Anti-corruption Commission delayed as Cabinet drops nominee
Answering questions from Brikama North NAM and Minority Leader Alhagie S. Darboe during an oral question session at the National Assembly, the Vice President said the delay was linked to concerns surrounding one of the approved nominees. “I wish to inform this August Assembly that the delay in issuing the approval notice is due to the need to replace one of the three approved nominees in keeping with integrity and suitability standards set out in the Act,” Jallow said. He added that the process of identifying a replacement was well advanced and expected to be completed shortly. The Vice President further revealed that government preparations for the commission’s launch have continued despite the delay. Pressed by Darboe to identify the nominee at the centre of the delay, Jallow said it was a police officer who had faced allegations of corruption. “The executive felt that because that person needs to be replaced, the disclosure triggered further questions from members, with Busumbala NAM seeking to know whether there were any adverse findings against the officer. Jallow clarified that no wrongdoing had been proven. “I didn’t say that there was adverse finding. I said there were some questions raised. There are some accusations of corruption and it is felt that because it is an Anti-Corruption Commission and if there is a specter of doubt on one of the commissioners, that is why it is necessary to replace that person,” he said. Kiang West NAM, Hon Lamin Ceesay, challenged the decision, arguing that allegations alone should not be sufficient grounds for removal without established evidence. In response, the Vice President maintained that Cabinet acted because doubts remained. “If you are supposed to be a member of Anti-Corruption Commission and there are doubts being raised about corruption, and even your response is not clearing that doubt, government felt that it’s better to replace that individual,” he said. According to him, the commission’s secretariat in Bijilo is currently undergoing renovation based on a technical assessment by the Ministry of Transport, Works and Infrastructure, while funding for its operations has already been secured in the 2026 National Budget. Asked by Jarra Central NAM when renovation works at the secretariat would be completed, Jallow said “At this point, I don’t know exactly how long it’s going to take for the renovation to complete.”
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Answering questions from Brikama North NAM and Minority Leader Alhagie S. Darboe during an oral question session at the National Assembly, the Vice President said the delay was linked to concerns surrounding one of the approved nominees.
“I wish to inform this August Assembly that the delay in issuing the approval notice is due to the need to replace one of the three approved nominees in keeping with integrity and suitability standards set out in the Act,” Jallow said.
He added that the process of identifying a replacement was well advanced and expected to be completed shortly.
The Vice President further revealed that government preparations for the commission’s launch have continued despite the delay.
Pressed by Darboe to identify the nominee at the centre of the delay, Jallow said it was a police officer who had faced allegations of corruption.
“The executive felt that because that person needs to be replaced, the disclosure triggered further questions from members, with Busumbala NAM seeking to know whether there were any adverse findings against the officer.
Jallow clarified that no wrongdoing had been proven.
“I didn’t say that there was adverse finding. I said there were some questions raised. There are some accusations of corruption and it is felt that because it is an Anti-Corruption Commission and if there is a specter of doubt on one of the commissioners, that is why it is necessary to replace that person,” he said.
Kiang West NAM, Hon Lamin Ceesay, challenged the decision, arguing that allegations alone should not be sufficient grounds for removal without established evidence.
In response, the Vice President maintained that Cabinet acted because doubts remained.
“If you are supposed to be a member of Anti-Corruption Commission and there are doubts being raised about corruption, and even your response is not clearing that doubt, government felt that it’s better to replace that individual,” he said.
According to him, the commission’s secretariat in Bijilo is currently undergoing renovation based on a technical assessment by the Ministry of Transport, Works and Infrastructure, while funding for its operations has already been secured in the 2026 National Budget.
Asked by Jarra Central NAM when renovation works at the secretariat would be completed, Jallow said “At this point, I don’t know exactly how long it’s going to take for the renovation to complete.”
