Former Gambian Auditor General Says President Pressured Him to Delay Audits Before Election

By Admin Last updated Dec 15, 2025

Modou Ceesay at the court…photo_Kexx

Modou Ceesay, The Gambia’s former auditor general, testified before the Supreme Court on Monday that President Adama Barrow and senior aides pressed him to delay or soften major government audits because of their potential impact on the president’s re-election prospects, and that his refusal to do so led directly to his dismissal.

Appearing before a five-member panel led by the chief justice, Mr. Ceesay offered a detailed account of meetings with the president and the chief of staff in which, he said, the timing and political sensitivity of audits were repeatedly raised. The testimony came in a case challenging the legality of his removal from office.

According to Mr. Ceesay, the audits under scrutiny included investigations into the National Food Security Processing and Marketing Corporation, the Ministry of Lands, the Central Bank of The Gambia, and the Government Consolidated Fund—all institutions with significant public exposure.

Mr. Ceesay, an economist and certified accountant with advanced training in public management and information systems auditing, said he was summoned to State House after launching a special audit of the National Food Security Processing and Marketing Corporation. During that meeting, he told the court, the president and the chief of staff asked that the audit be postponed until 2026.

“They raised concern over the timing of the audit and that it is sensitive because it concerns farmers,” Mr. Ceesay said. He added that he was told the findings could emerge before national elections and potentially affect the president’s campaign.

A similar pattern emerged, he testified, after his office began a compliance audit of the Ministry of Lands, focusing on adherence to laws governing land allocation. After requesting outstanding documentation, Mr. Ceesay said he was summoned by the chief of staff and advised to delay the report because numerous land disputes were already before the courts.

Mr. Ceesay told the panel that he resisted the request, noting that whistleblowers and complainants could access information if recommendations were not implemented. He later observed that the report was eventually submitted to the National Assembly—but only after his removal.

The former auditor general also described delays and resistance surrounding an outsourced audit of the Central Bank conducted by a private firm, PJF. He said officials expressed fear about the timing of the audit, which examined dividends, investments, and loans involving the food security corporation. His office, he added, had demanded receipts and supporting documentation from the bank.

Mr. Ceesay further testified about an ongoing audit of the Government Consolidated Fund for 2023 and 2024, which required access to tax and customs databases maintained by the Gambia Revenue Authority. He said the authority refused to provide copies of the databases, citing proprietary and intellectual property concerns.

Mr. Ceesay told the court that on Sept. 8, 2025 — two days before his removal — he wrote to the authority again, invoking constitutional provisions and the National Audit Act. In a subsequent meeting with the president, he said, he was told the refusal was linked to the “timing of the audit.”

The account then turned to the events immediately preceding his dismissal. On Sept. 10, 2025, Mr. Ceesay said he was summoned to the Office of the President, where he was offered the post of minister of trade. He said he thanked the president but asked for time to consider the offer.

After consulting advisers, Mr. Ceesay returned to the president later that afternoon to decline, saying his expertise lay in auditing and that he believed he could best serve the country in that role. He testified that the president told him the appointment had already been published.

The next morning, Mr. Ceesay said he formalized his rejection in a letter, copied to senior government officials. Despite that, he testified, pressure continued. A member of Parliament visited him that evening, saying the chief of staff had asked him to persuade Mr. Ceesay to accept the position. He refused.

Mr. Ceesay also recounted meetings and phone calls from the finance minister, Seedy Keita, who he said urged him to reconsider, citing the benefits of a cabinet post and their personal relationship. According to Mr. Ceesay, the minister presented three options: accept the appointment, have the president reverse the decision, or face an unspecified third outcome. Mr. Ceesay said he stood by his refusal.

Under questioning by his lawyer, J. Darboe, Mr. Ceesay confirmed that he had received a formal appointment letter bearing the seal of the Office of the President, which was admitted into evidence. He said the letter required him to indicate acceptance, which he did by submitting a written rejection.

On Sept. 11, 2025, Mr. Ceesay testified, Cherno Sowe arrived at his office claiming to be the newly appointed auditor general and requesting a handover. Mr. Ceesay said he declined, explaining that he had received no official communication acknowledging his removal.

The following day, after journalists gathered at his office to inquire about his status, Mr. Ceesay said he decided to hold a press conference. During the briefing, police officers arrived and informed him that they had orders to remove him.

“There was a push and pull, as some of my staff did not agree that I should leave,” he testified. He said he was eventually escorted from the premises and sought legal counsel shortly afterward.

Cross-Examination by the State

During cross-examination, Counsel Ida Drammeh, appearing for the state, challenged several aspects of Mr Ceesay’s testimony, including his account of the GRA data dispute, the timing and validity of his rejection letter, and whether he had, at any point, accepted the ministerial appointment.

Mr Ceesay denied applying for any position at GRA, requesting personal data, or accepting the ministerial post. He maintained that he had consistently rejected the appointment and that presidential interference in audits occurred on multiple occasions.

Several documents, including appointment letters, rejection letters, and media releases, were tendered and admitted into evidence during the cross-examination.

Cross Examination by Counsel Ida Drammeh for the state

Counsel I Drammeh: Is it correct that you applied for two positions at the Gambia Revenue Authority?

Modou Ceesay: No, I haven’t applied for a position in the GRA

Counsel I. Drammeh: GRA provides you with their full data, but they refuse to take the data.

Modou Ceesay: No, that’s not correct.

Counsel I. Drammeh: The GRA provides you with all the data, but you want personal information.

Modou Ceesay: No, I have never requested personal data. We only requested the tax data.

Counsel I. Drammeh: Mr Ceesay, it’s correct that you never sent a letter to the president declining the appointment.

Modou Ceesay: That’s incorrect. I have sent a letter declining the appointment.

Counsel I. Drammeh: The only letter you sent was the only letter dated 11th September, addressed to the chief of staff.

Modou Ceesay: Yes, that’s correct.

Counsel I. Drammeh: Do you have a copy?

Modou Ceesay: No.

Counsel I. Drammeh: I’m putting it to you that you didn’t want to tender that because the letter you wrote wasn’t in response to the letter of your appointment.Counsel I. Drammeh: You told the court that when Cherno Sowe visited your office, he showed you his letter of appointment.

Modou Ceesay: No, he showed me his letter of acceptance by pointing at me, but I did read the content.

Counsel Ida Drammeh: Please have a look at whether that’s the letter he had shown to you as his acceptance letter.

Modou Ceesay: I didn’t receive the letter he just pointed to, and I didn’t read the letter because I told him the conversation is not between us, and he can engage the relevant authorities.

Counsel Ida Drammeh applied to tender the letter, and the letter was admitted and marked as Exhibit P4.

Counsel I. Drammeh: Mr Ceesay, there was a media briefing of your appointment as Minister of Trade.

Modou Ceesay: Yes.

Counsel I. Drammeh: Take a look at the letter and tell the court whether that’s the letter.

Modou Ceesay: After looking at the letter, he confirmed the media release.

Counsel Drammeh applied to tender the media briefing, and the court admitted and marked as Exhibit P5.

Counsel I. Drammeh: I’m putting it to you that you have written a letter accepting the appointment and later withdrew.

Modou Ceesay: That’s incorrect.

Counsel I. Drammeh: The president has never interfered with your work.

Modou Ceesay: That’s incorrect.

Counsel I. Drammeh: The Auditor General’s office is for a limited period.

Modou Ceesay: Yes, according to the law.

Counsel I. Drammeh: You’re ushered into the office of the president by a protocol officer, Wuday.