Hon. Omar Jatto Jammeh, National Assembly Member for Janjanbureh
By Buba Gagigo
Hon. Omar Jatto Jammeh, the National Assembly Member for Janjanbureh, has publicly cautioned President Adama Barrow against appointing Dr. Ismaila Ceesay as Minister of Foreign Affairs, warning that such a decision could result in serious diplomatic missteps.
The warning follows the recent resignation of Dr. Mamadou Tangara from the post of Foreign Affairs Minister.
“It’s not about personal; it’s about credibility,” Hon. Jammeh said during an interview with Kerr Fatou. “And this guy has cost us a lot, and being a Foreign Affairs Minister, you need to be consistent. I’m not doubting his academic background, and I’m not doubting his personal appearance, but I have a lot of reservations in terms of his consistency and also his truthfulness. He might really cause this country a big blow if he should be appointed as a Foreign Service Minister.”
Jammeh accused Dr. Ceesay of being prone to making unverified public statements, a tendency he says is incompatible with the demands of the Foreign Ministry.
“Part of his background is that he’s a researcher. So for me, this is where I see inconsistency in doctor, and I have proof for it. I don’t just allege him because I’m sitting before the media, but with my work contacts with Doctor, Doctor is one of the most inconsistent ministers within Barrow’s cabinet,” Jammeh claimed. “I can tell you that for free. So, appointing him as a Foreign Service minister, he might really cause a diplomatic blow to this nation. He might just go to the media anytime and say anything.”
The Janjanbureh lawmaker also criticized Dr. Ceesay’s temperament, describing him as overly emotional—an attribute he believes is ill-suited for high-level diplomacy.
“He is very, very emotional. And as a politician, you don’t have to be emotional,” Jammeh said. “You have seen some of the words that doctor has thrown at President Barrow just for him to take a U-turn again and be appointed by the same person. Doctor has turned himself to be everyone’s doctor; he’s everywhere saying every other thing, being true or false. Doctor, don’t care; let him just speak. So, for me, doctor wouldn’t be the right candidate for that job.”
Jammeh concluded by stating unequivocally that, in his view, Dr. Ceesay is not the right candidate for the position of Foreign Minister.