Gambia Tourism Minister Accepts Some Lawmakers’ Resolutions, Rejects Others in Response to Staff Petition

By Seedy Jobe

The Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Abdoulie Jobe, said the government had accepted several recommendations from the National Assembly’s Petitions Committee concerning a dispute raised by staff of the Gambia Tourism Board, while rejecting others, he said conflicted with existing law or executive authority.

Mr. Jobe is scheduled to appear before lawmakers on Monday, March 16, 2026, to formally respond to the committee’s findings on a petition filed by employees of the tourism board, which raised concerns about governance, employment decisions, and the management of public resources.

In a written response addressing the committee’s recommendations, the minister said the government had rejected a resolution concerning ecolodge projects managed by the tourism board. He said the projects had received the necessary approval from the Gambia Public Procurement Authority.

“Government rejects this resolution for the reason that the Gambia Tourism Board received approval from the GPPA, and there is documentation for that,” Mr. Jobe said.

He added that the government had accepted legal advice from the Ministry of Justice to terminate a contract related to the matter and that the tourism board had been directed to initiate legal action against the Lerr Group.

On employment grievances raised in the petition, Mr. Jobe said the government had accepted the committee’s recommendation that the Select Committee and the Ombudsman report back to the National Assembly. He noted that the ministry had instructed the tourism board to implement the resolution.

“The government, through a letter in December, directed the chairperson of the board to implement the resolution with immediate effect,” he said, adding that by the end of February, the affected employees had been reinstated to their previous positions.

Addressing concerns over governance, Mr. Jobe said the government would ensure strict adherence to the Gambia Tourism Board Act and its accompanying regulations. However, he rejected a recommendation calling on the ombudsman to investigate the dissolution of the board’s governing body, saying the decision fell within the executive’s prerogative.

The minister said the government had accepted several other recommendations, including those related to the tourism board’s head office complex, contractual arrangements, and budget allocations.

“The ministry has written to the Ministry of Finance to implement this action,” he said.

Mr. Jobe also confirmed that a resolution directing the suspension of fuel supplies to the offices of the minister and the permanent secretary had been implemented.

On the issue of conflict of interest, the minister rejected a recommendation to broaden the composition of the tourism board’s governing body, citing provisions of the Gambia Tourism Board Act of 2011. However, he accepted a separate recommendation calling for the governing board to develop a formal policy addressing potential conflicts of interest.

Mr. Jobe said the government remained committed to implementing the accepted recommendations and resolving the issues raised in the petition, while ensuring compliance with the provisions of the tourism board’s governing law.