Gambiaj.com – (Banjul, The Gambia) – The political and institutional storm surrounding Auditor General Modou Ceesay escalated dramatically on Monday after he reaffirmed his rejection of a ministerial appointment and was forcibly removed from the National Audit Office (NAO) by police officers.
The controversy began last week when President Adama Barrow announced Ceesay’s appointment as Minister of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration, and Employment.
According to Information and Media Broadcasting Minister Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, the Auditor General had initially accepted the offer “at State House, hugged President Barrow, and exchanged smiles” before changing his mind. Deputy Speaker Seedy S.K. Njie also urged Ceesay to “honor the commitment he made” to the president.
However, on Sunday, the Auditor General issued a strongly worded statement rejecting claims by both Dr. Ismaila Ceesay and Seedy Njie. He insisted he had never accepted the post, saying he only learned of his appointment upon receiving a letter on September 10, which he formally declined the following day.
“I have been trying to be sincere to myself and to the nation. My primary skill set and the work that I am doing are better offered in my current role,” Ceesay said.
In his public remarks at the NAO on Monday, Ceesay clarified that he had thanked President Barrow for the trust but had “respectfully declined” the offer in person and later in writing. He denied ever embracing the president and said his greetings were “pleasantries and respect” rather than acceptance of the role.
Despite his calm demeanor, tension was palpable at the NAO. Early in the morning, reports emerged of plainclothes officers from Kairaba Police Station at the premises.
Civil society voices quickly warned that any attempt to remove the Auditor General would violate the National Audit Office Act, which guarantees his security of tenure.
Shortly afterward, a dramatic scene unfolded as police officers entered Ceesay’s office, introduced themselves, and asked him to follow them.
Staff members pleaded for time for the Auditor General to complete his work, but the officers refused.
Some female staff wept as Ceesay was escorted out, while a daring one confronted the police: “The Auditor General only performed his duty for accountability in The Gambia. Are you here for your pockets? Are you here for Barrow? Or are you here for your children and people in this country?”
Good governance advocate Marr Nyang of Gambia Participates criticized the incident, saying: “Aside from the security of tenure guaranteed by the constitution and the NAO Act, the Auditor General was not fired. He was offered a Ministerial role, which he humbly declined. It is not by force for one to accept an offer. There are crystal clear legal requirements that must be met before the Auditor General can be removed from office, and none of those have been met.”
The incident has ignited public anger, with a group of young people reportedly planning a protest at Westfield to denounce what they call an “unjust and politically motivated” action.
As of press time, Auditor General Modou Ceesay remained in police custody, deepening a constitutional and political standoff that has shaken The Gambia’s governance institutions.
