Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The Coalition of Progressive Gambians (CoPG) has raised serious alarm over what it describes as an attempt by The Gambia’s Executive to unlawfully remove Auditor General Modou Ceesay from his position at the National Audit Office (NAO).
Mr. Ceesay, who recently declined an appointment as Minister of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration, and Employment, has opted to continue leading the NAO — a statutory body mandated to safeguard public resources and expose corruption and wasteful spending.
In a statement, the CoPG described the reported removal efforts as “deeply troubling” and a direct threat to the independence of one of the country’s most vital accountability institutions.
“Any attempt to forcefully or unlawfully remove Mr. Ceesay would not only deny him his rights as guaranteed under the law but would also constitute an attack on the independence of the NAO and, by extension, on the democratic principles of accountability and transparency,” the group warned.
The coalition pointed to the National Audit Office Act of 2015, which stipulates that the Auditor General can only be removed through specific procedures — either by a tribunal for misconduct or incompetence or by a medical board in cases of infirmity. It noted that none of these conditions have been met in the case of Mr. Ceesay.
“The international community, including the IMF, World Bank, African Development Bank, and European Union, is closely monitoring this situation. Gambians too are watching carefully. Attempts to silence or intimidate the Auditor General will only further erode public trust in government and damage The Gambia’s reputation as a democracy committed to the rule of law,” the CoPG added.
The group called on President Adama Barrow and his government to “fully respect the independence of the National Audit Office,” urged the National Assembly to uphold its oversight role and defend the legal protections afforded to the Auditor General, and encouraged civil society and ordinary Gambians to remain vigilant in safeguarding anti-corruption institutions.
“The independence of the Auditor General is not negotiable — it is a right, a safeguard, and a duty owed to the Gambian people,” the statement concluded.
