By: Foday Manneh
Operatives from the Ministry of Local Government reportedly broke into an office in Kanifing Municipal Council on Thursday morning, February 23, 2023, to forcefully grant access to the underfired Chief Executive Officer of the Council, Sainabou Martin Sonko.
The Mayor of the KMC, Talib Ahmed Bensouda, described this action as a sad day for democracy.
“This is not only a breach of protocol and constitutional jurisdiction but a sad day in governance and democracy,” he posted on his official Facebook page.
Sainabou Martin, suspended from work by the KMC authorities after being accused of corruption by the same council authorities, was asked to return to office after eight months of absence following an order issued by the local government ministry.
Upon returning to the office for the first time on Monday, February 20, 2023, as directed by the lands Ministry, Mrs. Martin said she was denied access to her office and was instead ushered into the conference hall of the Council.
However, the Council maintained that she would be granted access to her office once the General Council decides on her matter in a meeting scheduled for Wednesday, February 22, 2023.
“CEO Martin returned to the council on Thursday alongside ten officers with operatives from the Ministry of Local Government to break into an office their choice to place her against the council’s resolution,” Mayor said.
“In the presence of Councillors and Gambia Association of Local Government Authority leaders. The Gambia Government via ‘executive order’ have illegally broken into an office to install the CEO against Council resolution forcefully,” Mayor confirmed.
