By Fatou Dahaba,
Agnes Macaulay, The Gambia’s Accountant General, on Wednesday told the Special Select Committee investigating the sale and disposal of assets identified by the Janneh Commission that only $2,494,262.50 of the $6,266,000 generated from former President Yahya Jammeh’s seized properties was transferred to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF).
Appearing before the committee for the second time, Macaulay disclosed that proceeds from the sale of tractors, vehicles, and other assets linked to Jammeh and his associates were deposited into various accounts, but a dedicated account had been opened at the Central Bank to trace funds from these sales.
“Funds from the sale of tractors and vehicles went into the CRF,” Macaulay said, presenting bank statements to support her testimony. She stressed that her office could account only for transactions under its direct control and had limited visibility into commercial bank accounts used during the disposal process.
The revelation triggered sharp exchanges with Lead Counsel Ajie Sainey Kah, who expressed frustration at the witness’s inability to provide a complete picture of the funds recovered.
“As the government’s chief accounting officer and paymaster, how is it possible that you cannot tell this committee the total amount generated from the sale of these assets and how much was transferred from the former president’s commercial accounts to the Janneh Commission Property Recovery Account?” Kah pressed.
Macaulay maintained that her office could only rely on records of state-controlled accounts. “The statements are here. As far as the bank statements can show, that is what I can confirm,” she replied.
Two special accounts, she explained, had been created precisely for traceability and accountability of Jammeh-era asset sales, yet significant gaps remain in the paper trail.
The previous day, Central Bank Governor Buah Saidy testified that all transfers related to the management of the recovered assets were executed at the direction of the Accountant General. Macaulay confirmed that every transaction bore her office’s authorisation.
Despite multiple witnesses appearing before the committee, no one has so far been able to state with certainty the total amount realised from the disposal of Jammeh’s vast portfolio of properties, businesses, and equipment.
The hearings continue.
