By Buba Gagigo
In response to a recent article published by The Republic, the Government of The Gambia has issued a formal statement detailing the legal framework and structured process it followed in the sale of assets seized from former dictator Yahya Jammeh. The government underscores its commitment to transparency and accountability, emphasizing that the entire process was conducted under strict legal supervision and regular auditing.
The government addressed the article, The Assets of Gambia’s Former Dictator Go for a Song, published on May 1, 2025, stating that the disposal of Jammeh’s assets adhered to a two-stage, legally grounded procedure. The first stage, according to the statement, involved the oversight of the Janneh Commission, a Presidential Commission of Inquiry established under the Constitution of The Gambia. This commission, empowered by its legal mandate, recommended the forfeiture and sale of assets deemed unlawfully acquired. The assets included livestock and agricultural equipment, such as cattle, sheep, and tractors. A public report was issued by the Commission following its findings.
“The Government of The Gambia has taken note of the article published by The Republic on 1 May 2025 titled “The Assets of Gambia’s Former Dictator Go for a Song”. The Government wishes to clarify that the disposal of assets followed a two-stage, structured, and legally grounded process. The first stage consisted of the disposal of a portion of the assets under the supervision of the Janneh Commission, which was a Presidential Commission of Inquiry constituted under the Constitution of The Gambia. Acting on the powers vested on it, the Commission made recommendations for the forfeiture and disposal of assets found to have been unlawfully acquired and issued a publicly available report to that effect. These assets included cattle, sheep and tractors,” the government said in the statement.
The second stage, the government explained, saw the formation of a Ministerial Taskforce to oversee the implementation of the Commission’s recommendations. This Taskforce included the Ministers of Justice, Local Government and Lands, Tourism and Culture, and Agriculture. Additionally, a Technical Committee composed of permanent secretaries and senior officials from relevant ministries reviewed and approved the recommended sales of the assets.
The assets, the government posited, were sold through a competitive bidding process, following thorough valuation and public advertisements. Alpha Kapital Advisory was appointed as the Receiver, tasked with managing the sales process, which included regular reporting to the government.
“A supporting Technical Committee of permanent secretaries and officials from relevant ministries reviewed the assets and made recommendations for approval by the Ministerial Taskforce. The sale of assets was conducted through a competitive bidding process, following valuation exercises and public advertisement. A Receiver, Alpha Kapital Advisory, was retained to manage this process and regular reports were submitted to the Government,” they said.
The government has reiterated its commitment to transparency and public interest throughout the asset recovery process.
“The processes followed were transparent and aimed at maximising value from the recovered assets. All the assets sold so far have been subjected to an audit by the National Audit Office whose report will be submitted to the National Assembly. The Government remains committed to full accountability and transparency.” the statement reads.
It further assured that a comprehensive report on the sales of all forfeited assets, including details on the processes, beneficiaries, sale prices, and proceeds, will be made available to the public in due course.
“Accordingly, a comprehensive report detailing the sales of all forfeited assets—including procedures followed, beneficiaries, sale prices, and proceeds realised—will be made available to the public in due course. The Government reaffirms its commitment to uphold the rule of law and to ensure that the resources of the Gambian people are managed responsibly,” they concluded.