Gambiaj.com – (Banjul, the Gambia)- The Commission probing the sale of former President Yahya Jammeh’s assets has once again laid bare the depth of institutional decay in key state offices, as Mrs. Marie Theresa Gomez, Registrar of Companies, admitted that none of the 28 Jammeh-linked companies ordered for liquidation had been dissolved since the Janneh Commission’s recommendations, a failure committee say “reeks of concealment and incompetence.”
When asked how many of the companies her office had successfully liquidated since assuming duty, “None,” she said plainly.
Hon. Omar Jammeh, member of the committee, visibly frustrated, questioned how such inaction could persist for years despite the Commission’s explicit orders. “These are serious issues that we cannot just brush and pass. It’s like people occupying an office drinking coffee or tea without doing any work,”.
“Sorry to say, so we go to your office and drink tea?” Mrs. Gomez responded with a nervous smile.
“If you sit in that office for two years without doing what is expected, that’s what it looks like,” hon Jammeh shot back.
Pressed further, Mrs. Gomez conceded that her department had failed to act on the Commission’s liquidation orders and that she could not even trace several of the key company files.
“I am admitting that the department or the institution failed to do so,” she said. “But we will take it up front today to ensure we put our house in order.”
Her admission drew gasps in the commission, with honourable Jammeh accusing her of “creating more confusion than clarity” in her responses and warning that the office risked “losing credibility before the nation.”
The exchanges turned fiery when Mrs. Gomez claimed that critical company records could not be found because the archive room was damaged by rain. That excuse did not sit well with the committee.
“Didn’t you realise rain was coming in order to move those documents?” Chair asked. “For me, I’m seeing this action as concealment of documents. If I have to be honest with you.”
Mrs. Gomez rejected the accusation.“What benefit would I derive from that, concealing evidence of a sale or knowing the nature of the Commission?”
Still, committee insisted that her department had failed the public.“You have been in that office for two good years without an effort to implement what the Commission recommended,” a member said. “It’s negligence, not bad weather.”
Perhaps most strikingly, the Registrar could not confirm whether mining companies associated with the former president were still operating under new names, or even under whose names they are currently registered.
“I wouldn’t know,” she admitted, before being directed to investigate and return with the names.
Committee members also expressed alarm that Alpha Capital, one of the receivers of Jammeh’s assets, had not been filing its tax returns, and that the Registrar’s office had never followed up as required by law.
From unfulfilled liquidation orders to missing files and unmonitored receivers, the hearing painted a picture of an institution tasked with corporate accountability but crippled by neglect. The committee has now given Mrs. Gomez time to provide missing records including the memorandum and articles of association for all 23 companies identified by the Janneh Commission, warning that failure to comply could lead to further action.
“We cannot really compromise with the facts,” chair concluded. “This isn’t about excuses anymore, it’s about accountability.”
