By: Kebba Ansu Manneh
Growing concerns among nurses, midwives, and council members over an alleged conflict of interest, as Dr. Babucarr Cham, Principal of Sami Institute of Nursing and Health Sciences, remains a member of the body that sets the national GaNLEX licensing examination questions.
Critics say his positions as Principal of the new Sami school and long-time lecturer at Gambia College School of Nursing and Midwifery risk influencing exam content and fairness.
The Gambia Nurses and Midwives Council (GNMC) has acknowledged the concerns and says it is addressing the matter through internal channels. A council meeting is expected soon.
Dr. Cham has strongly denied any wrongdoing, stating that he does not participate in setting or conducting exams, that he has declared conflicts when they arise, and that Sami has submitted no questions to the national bank. He insists that NAQAA and other regulators independently monitor the process, and that his involvement does not compromise its integrity.
The controversy has sparked calls for stricter conflict-of-interest rules in nursing education and regulation.
Sources who spoke on condition of anonymity expressed grave worries that Dr. Cham’s dual roles — as Principal of Sami Nursing School and a long-serving Principal Lecturer at the Gambia College School of Nursing and Midwifery — could compromise the integrity of the Gambia National Licensing Examination (GaNLEX). They fear his position may influence the setting and selection of examination questions, potentially giving students from institutions where he holds significant influence an unfair advantage.
Critics have described the arrangement as a clear conflict of interest that should not be tolerated in a sector responsible for producing competent and ethical healthcare professionals. They have called on the GNMC, the Ministry of Health, and other regulatory bodies to immediately review and rescind Dr. Cham’s appointment to the examination council to safeguard the credibility of the national licensing process.
The Gambia Nurses and Midwives Council oversees the standardization and conduct of licensing examinations for nurses and midwives across the country. GaNLEX is a high-stakes national exam that determines whether graduates from various training institutions can practice professionally. Questions are drawn from a central question bank contributed by accredited nursing schools, aligned with approved curricula.
In response to the growing concerns, The Alkamba Times (TAT) contacted Mr. Alasana Darboe, Deputy Registrar of the GNMC. Darboe confirmed Dr. Cham’s multiple roles but revealed that the council had already initiated steps through internal channels and protocols to address the situation.
“Since the establishment of Sami Nursing School, Dr. Cham has not been actively participating in meetings related to the examination council,” Darboe said. He added that Sami has not yet submitted any questions to the central question bank, a standard practice for all licensed training institutions.
Darboe assured stakeholders that the council would soon convene a formal meeting to discuss and resolve the concerns thoroughly. He emphasized that, to date, Dr. Cham’s involvement had not compromised the integrity of the examinations or influenced the nature of the questions set.
Dr. Babucarr Cham himself addressed the allegations directly, firmly denying any wrongdoing and describing the concerns as largely based on misinformation.
“I don’t participate in setting questions and the conduct of the exam,” Dr. Cham stated. “The exam questions are set based on the curriculum of the training institutions and the question banks submitted by those institutions.”
He explained that, as a relatively new institution, Sami has not contributed any questions to the bank, making any perceived advantage impossible. Dr. Cham highlighted his extensive experience in nursing education, including serving as Senior Lecturer for the Enrolled Community Health Nurses and Midwives programme at Mansakonko and as Chief External Examiner at the School of Enrolled Nurses and Midwives in Bansang.
“My integrity and dignity are worth more than anything else in my life,” he said. “Anytime a conflict of interest arises, I declare it and excuse myself from such duties.”
Dr. Cham further clarified that the GNMC does not conduct GaNLEX examinations directly but has appointed external examiners. The process is rigorously monitored by independent observers, including representatives from the National Accreditation and Quality Assurance Authority (NAQAA), the Medical and Dental Council, and the Public Health Officers Council. These bodies oversee everything from candidate orientation to the handover of results and final reports.
He noted that the two institutions where he currently works — Gambia College and Sami — offer only three specific programmes: Enrolled Nursing, Advanced Diploma in Registered Nursing, and Higher National Diploma in Midwifery. In contrast, GaNLEX covers a much broader range of nursing specializations that these schools do, further reducing any potential for undue influence.
“There is no conflict of interest in participating in such exams. However, I still don’t participate in them,” Dr. Cham maintained. “My role and responsibility in nursing education and practice go far beyond exam moderation. I was elected to this committee by all the council members, and I took an oath. I am a professional, and I know my responsibilities. I always try to maintain my integrity and dignity.”
The controversy comes at a time when Gambia’s nursing and midwifery sector is expanding, with new institutions such as the Sami Institute of Nursing and Health Sciences in Abuko aiming to address critical healthcare workforce shortages. While supporters view Dr. Cham’s long-standing contributions — including leadership roles in the National Association of Gambia Nurses and Midwives — as beneficial to the profession, detractors insist that robust safeguards against conflicts of interest are essential to maintain public trust.
The GNMC’s upcoming meeting is expected to clarify whether structural changes, such as recusal protocols or revised membership criteria for the examination council, will be implemented. Stakeholders across the nursing fraternity are watching closely, underscoring the importance of transparency and accountability in shaping the future of healthcare education in The Gambia.
