EF Small Centre is deeply worried and condemns the decision by Alport Banjul company for arbitrarily ending their contract with citizen journalist and activist Kexx Sanneh for his participation in GALA anti-corruption protests. We have gathered from media reports that the company ended its contract with Kexx due to pressure from the Government. Kexx was quoted in the media stating that (https://gambiaj.com/activist-says-alport-banjul-fired-him-over-participation-in-anti-corruption-protest/).
““He [Salih] said the decision was influenced by my participation in demonstrations against the government, implying that their partnership with me became inconvenient,” … “I would rather eat sand than stay silent in the face of corruption,” … “I did not sign a contract to surrender my Gambian citizenship or to give up my constitutional rights to hold the government accountable. The struggle continues for a better Gambia.”
We wish to state our total solidarity with Kexx Sanneh who is a founding member of the Gambians Against Looted Assets (GALA), a legitimate and necessary people organization in the fight against corruption in the Gambia. Alport Banjul has not only blatantly violated the rights of Kexx Sanneh, but the company has also violated Section 25 and 26 of the 1997 Constitution. Section 25(d) guarantees the right to “freedom of assembly and demonstrate peaceably without arms.” Section 26(a) states that every citizen has the right “to take part in the conduct of public affairs, directly or through freely chosen representatives.”
Alport Banjul has not provided any evidence of Kexx violating his contract. The activism of Kexx have not threatened or injured the reputation or business of Alport Banjul. Kexx, as a citizen has the right and duty to participate and influence public affairs as laid down in law. In this regard, Alport Banjul has no legal justification to terminate Kexx’s contract. This illegal decision by Alport Banjul does not only violate Kexx’s rights, but also tantamount to interference in the internal political affairs of the Gambia by attempting to prevent a citizen from taking part in national affairs. Furthermore, and quietly seriously, Alport Banjul has set a dangerous precedent that severely threatens human rights in this country.
EFSCRJ is hereby hugely concerned by this illegal decision of Alport Banjul, and we hereby demand the following:
- The immediate restoration of the contract with Kexx Sanneh. Henceforth, Alport Banjul to submit itself to the Constitution and other laws of the Gambia and protect human rights and the rights of its workers.
- Failure of reinstating Kexx Sanneh, we urge him to take legal action against Alport Banjul for breach of contract. EFSCRJ is ready to stand in support of that decision.
- The Department of law and the National Human Rights Commission to engage Alport Banjul to ensure that they uphold the law and respect human rights.
We wish to commend Kexx Sanneh for his conscious decision to uphold the Constitution and perform his duties to his country as required of all citizens under Section 220 of the Constitution.
2025 – The Year of Transparency and Accountability
