Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The Gambian government has rejected allegations that First Lady Fatoumata Bah-Barrow attempted to prevent UNITE Party National President Ebrima Dibba from boarding a public ferry to Barra, describing the claim as “false and without basis.”
The denial follows a Facebook post by Hon. Ebrima Ceesay, Deputy National Campaign Manager of the UNITE Party, who alleged that he witnessed an attempt to stop Dibba from traveling on the same ferry as the First Lady.
In its statement issued on Sunday, the Ministry of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services said Dibba was ultimately allowed to board the ferry and insisted that his access to the vessel was never blocked on the First Lady’s instruction.
Government Rejects Political Discrimination Claim
The Ministry said it had taken note of the allegations circulating on social media and moved to clarify what it described as a potentially misleading account of events at the ferry terminal.
“The Government wishes to clarify that Mr. Ebrima Dibba was permitted to board the ferry and that at no point was he prevented from accessing the ferry on the instruction of the First Lady,” the statement said.
It further rejected the suggestion that the First Lady attempted to use the ferry service to discriminate against Dibba because of his political affiliation.
“The allegation that the First Lady sought to use a public ferry service to discriminate against Mr. Dibba on political grounds is therefore false and without basis,” the Ministry said.
The government stressed that public institutions, including Gambia Ferry Services, are expected to provide services to citizens fairly and professionally, regardless of their political affiliation.
UNITE Account of the Incident
The government’s statement came in response to a post by Ebrima Ceesay, who offered a sharply different account of what happened at the ferry terminal.
Ceesay said he was “deeply disappointed” after witnessing what he described as an apparent attempt to prevent Dibba from boarding the same ferry as the First Lady while travelling to Barra.
According to Ceesay, there was “significant back-and-forth” at the terminal, and he alleged that the First Lady instructed that Dibba should not be allowed to board the ferry.
He also claimed to have witnessed what appeared to be threats against some Gambia Ferry Services security officers, with their jobs allegedly put at risk if Dibba was allowed to board.
Ceesay said there was considerable “push and pull” before Dibba eventually boarded the ferry.
He subsequently questioned whether public institutions were being used for political purposes and said he and Dibba would monitor the situation, particularly whether any ferry security officers involved in the incident would face disciplinary measures.
Government Urges Verification
The Ministry of Information urged media organizations and members of the public to verify claims before publishing or sharing them, particularly during a politically sensitive period.
It warned that unverified allegations could unnecessarily heighten political tensions.
“The Government remains committed to factual, responsible, and transparent public communication,” the Ministry said, while calling on stakeholders to uphold accuracy, fairness, and accountability in public discourse.
The dispute must be put in a context of political activity intensifying ahead of the December 5, 2026 presidential election, with UNITE among the parties positioning itself for the increasingly competitive electoral contest.
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