Former Minister of Finance and Trade under AFPRC
By Landing Ceesay
The Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) discovered that the ‘progressive’ ideologies of the late Ousman Koro Ceesay, threatened the direction of the Junta and its leadership.
“Koro’s progressive ideologies, as far as the Junta was concerned, threatened the direction of the Junta and Jammeh. They were used to giving orders and having the orders obeyed without question. Therefore, cumulatively, Koro’s independent position and critical thinking unsettled Jammeh and this gave him a motive to eliminate him. The Commission takes into account the testimonies of various credible witnesses about how Jammeh dealt with people that he believed were obstacles to his objectives following the 1994 coup,” TRRC findings revealed.
The Commission said Ceesay was a man of honour, dignity and integrity who was committed to transformational development of his country based on which he was appointed Minister of Finance and member of the AFPRC in March 1995.
“On the issue of Edward Singhatey being jealous of Ousman Koro Ceesay at a minimum there was bad blood between Edward and Koro. Considering the growing influence Koro began to have in Cabinet and him getting closer to Yahya Jammeh, there is credibility in the conclusion that Edward Singhatey felt threatened by the popularity of the rising star and he became jealous of Koro. Up to the time of Koro joining the Council Edward Singhatey and Yahya Jammeh had enjoyed a very close relationship noted in their connivance to get rid of Sanna Sabally and Saidibu Hydara. Edward was a principal architect of the July 22 coup and was a highly intelligent and accomplished member of the Council. Koro’s growing stature within the Council posed a threat to Edward’s influence and position as Vice Chairman and thus he had a personal motive to kill him,” TRRC revealed.
Ousman Koro Ceesay (Koro), an economist, who was viewed by many as a man of high intelligence and integrity was appointed permanent secretary at the Office of the Chairman of the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council (AFPRC) in March 1995. Then, appointed the Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs and member of Council; before he was brutally murdered on June 24, 1995 barely three months after joining the AFPRC.
Before the witnesses confirmed at the TRRC; it was rumoured that the Junta murdered the former Finance Minister to permanently silence him, because he was about to expose some unfavourable information about financial mismanagement by the Junta in the 1995/1996 budget speech; which the Junta did not want exposure, as it would cause them some reputational damages in the eye of the public.
This discovery of the commission is in volume 4 of its report on the unlawful killing of Ousman Koro Ceesay, former Minister of Finance and Trade under Jammeh. The TRRC report that was submitted to the Gambian President-elect, Adama Barrow in November was made public on 24 December.
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