Lawyer Ousman F. M’Bai has formally lodged an appeal with the Information Commission under the Access to Information Act, 2021, following the Government’s failure to respond to his request concerning airport ‘security’ fees at Banjul International Airport.
Mr M’Bai submitted his Access to Information request on 22 January 2026 to the Ministry of Transport, Works and Infrastructure, seeking disclosure of documents relating to the airport security contract, the legal basis for the fee, exemptions, and revenue management arrangements. The statutory 21-day response period expired without acknowledgement or
reply.
A formal follow-up letter was issued on 23 February 2026, granting an additional seven days for response. No reply has been received.
In light of the continued silence, Mr M’Bai has now exercised his statutory right of appeal to the Information Commission.
“This appeal is not about confrontation,” Mr M’Bai said. “It is about compliance with the law. The Access to Information Act was enacted to promote transparency and accountability. Where public money is being compulsorily collected, the public is entitled to timely disclosure.”
Although described as a “security fee”, independent aviation experts have suggested that the charge appears to operate in substance as an immigration control levy, collected immediately prior to immigration clearance. Therefore, the legal character of the fee must be examined
carefully to ensure that form does not obscure substance.
The appeal requests that the Information Commission determine whether the Ministry has failed to comply with its obligations under the Act and direct a full response to the original request.
The matter now rests with the Information Commission in accordance with the statutoryprocess.
