Auditor-General forcibly removed from Office, after he rejected redeployment by the President
Auditor-General forcibly removed from Office, after he rejected redeployment by the President
A dramatic power struggle unfolded in The Gambia this week after plainclothes police officers stormed the national audit office in Banjul to oust Auditor-General Momodou Ceesay, sparking outrage and accusations of political interference.
Ceesay, who has served as auditor-general for nearly three years, was recently named trade minister by President Adama Barrow in a surprise cabinet reshuffle. But Ceesay rejected the appointment, insisting he wished to remain in his oversight role. President Barrow, however, maintained that the auditor-general had initially accepted the position before abruptly changing his stance.
The disagreement reached a boiling point on Monday. Officers entered the audit headquarters, forcing their way into a press conference as staff attempted to shield Ceesay. The confrontation, broadcast live by local media, ended with reinforcements dragging the auditor-general from the building and escorting him to his lawyer’s office.
The move cleared the way for Cherno Amadou Sowe, the director of internal audit, to be installed as Ceesay’s successor. But the heavy-handed tactics have triggered widespread condemnation. Civil society groups and opposition voices accuse President Barrow of seeking to silence an independent watchdog at a time when his administration faces growing scrutiny over allegations of corruption and asset redistribution linked to former president Yahya Jammeh’s estate.
“This is a direct assault on accountability,” said activist Kemo Fatty during the standoff. “He refused your appointment, and now you forcibly remove him. Are the Gambian people not watching?” Fatty warned that Barrow risked losing legitimacy if Ceesay was not reinstated. Hours later, both Fatty and fellow activist Alieu Bah were arrested while preparing to hold a press conference at the audit office.
The presidency has defended its decision, describing Ceesay’s appointment as trade minister as “based solely on his qualifications and experience.” In a statement, officials rejected suggestions of political interference, insisting the government “remains firmly committed to the rule of law, transparency, accountability, and the responsible management of public finances.”
Despite those assurances, the dramatic removal has deepened political tensions in the country, raising fresh concerns over the independence of democratic institutions under Barrow’s leadership.
