A heated public dispute has erupted between the Gambia’s Minister of Information, Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, and prominent activist Madi Jobarteh, Executive Director of the Edward Francis Small Centre for Rights and Justice (EFSCRJ). Jobarteh has accused the minister of deliberate falsehoods and harassment, demanding that Ceesay immediately stop misrepresenting the organization or face legal consequences.
The controversy stems from remarks made by Dr. Ceesay during an appearance on West Coast Radio’s “Coffee Time with Peter Gomez” on Tuesday, January 20. In the interview, the minister reportedly described EFSCRJ as a “one-man entity” lacking legitimate institutional standing. He suggested the group was essentially a personal project of Jobarteh rather than a formal organization.
Jobarteh, in a strongly worded statement issued today, categorically rejected the characterization as “false, malicious, and revealing a troubling misunderstanding” of what defines an institution. He emphasized that legitimacy derives from an organization’s purpose, mandate, structure, rules, and—crucially—its legal registration, not from the number of staff members.
“EFSCRJ is a legally registered organization, duly recognized under the laws of The Gambia by the Ministry of Justice,” Jobarteh asserted. “Registration itself confers formal institutional status.” He pointed out that many globally respected entities, including Microsoft, Facebook, and Amnesty International, originated as founder-led initiatives before expanding significantly.
The activist further argued that Ceesay’s comments, coming from a PhD holder and former university lecturer in political science, were “deeply concerning and frankly embarrassing.” More seriously, he framed the remarks as an assault on constitutional rights to freedom of expression, association, and participation in public affairs.
Jobarteh contended that EFSCRJ’s persistent scrutiny of governance issues, accountability, and alleged corruption has made it a target for those in power. “Unable to respond to the substantive issues we raise, certain officials have chosen instead to resort to character assassination and deliberate misrepresentation,” he wrote.
The statement drew historical parallels, referencing authoritarian tactics such as those employed by Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels, who repeated falsehoods to demonize critics. Jobarteh described the minister’s approach as part of a broader pattern seen under President Adama Barrow’s administration, including the president’s earlier public claim that Jobarteh sought to “burn down this country.”
Highlighting the irony, Jobarteh noted that Ceesay made the disputed comments during an interview ostensibly aimed at addressing misinformation. He claimed the minister is fully aware of EFSCRJ’s reality: it maintains staff, a physical office, an official website, and has exchanged formal correspondence with government offices—including acknowledgments by Ceesay himself at official events.
“This is not ignorance; it is deliberate dishonesty,” Jobarteh declared.
The activist vowed that EFSCRJ would remain undeterred. “We will continue to exercise our constitutional rights and fulfill our civic duty to demand transparency, accountability, and responsible governance,” he stated.
In a direct challenge, Jobarteh issued a formal cease-and-desist demand: “I hereby demand that Dr. Ismaila Ceesay cease and desist from unwarranted misrepresentation and intimidation of EF Small Centre for Rights and Justice. Failure to comply, I warn him that we reserve the right to take legal action against him.”
He reiterated EFSCRJ’s commitment to holding public officials accountable, citing Section 1(2) of the 1997 Constitution, which vests sovereignty in the people and requires transparency in public resource management. “Citizens have a right and duty to scrutinize, criticize, condemn, and challenge [officials], whether public officials like it or not,” Jobarteh wrote.
If the minister views public office as immune to scrutiny, Jobarteh advised him to “vacate public office immediately.” Otherwise, he affirmed, the Centre and its director are “well prepared and ready to continue our unrelenting and uncompromising accountability work.”
The Edward Francis Small Centre for Rights and Justice, named after the Gambian anti-colonial activist and journalist Edward Francis Small, was formally established and registered in late 2024. It focuses on promoting human rights, democracy, equality, and anti-corruption efforts.
The dispute has drawn attention from civil society, with over 30 organizations reportedly condemning Ceesay’s remarks as an attack on civic space. Fact-checking outlets have also weighed in, labeling the minister’s “one-man NGO” claim as false.
As of now, Dr. Ceesay has not publicly responded to Jobarteh’s statement or the legal warning. The exchange underscores ongoing tensions between government figures and independent civic voices in The Gambia, where debates over accountability, free expression, and the role of civil society remain prominent.
