In Central Bank D11.1M Alleged Bribery Affair, Internal Investigation Report Blames Deputy Governors

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The Central Bank of The Gambia Building in Banjul

Following a news report by The Alkamba Times (TAT) on 16 February 2022, the Central Bank of The Gambia (CBG) announced the launch of an internal investigation.

It would be recalled that the TAT news report publicized the allegation that D155 million in old and mutilated banknotes were deposited at the CBG, and that D11.1 million was given as a bribe to bank staff to facilitate changing the mutilated banknotes into good banknotes.

Now the leaked investigation report, made available to TAT as the first medium to report the story, says the first and second deputy governors failed to act swiftly on the allegations.

The report said the first deputy governor is “found wanting for serious misconduct and dereliction of duty”, while the second deputy governor “concealed vital information regarding the allegation being investigated.”

Meanwhile, the report, which was sent to the Office of the President exonerates the prime suspect, Abdou Ceesay, and two others, Omar Touray and Chikam Bah, as well as the head of IT at the CBG.

The CBG committee investigating the matter recommends the bank update the Bank’s board and Office of the President by sharing the outcome of the internal investigation.

It also recommends a review of Abdou Ceesay’s interdiction, as he appears to be innocent, while further recommending that the findings be shared with police for further investigations.

According to the report, the investigation revealed that Ansumana Bah visited the Bank on 22 Dec 2021 to meet the second deputy governor.

“Evidence also showed that on the 11 January 2022, the first deputy governor received an anonymous call on a matter as serious as this without enquiring about the identification of the caller.

“In addition, he failed to share the details of this call with the Governor though he was shocked to hear such allegations. Although he informed Abdou about the call, he refused to cooperate with him on the identity of the caller, despite his insistence”.

It would be recalled that the 16 February 2022 news report was published after TAT saw a letter containing this claim from the Solie Law Chambers which was sent to the Central Bank authorities.

Then both the CBG management and police subsequently got involved and launched investigations, the results of which are yet to be made public.

The CBG internal investigation team includes Mr. Mamodou Mboge, Adviser to the Governor of the Bank, Mr. Omar Janneh, Director of Administration and General Services, Mr. Saikou Touray, Officer-in-Charge of the HR department and Mrs. Ajie Amie Jagne, Senior Legal Officer.

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Mr. Sainey M.K. Marenah is a Prominent Gambian journalist, founding editor The Alkamba Times and formerly head of communications at the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) and Communications and PR Consultant for The Gambia Pilot Program, under Gamworks. Mr. Marenah served as the Social media Strategist and Editor at Gambia Radio and Television Services. He is also the Banjul Correspondent for Voice of America Radio. Sainey is a human rights and developmental journalist who has carved a strong niche particularly in new media environments in the Gambian media industry. Mr. Marenah began his career as a junior reporter with the Point Newspaper in the Gambia in 2008 and rose through the ranks to become Chief correspondent before moving to The Standard Newspaper also in Banjul as Editorial Assistant and head of News. He is a household name in the Gambia’s media industry having covered some of the most important stories in the former and current government. These include the high profile treason cases including the Trial of Former military chiefs in Banjul in 2009 to 2012. Following his arrest and imprisonment by the former regime of President, Yahya Jammeh in 2014, Marenah moved to Dakar Senegal where he continues to practice Journalism freelancing for various local and international Media organization’s including the BBC, Al-Jazeera, VOA, and ZDF TV in Germany among others. He is the co-Founder of the Banjul Based Media Center for Research and Development; an institution specialized in research and development undertakings. As a journalist and Communication Expert, focused on supporting the Gambia's transitional process, Mr Marenah continues to play a pivotal role in shaping a viable media and communications platform that engages necessary tools and action to increase civic participation and awareness of the needs of transitional governance to strengthen the current move towards democratization. Mr. Marenah has traveled extensively as a professional journalist in both Europe, Africa and United States and attended several local and international media trainings.

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