Gambiaj.com – (Banjul, the Gambia)-  The National Assembly’s Special Select Committee investigating the sale and disposal of assets belonging to former President Yahya Jammeh has launched a week-long inspection of the properties, but has barred journalists from witnessing the process, raising questions about transparency.

The site visits, which run from 1-4 September 2025, include high-profile locations such as Jammeh’s Kanilai residence. According to the committee, media coverage could “jeopardize” its work. Instead, lawmakers pledged to brief the press after their findings.

The move has already sparked debate, coming just days after the Registrar General, Abdoulie Colley, appeared before the committee for the second time. Colley had earlier been given a 72-hour ultimatum to clarify details surrounding Jammeh’s assets.

In both appearances, Colley admitted that several properties remain registered in Jammeh’s name, despite government actions taken since the Janneh Commission’s recommendations in 2019. Committee members pressed him on why official records have not been updated and how properties were sold or disposed of without clear changes in the registry.

Lawmakers also questioned inconsistencies in the registry’s documentation and demanded accountability for gaps in the process. Colley insisted that the registry had fulfilled its duties within legal limits, but his testimony raised further concerns about the state’s handling of Jammeh’s vast assets.

The decision to exclude the media from site visits has heightened scrutiny. Critics argue that the lack of direct access undermines public confidence in an investigation meant to shed light on one of the country’s most sensitive political and financial legacies.

The committee’s final findings are expected after the inspections conclude later this week.