By: Kemo Kanyi
A former regional executive member of the ruling National People’s Party (NPP), Fanding Baldeh, has accused President Adama Barrow’s advisers of failing to provide sound counsel resulting into poor governance.
He says the advisers are instead shielding the president from the realities facing ordinary Gambians.
Speaking in an interview with The Voice at his residence in Brikama Jamisa, Baldeh, popularly known as “Baldeh Banna”, alleged that many presidential advisers were appointed based on personal relationships rather than merit and professional competence.
“They are appointed based on their personal contact with the President. Most of them are people who could not handle any meaningful official jobs for the country. They are only after their pockets. This is the reason they cannot advise the President on anything positive. They only tell the President what he wants to hear, not what citizens ask,” Baldeh said.
He claimed that although they carry the title of advisers, they rarely question government policies or assess their impact on citizens before supporting presidential decisions.
Explaining his decision to resign from the NPP, Baldeh said he became disillusioned after President Barrow decided to seek a third term in office, despite what he described as an earlier internal understanding within the party that the President would serve only two terms.
He alleged that the announcement of a possible third-term bid had been made by the party’s late national president, Dembo “By Force” Bojang, adding that competent advisers should have discouraged such a move.
Baldeh also said he could no longer support a government that, in his view, had failed to fulfil its promises to the electorate.
He further alleged that corruption remained widespread in the country, arguing that the government has not implemented effective measures to combat the problem despite its campaign pledges.
The government is yet to publicly respond to Baldeh’s remarks
About the Author
