Bakary Bunja Dabo, leader of the Gambia For All (GFA) party, has issued a scathing critique of President Adama Barrow’s administration, accusing it of plunging The Gambia into a cycle of crises marked by corruption, inefficiency, and a lack of transparency. In a strongly worded statement, Dabo warned that the government’s handling of the sale of former President Yahya Jammeh’s seized assets exemplifies its failure to uphold the principles of good governance and accountability that Gambians fought for during the end of Jammeh’s dictatorship.
“The Barrow Administration is stumbling from crisis to crisis, putting the country at risk,” Dabo declared, pointing to the public uproar over the disposal of state-forfeited assets as evidence of systemic mismanagement. “The public outcry arising from the sale of the state’s forfeited ‘Jammeh assets’ lays bare the lack of transparency and poor governance of President Adama Barrow’s administration,” he said.
Dabo reminded Gambians of the sacrifices made to end Jammeh’s 22-year dictatorship, during which many lost their lives or suffered immense hardships. He described Barrow as the “principal beneficiary” of the “blood and sweat struggle” that ousted Jammeh in 2016, noting that the president was elected with high expectations of ushering in administrative efficiency, economic prosperity, and genuine democracy. However, nearly eight years into his tenure, Dabo argued that Barrow has failed to deliver on promised reforms, instead adopting a “Jammeh-era administrative style” characterized by cronyism and corruption.
“For whatever reasons, President Barrow opted to snub competent Gambian professionals and chose to rely on discredited members of the old dictatorship and well-known sycophants with dubious credentials,” Dabo said. He claimed this decision has led to persistent allegations of fraud and corruption, with the recent controversy over Jammeh’s assets serving as a tipping point for public frustration.
The GFA leader criticized the government’s lack of transparency in selling assets seized from Jammeh, which he stressed belong to the Gambian people. He recalled that the Minister of Justice had previously refused to disclose the names of buyers, citing questionable legal privacy concerns. “The properties seized from former President Jammeh belong to the Gambian people, and they have a right to know who bought their property, the proceeds of the sales, and how the money recovered was used,” Dabo insisted.
Public anger intensified following a report by The Republic newspaper, which alleged fraudulent dealings in the asset sales. In response, the Barrow administration announced a televised presidential address and released a list of purported buyers. Dabo dismissed the list as inadequate, stating, “One cannot help but feel sorry about the level of incompetence that prevails in Barrow’s administration. The list produced does not even meet the standards of a Village Development Council’s administrative document.”
Dabo also criticized Barrow’s address as a missed opportunity to address the allegations head-on. Instead of providing clarity, the president announced plans to await an audit and a parliamentary inquiry, which Dabo described as “kicking the can further down the line.” Most alarmingly, Dabo highlighted Barrow’s admission during the address on May 4, 2025, that he was unaware of the alleged malpractices until recently. “This begs the question: how much else does he not know about what is happening in his administration?” Dabo asked.
The GFA leader held Barrow ultimately accountable for his administration’s failures, emphasizing that the president appoints many of the officials implicated in the scandals. “The buck stops at the Presidency, period!” Dabo asserted. He called on Barrow to directly address the Gambian people and provide a complete account of the asset sale saga, which he described as “unfortunate and avoidable.”
Dabo’s statement reflects growing discontent with Barrow’s leadership as The Gambia grapples with economic challenges and demands for accountability. The GFA warned that without urgently restoring transparency and competence, the administration risks further eroding public trust and destabilizing the nation.
As the controversy continues, all eyes are on Barrow to respond to the mounting pressure and deliver on the reform promises that brought him to power. Dabo and the GFA remain steadfast in their call for accountability, urging Gambians to demand better governance from their leaders.
