Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The Edward Francis Small Centre for Rights and Justice (EF Small Centre) has submitted a series of formal requests to key public institutions in The Gambia, demanding access to information under the Access to Information Act 2021. These requests were addressed individually to the Office of the President, the Ministry of Lands, Regional Governments and Religious Affairs, the Ministry of Fisheries and Water Resources, the Gambia Tourism Board, the Gambia Ports Authority, and the State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) Commission.

In a press release, EF Small Centre outlined the information they seek as part of their commitment to transparency, accountability, and citizens’ right to know. The requested information includes the source of the 57 pickup trucks donated to National Assembly Members by the President in 2017, performance contracts signed in 2023 between the President and several state-owned enterprises (SOEs) such as the Gambia Ports Authority, the Gambia National Petroleum Corporation, and the Social Security and Housing Finance Corporation.

Other areas of interest in the request include sensitive proposals and reports such as the Minister of Lands and Regional Governments’ original proposal to de-reserve parts of Abuko Nature Reserve, submitted to the Cabinet on September 19, 2024, and the findings of a multi-sectoral taskforce report on Kamalo industry layout land allocations completed in June 2023.

The EF Small Centre has also requested access to the SOE Commission’s report on NAWEC, details on the revenue collected by the Gambia Tourism Board from 2017 to 2023, and the signed concession agreement between the Gambia Ports Authority and Albayrak Group for port expansions and a new seaport in Sanyang.

In accordance with Sections 6(1) and 11 of the Access to Information Act, which mandate public institutions to facilitate transparency and grant citizens access to institutional information, EF Small Centre’s submission marks an active push for greater visibility into government operations. Copies of the request letters have also been sent to the Information Commission.

The organization emphasized that these inquiries are only the first phase in their initiative to bolster transparency across Gambian institutions. “We urge all citizens and entities to utilize accountability mechanisms to strengthen democracy and good governance, ensuring sustainable development,” EF Small Centre stated, adding that they are committed to preventing abuse of office, fostering the rule of law, and protecting public interests.

The outcome of these requests remains to be seen, but EF Small Centre’s actions signal an intensified drive for public accountability in The Gambia, setting a precedent for citizen engagement with government processes and institutional transparency.