By Makutu Manneh
Muhammed B.S. Jallow, the vice president of The Gambia, has rejected allegations that the Barrow administration is corrupt, arguing instead that the increased visibility of corruption cases reflects a functioning system of accountability rather than widespread wrongdoing.
In an interview with QTV, Mr. Jallow said the government had strengthened oversight mechanisms, pointing to the recent tabling of four audit-related reports before the National Assembly at the same time.
“Before there were backlogs of reports,” he said. “But now we are doing the right thing, and people know what is happening.”
Mr. Jallow compared the situation to crime statistics, suggesting that improved reporting can create the impression of rising crime even when it is the transparency of the system that has improved. When offenses go unreported, he said, they appear not to exist; when reporting mechanisms are active, the public may mistakenly conclude that the problem has worsened.
He maintained that the government has taken concrete steps to combat corruption, noting that several cases are currently before the courts and that convictions have already been secured, including against senior civil servants.
“Look at all the cases before the court, people have been convicted, including permanent Secretaries.”
The vice president also urged Gambians to view the fight against corruption and national development as a shared responsibility. While the ruling National People’s Party controls state resources, he said, progress depends on broad public participation.
“If we all play our role, the Gambia will move forward. There are certain national issues we have to forget about partisanship,” Mr. Jallow said, adding that collective responsibility was essential to moving the country forward.
Comments are closed.