By Haddy Touray
The National Assembly of The Gambia has released a report examining the management and disposal of assets linked to former President Yahya A. J. J. Jammeh following their seizure after the Janneh Commission’s investigations.
The Special Select Committee, established in May 2025, was tasked with determining whether the government handled these assets lawfully, transparently, and in the public interest.
The committee held dozens of sittings and heard testimony from more than 70 witnesses, including officials from the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Justice, and other agencies responsible for asset custody or sale. It also reviewed extensive documentation, including bank records, contracts, court orders, and government correspondence. Several properties linked to Jammeh were physically inspected to verify their status.
The assets under review included land and buildings across the country, businesses, vehicles, machinery, bank accounts, aircraft, and livestock, including holdings at Kanilai farms. The committee sought to trace how these assets were managed, valued, and ultimately sold or transferred after being frozen or seized.
The report revealed significant weaknesses in asset management. Responsibility was dispersed across multiple government institutions without clear coordination, resulting in incomplete or inconsistent records. In some cases, proper inventories, valuation reports, or documentation of asset sales were lacking.
Problems were also noted in enforcing court orders meant to preserve assets. Some institutions failed to maintain adequate control over assets, creating uncertainty about their status and the proper accounting of proceeds from sales.
Livestock management was highlighted as a particular concern. The committee found irregularities in recording, valuing, and disposing of animals, with unclear documentation of numbers sold or prices obtained, raising concerns about potential losses to the state.
The report also assessed the government’s implementation of the Janneh Commission’s recommendations. A White Paper led to the creation of a ministerial task force and a technical committee of senior civil servants. However, these bodies were not always effective, and poor coordination contributed to weaknesses in asset management.
Witness conduct also presented challenges. The committee reported instances where individuals allegedly provided misleading information or interfered with evidence, constituting contempt of the National Assembly.
Overall, the report concludes that weak institutional coordination, poor record-keeping, and insufficient oversight undermined the management and disposal of Jammeh-linked assets. While the initial seizure complied with the Janneh Commission’s findings, subsequent processes were not always transparent or clearly executed.
To address these issues, the committee recommends the creation of a centralized digital register of state-controlled assets, a nationwide audit of properties linked to the former president, improved asset valuation and disposal procedures, and stronger coordination among government agencies.
These reforms aim to ensure greater transparency, accountability, and protection of public assets in future recovery efforts in The Gambia.