By Madi Jobarteh
I have come across a public statement by the National Assembly Member (NAM) for Foni Kansala, Almameh Gibba, in which he invokes family, tribal, and regional sentiments to defend the indefensible actions of Almami Manga, a police prosecutor and Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
Let me state this clearly and unequivocally: the matter concerning Almami Manga has absolutely nothing to do with family, tribe, region, or sentiment. It is a purely legal, ethical, and governance issue touching on integrity, abuse of office, conflict of interest, and gross misjudgment by a public official entrusted with immense authority. Any attempt to ethnicize or personalize this matter is irresponsible, dangerous, and unconstitutional.
As a National Assembly Member, Almameh Gibba is constitutionally obligated to rise above parochial interests and act in defense of the law and the public interest. Section 112(b) of the Constitution is explicit:
“All members shall regard themselves as servants of the people of The Gambia… and shall discharge their duties and functions in the interest of the nation as a whole, guided by conscience and the national interest.”
By his conduct and utterances, it appears that Almameh Gibba is either ignorant of this constitutional responsibility or has willfully chosen to disregard it. This raises a fundamental and unavoidable question: is Almameh Gibba fit and proper to sit in the National Assembly and represent the people?
The actions of Almami Manga, confirmed by his own public statement, clearly disclose gross malfeasance, poor judgment, and conduct incompatible with public office. These actions are utterly indefensible. No citizen, and certainly no legislator, should attempt to rationalize, downplay, justify, or defend them.
On the contrary, every responsible Gambian must demand accountability, especially given that Almami Manga is not only a police prosecutor but, more gravely, a Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission.
In this regard, members of the National Assembly bear the highest duty. The Constitution and the Standing Orders vest NAMs with broad oversight, investigative, and accountability powers over public institutions and officers. They are the apex accountability body of the Republic. Therefore, when a NAM chooses to defend misconduct instead of interrogating it, he abdicates his constitutional role.
Either Almameh Gibba does not understand the powers and responsibilities of the National Assembly, or he has deliberately chosen to renege on them. In both cases, he is unfit to represent the people.
It must be emphasized that Almami Manga is a public officer whose appointment to the Anti-Corruption Commission was subject to vetting and approval by the National Assembly. Commissioners are appointed on the basis of integrity, competence, maturity of judgment, and experience. The Anti-Corruption Act 2023 confers immense powers, immunities, privileges, and benefits on Commissioners. Consequently, they must be held to the highest possible ethical and professional standards.
It is therefore deeply unfortunate that Almameh Gibba is not only failing to uphold the Constitution and the Anti-Corruption Act, but is actively condoning misconduct, normalizing abuse of office, and encouraging poor judgment by a public official. Worse still, he has chosen to mobilize tribal and sectarian sentiments, thereby promoting division, undermining national cohesion, and weakening public institutions.
For these reasons, Almameh Gibba has lost all moral and political legitimacy to sit in the National Assembly. By aiding and abetting misconduct, he is acting against the best interests of his constituents and the Republic as a whole.
If Section 92 of the Constitution on recall were operational as intended, Almameh Gibba should have been immediately recalled for failing to serve the interests of his constituents. His conduct is injurious to public trust and democratic governance.
I therefore call on the Speaker of the National Assembly and all Members to immediately call Almameh Gibba to order. His actions have not only discredited him personally but have also brought the dignity and authority of the National Assembly into disrepute. Such conduct amounts to contempt of the National Assembly and warrants decisive institutional action.
Public office is a trust, not a shield for misconduct. The law must stand above sentiment. Institutions must prevail over individuals.
For The Gambia, Our Homeland
About the author:
The author is a renowned human rights activist and founder of the Edward Francis Small Center for Rights and Justice.
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