“He Is Corrupt, He Is Not Honest”: Tambajang Rejects Sowe’s Appointment as Auditor General

By Seedy Jobe

Former Vice President Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang has publicly opposed the appointment of Cherno Amadou Sowe as Auditor General, alleging that he misappropriated millions of dalasis from the Gambia Women’s Finance Association during his tenure as the organization’s General Manager.

Speaking in an interview with Kerr Fatou, Ms. Tambajang claimed that Mr. Sowe embezzled funds from the association before leaving The Gambia for the United States.

She alleged that more than D4 million was misappropriated and said the association subsequently initiated legal proceedings against him. According to Ms. Tambajang, the court ruled in the association’s favor and ordered Mr. Sowe to repay the money.

She said Mr. Sowe made a partial repayment but still owes more than D3 million. Including accrued interest, she estimated that the outstanding amount has risen to approximately D6 million.

“He embezzled our funds. We took a lawyer. The court decided that he should pay us. He paid us some advance, and up to now, I think he owes about three million plus,” Ms. Tambajang said.

The former vice president said the association is in the process of re-engaging legal counsel to revive enforcement of the judgment, noting that legal claims may lapse if they are not actively pursued within six years.

Ms. Tambajang described the Gambia Women’s Finance Association as a nationwide initiative that, she said, reached approximately 49,000 women within five years. She added that the organization’s funds belonged to 11 Gambian women who founded the association.

Citing the allegations, she argued that Mr. Sowe should not hold the country’s highest public auditing office.

“I am here openly saying that I am against the appointment of that Amadou Sowe as Auditor General. He’s corrupt, he’s not honest, and he has embezzled funds that were mobilized and put into productivity by people, by women,” she said.

Ms. Tambajang said she intends to continue pursuing the matter on behalf of the association.

“I will continue to stand on behalf of the Gambian Women’s Finance Association to ensure that they do something about him,” she said.

Mr. Sowe has not publicly responded to Ms. Tambajang’s allegations in the interview.