Gambiaj.com – (Banjul, The Gambia) – The Office of the President has moved to end the controversy surrounding the appointment of Auditor General Modou Ceesay, making clear that Cherno Amadou Sowe remains the substantive Auditor General while Ceesay’s removal stands.
In a statement issued on Monday, the State House confirmed that Mr. Ceesay was summoned to the Presidency on September 10, where he “initially accepted” his appointment as Minister of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment and was formally handed his letter of appointment.
“Subsequently, Mr. Cherno Amadou Sowe was consulted and appointed as the new Auditor General,” the statement reads. It further revealed that Mr. Ceesay later submitted a letter rejecting the ministerial post on September 11, which the Presidency received the following day.
The clarification from the Office of the President signals a definitive stance by the government: Cherno Amadou Sowe is now officially the Auditor General and will continue in that role with the government’s “full cooperation.”
The State House press release defended President Adama Barrow’s decision to reassign Ceesay, saying it was based “solely on his qualifications and experience in the public sector, finance, and investment” and was “not intended to interfere with the operations of the National Audit Office or its audit publications.”
The statement stressed that under President Barrow’s leadership, the government “remains firmly committed to the rule of law, transparency, accountability, and the responsible management of public finances.”
This morning, police officers entered Ceesay’s office, introduced themselves, and asked him to follow them.
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.
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.
The State House statement now seems to be intended to stifle growing criticism of what some perceived as an attempt to remove an incumbent Auditor General, a move that has sparked discussions about executive overreach and institutional independence.
