting to tackle corruption by selling off luxury cars, private jets, and mansions that were owned by Jammeh but could not be taken with him or liquidated when he was forced into exile in Equatorial Guinea.
However, the current government’s efforts are hindered by systemic weaknesses in public procurement practices. These include:
- Limited capacity among public procurement practitioners
- Complexity in using standard forms
- Lack of e-procurement
- Poor record-keeping
- Inadequate funding
Systemic Weaknesses and Controversies
The president is allowed to exempt any procuring organization from requiring approval from the Public Procurement Authority with respect to certain procurements. This has led to controversy over contracts awarded to private companies without proper oversight.
Some examples of these controversies include:
- A contract was awarded to QTV, a private TV station, to cover proceedings of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) at a lower cost than that offered by the state broadcaster, GRTS.
- An opaque contract signed with Semlex Europe SA to manage citizens’ identity documents, which revealed that the contract did not restrict or monitor Semlex’s role in collecting, storing, using, or safeguarding citizens’ private data.
Transparency International’s Anti-Corruption Helpdesk
The current government has insisted on upholding the Semlex contract despite vocal opposition. Transparency International’s Anti-Corruption Helpdesk has highlighted these issues and others as part of its work to provide guidance and support to those working against corruption in The Gambia.