A powerful petition demanding accountability for handling assets seized from former President Yahya Jammeh has been launched. It targets President Adama Barrow, the Ministry of Justice, the Auditor General, Alpha Capital, and the National Assembly. Spearheaded by Foday Mubaraka Singhateh of the opposition Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) Diaspora President, the petition reflects growing public frustration over alleged mismanagement and secrecy surrounding the disposal of Jammeh’s looted wealth.
Titled “We, The People, Demand Full Transparency and Accountability on Jammeh’s Looted Assets,” the petition outlines six urgent demands. It calls for a comprehensive, independently verified report detailing all recovered assets, including valuations, seizure dates, and current status. It also seeks a public transcript of all seized properties, listing original market values, final sale prices, auctioneers, buyers, and sale criteria. Further, it demands a detailed financial statement from Alpha Capital, an official Auditor General’s report verifying funds, and an independent review of all sales, particularly a reported $12 million property sold for just D20,000, which the petition labels as potential fraud.
The petition also criticizes the Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparations Commission (TRRC), accusing it of failing to deliver justice or reparations. “Gambians are growing disillusioned with a symbolic, politicized commission,” the document states, urging reform to restore trust. It emphasizes that Jammeh’s looted wealth belongs to the people, not “a new generation of elites or insiders.”
The petition comes amid widespread outrage sparked by *The Republic*’s April 30 investigative report, which exposed irregularities in asset sales, including undervalued transactions allegedly benefiting government insiders. Public protests, led by Gambians Against Looted Assets (GALA), have intensified, with dozens arrested for demanding transparency. The Ministry of Justice recently released a partial asset sale list, but critics, including the petition’s signatories, argue it lacks critical details and fails to address suspicions of corruption.
“We are tired of false promises. We are tired of secrecy. We are tired of injustice,” the petition declares, challenging Barrow’s government to prove its “Never Again” commitment through decisive action. It warns that the document will be shared with local and international media, civil society, and global institutions monitoring The Gambia’s transitional justice efforts.
The petition’s demands echo broader concerns about governance under Barrow. A 2020 National Audit Office report flagged D706 million in asset sale proceeds lacking documentation, fueling distrust. The opposition and groups like the Edward Francis Small Center for Rights and Justice have called for an independent probe, dismissing the National Assembly’s inquiry as biased due to ruling party influence.
As The Gambia grapples with Jammeh’s legacy—marked by $362 million in stolen funds and human rights abuses—the petition underscores a pivotal moment. With public pressure mounting, Barrow’s response will test his administration’s commitment to transparency and justice. The petition’s rallying cry, “Together We Rise, Together We Can,” signals a unified demand for accountability that could shape the nation’s democratic future.
