A tense scene unfolded at a Gambia ferry terminal on Sunday morning amid allegations that First Lady Fatoumata Bah-Barrow sought to prevent UNITE National President Ebrima Dibba from boarding the same vessel bound for Barra.
Witnesses described heated exchanges in which the First Lady and those accompanying her allegedly threatened Gambia Ferry Services security officers, warning that their jobs could be at risk if Dibba were allowed on board. Despite the reported confrontation, Dibba eventually boarded the ferry after significant pushback from those present.
Hon. Ebrima Ceesay, UNITE Deputy National Campaign Manager, who said he witnessed the incident, strongly condemned the alleged actions. He argued that the episode raises serious questions about equal treatment of citizens and the potential politicization of public institutions. Ceesay added that his party would closely monitor whether any ferry officers face disciplinary measures as a result of the confrontation.
Meanwhile, UNITE National President Ebrima Dibba also released a video detailing his encounter with First Lady Fatoumata Bah-Barrow at Banjul ferry terminal.
He said she tried to stop him from boarding the same ferry, claiming he framed her while serving as protocol officer at the Gambian embassy in Saudi Arabia by telling people she sent him to beg Saudis for money and Tobaski gifts.
The Ministry of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services moved quickly to reject the claims. In an official statement, the ministry acknowledged circulating reports but insisted that Dibba was permitted to board the ferry and was never prevented from doing so on the First Lady’s instructions. It described accusations of political discrimination involving a public ferry service as “false and baseless.”
Government officials emphasized that public institutions, including Gambia Ferry Services, belong to all citizens and must operate with fairness and professionalism. The ministry urged media outlets and the public to verify information carefully before sharing it, particularly claims that risk escalating political tensions. It reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to accurate, responsible and transparent communication while calling on all parties to maintain fairness and accountability in public discourse.
The conflicting accounts have drawn attention to the broader political climate in The Gambia, where opposition figures and the ruling side continue to trade accusations over the impartiality of state services. No independent video or additional corroborating evidence has been widely circulated at the time of reporting, leaving the public with two sharply divergent versions of the same morning’s events at the ferry terminal.
