Gambiaj.com – (Banjul, the Gambia)- During her 4th appearance before the National Assembly Select Committee, Ramatoulie Sarr, former Secretary General at the Janneh Commission, revealed that Lead Counsel Amie Bensuda took over her authority during the operations of the commission.
Sarr stated that her assistants, Fatou Drammeh and Mr. Kebba Bojang, were closely aligned with Bensuda, spending most of their time in her office and bypassing standard administrative protocols. “They were like the babies of the Lead Counsel,” she said, adding that reports and correspondences intended for her were often sent directly to Bensuda’s office.
The testimony highlighted instances where activities, including the coordination of tractor sales, were conducted under Bensuda’s direction, leaving Sarr sidelined. She noted that even when she tried to raise concerns, commissioners instructed her to “focus on the work,” limiting her ability to assert control.
Sarr expressed surprise at seeing key reports only after the commission concluded, emphasizing the extent of administrative interference. The testimony sheds light on alleged internal dysfunction and raises questions about Lead Counsel Amie Bensuda’s influence over the commission’s operations.
According to Sarr, the bypassing of standard procedures created confusion and delayed the commission’s work. Reports and correspondences that should have been processed through the secretariat were instead directed straight to Bensuda, preventing her from exercising her role as the administrative head. She also stated that she repeatedly tried to assert her authority and guide her assistants, but her efforts were undermined by Bensuda’s close control over the team.
The former Secretary General further noted that her assistants were so closely tied to Bensuda that their loyalty and daily activities were primarily focused on her office rather than following the normal chain of command. This, Sarr explained, disrupted the normal functioning of the commission, leading to miscommunication and administrative gaps, especially in critical areas such as the sale of assets. She emphasized that these actions left her in a passive role, witnessing key decisions being made without her involvement.
