GALA Spokesman Refunds D12,000 to Dr. Ismaila Ceesay After Admitting Failed School Water Project

By Seedy Jobe

Omar Saibo Camara, the spokesperson for GALA, said on Wednesday that he had refunded D12,000 to Information Minister Dr. Ismaila Ceesay after acknowledging that he failed to complete a school water project the two had agreed upon roughly a decade ago.

The repayment came after Dr. Ceesay referred to the matter during a recent interview on Eye Africa TV.

In a statement posted on his official Facebook page, Mr. Camara said Dr. Ceesay had entrusted him with D12,000 to implement the project, including D11,500 for the installation of a water supply system and D500 for transportation costs. He acknowledged that the project was never carried out.

“Regrettably, I failed to execute the assignment. I take full responsibility for that failure,” Mr. Camara wrote.

Mr. Camara said that after the project was not completed, Dr. Ceesay told him to keep the money, leading him to believe the issue had been privately resolved between them as close friends. He said he was therefore surprised that the matter was later discussed publicly.

He also disputed the amount cited during Dr. Ceesay’s interview, saying the minister appeared to have recalled the sum as D50,000 rather than the D12,000 that was actually provided. Mr. Camara suggested the discrepancy may have resulted from the passage of time.

According to Mr. Camara, he had never expected their personal financial dealings to become a subject of public discussion. While he has frequently criticized Dr. Ceesay on issues of governance and public administration, he said he had deliberately kept their private interactions separate from his public commentary.

Seeking to bring the matter to a close, Mr. Camara said he transferred the full D12,000 to Dr. Ceesay via the Wave mobile money platform and shared transaction details as proof of repayment.

“I harbour no ill feelings of resentment towards him or anyone else over this matter,” he said.

Mr. Camara said the episode had not altered his commitment to public accountability, arguing that accountability should apply equally to public officials, private citizens, and himself.

“This incident does not diminish my commitment to accountability. As a citizen, I will continue to hold public officials, fellow citizens, and myself accountable for our actions and omissions alike. Accountability begins with each of us,” he said.