Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – A fresh controversy has erupted within Gambians Against Looted Assets (GALA) following the dismissal of its logistics officer, Ousainou Gambia, who has accused the movement of internal dishonesty and mishandling of diaspora fundraising.
In a lengthy Facebook post on Thursday, Ousainou Gambia, who says he was “terminated without a contract,” alleged that senior figures within GALA sought to “scramble” diaspora contributions and exclude the youth-led activist group Team Gom Sa Bopa from joint fundraising efforts.
He claimed the leadership resisted sharing proceeds equally with Team Gom Sa Bopa, insisting instead on “separate funding” for GALA.
“Imagine if the authorities we hold accountable also said they are sharing public funds for the sacrifices they’re doing for the nation,” Ousainou wrote, accusing unnamed members of pocketing money “in the name of sacrifices” for activism.
He also suggested that disputes over ownership of youth protests and public recognition were fueling mistrust between the two movements.
Ousainou further questioned GALA’s leadership following the resignation of its chairman last week, saying the group’s “era of transparency” should begin internally. “You want transparency and accountability? Let it start with us first,” he posted.
His explosive claims drew an immediate rebuttal from Team Gom Sa Bopa, whose coordinator, Yusef Taylor, dismissed the accusations as “lies” and described Ousainou as “a puppy in the struggle” bent on creating confusion.
“What a lie that Gom Sa Bopa and GALA are haggling over money. We never even had a discussion about splitting any money,” Taylor wrote in a Facebook response. “Like every working relationship, GALA and Gom Sa Bopa may have differences here and there, but nothing that’s out of the ordinary and definitely not in the magnitude stated by Ousainou Gambia.”
Taylor said the activist briefly joined Team Gom Sa Bopa before parting ways without conflict and accused him of manufacturing grievances online after his resignation from GALA.
The public spat comes amid broader scrutiny of grassroots movements in The Gambia, where youth-led protests and activism have increasingly attracted diaspora support. Observers say the row risks damaging the credibility of both groups at a time when they have positioned themselves as watchdogs against corruption and mismanagement.
