CA Findings Reveals Dr Ceesay Facilitated One NPP Vehicle For CA West Coast Region

By Buba Gagigo

The Citizens’ Alliance (CA) investigative committee has revealed that it’s party leader, Dr Ismaila Ceesay, has facilitated only one vehicle for their Regional Chairperson for WCR contrary to reports that he (Dr Ismaila Ceesay) received three vehicles from president Adama Barrow.

Mr. Dominic Mendy, the former CA National Chairperson (National President) stated in an interview on Kerr Fatou that Dr. Ceesay confirmed to him that three (3) vehicles were given to him (Dr. Ceesay) by NPP, and he distributed the vehicles to the regional party members who were willing to campaign for NPP.

In response to the allegations, Dr. Ceesay stated that he did not receive any vehicles personally. Rather, he facilitated in his personal capacity for a vehicle to be given to some party members in the West Coast Region who were keen on campaigning for NPP in their personal capacities following the party’s decision that any party member can support a candidate/party of their choice.

The Citizens’ Alliance (CA) then constituted an investigative committee to look into the veracity of the allegations.

The committee gathered the following findings after their investigations;

1. “The Regional Chairpersons in NBR and CRR confirmed that no vehicles were given to any member of CA in their respective regions to campaign for NPP.”
2. “The Regional Chairperson for WCR confirmed receiving a vehicle from an NPP representative to campaign for NPP, but not under the directive of CA. It is worth noting that the vehicle was not a gift but only meant to facilitate the campaign and was returned immediately thereafter. According to him, their decision to campaign for the NPP was in line with the guidance given by CA, following the non-endorsement declaration in the 2021 Presidential Elections wherein individual members were given the freewill to support any party at their own accord.
3. “The Fact Check – The Gambia refused to cooperate in the investigation and stated that their publication was not about CA but the person of Dr. Ceesay.
4. “Mr. Abdourahim reiterated that he never said 3 vehicles were given, but instead stated one vehicle was given to the WCR Chairperson”.

The party further said the actions of Dr. Ceesay in facilitating the vehicle transfer is deemed to be contrary to what should be expected of him, irrespective of the absence of any extant regulation that frowned against it.

While CA’s National Executive Committee (CNEC) admits to collective failure in not outlining clear guidance to what executive members were allowed to do in the non-endorsement guidance issued to the membership, The party said they believe it has reputational, moral and ethical ramifications and could have been avoided.