Badara Loum, former Chairman Board of Directors of Food Safety and Quality Authority (FSQA) has described the leadership of Zainab Jallow, Director General of FSQA to that of former President Yahya Jammmeh.
Loum made the revelation in his final statement to the Truth Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) yesterday when he appeared before the Commission at Dunes Hotel in Kololi.
“Till recently I have been the Chairman of Food Safety and Quality Authority but I had to resign after six months because I have decided that I will never be a part of any illegal process that contravenes set of laws, guidelines and procedures. It is no longer tenable for one individual to hold a whole institution hostage just in the likes of Yahya Jammmeh,”
The Former Chairman Board of Directors of FSQA Loum observed that the new dispensation in the country brought lots of hopes for Gambians, adding that many nationals were hoping that the new regime will be out to correct the transgression committed by the previous regime but not otherwise.
“With advent of the new dispensation that presented itself with a lot of opportunities Gambians were expecting that it is out to correct the transgression that were made in the past and set new standards that are align with the best practices and simultaneously ensure that the mistakes are not repeated again. Unfortunately people with authorities are still flouting with impunity to the detriment of the nation,” Loum, a former permanent secretary ministry of agriculture told the commission.
Loum enjoined the Gambia government to work assiduously in restoring the trust and confidence of the nationals, disclosing that government must invest in agricultural development and make it priority area in the development drive of the country.
It could be recalled that Badara Loum resigned as the Chairman of Board of Directors of the Food Safety and Quality Authority last month after seven staffers of the authority were clandestinely dismissed from their jobs.
However, few days after his resignation, Zainab Jallow, Director General of the authority continue to sacked more staff. Last week seven other staff was also issued with their dismissal letters as a matter of payment for their signing of a petition against the director general who was adversely mentioned for many wrongdoings after an independent panel of investigation submitted its final report.
