Gambians Against Looted Assets (GALA) has called on President Adama Barrow to explain what his government has done to address parliamentary findings on the management and sale of assets seized from former president Yahya Jammeh.
The civil society movement says the government has yet to provide a formal response to the report of the National Assembly’s Special Select Committee, approved in April 2026, despite what it describes as serious financial and administrative irregularities identified during the investigation.
Speaking at a news conference on Thursday, October 8, at the NYP Complex in Kanifing, GALA Administrative Secretary Fallou Gallas Ceesay questioned the government’s handling of the matter and called for concrete action on the committee’s recommendations.
The group said the report raised concerns about property valuations, missing financial records, bank accounts allegedly opened without proper authorisation, land allocations and proceeds from asset sales that have yet to be fully accounted for.
GALA identified 15 areas in which it believes government intervention is required. These include alleged breaches of the Public Finance Act involving former Justice Minister Abubacarr Tambadou and administrative shortcomings during the tenure of his successor, Dawda Jallow.
The movement also pointed to recommendations for further investigations involving judicial and law enforcement officials, arguing that the findings should lead to appropriate administrative and legal action where wrongdoing is established.
Millions in foreign currency still unaccounted for
One of GALA’s main concerns is the recovery of money allegedly misappropriated during Jammeh’s 22-year rule.
According to figures presented by the organisation, approximately $302 million of an estimated $304 million remains unrecovered. GALA also claimed that 99.95 per cent of the identified euro amounts and 99.10 per cent of the British pounds remain outstanding.
The figures, as presented by the group, raise questions about the progress of asset recovery efforts and the measures taken to trace funds believed to have been transferred abroad.
GALA also highlighted discrepancies in official records concerning properties seized from the former president.
The organisation said an earlier government white paper listed 281 landed properties, while subsequent task force records identified 288. It added that the parliamentary committee’s calculations put the total at 291.
The differences, according to GALA, underline the need for a comprehensive reconciliation of the records to establish the exact number of properties involved and account for their management and disposal.
The movement said inconsistencies involving livestock sales and other seized assets had added to concerns about the accuracy of the government’s accounting.
Questions over management of seized animals
GALA also raised concerns about the treatment and management of livestock and wildlife confiscated from Jammeh.
The group cited inadequate care and reports that exotic snakes had been released because the authorities lacked the resources needed to maintain them.
It argued that the handling of such assets should be included in a broader review of how confiscated property was managed, preserved and accounted for.
Government given October deadline
GALA has called on Barrow to publish a comprehensive response to the parliamentary report, together with a detailed implementation plan outlining the costs and steps required to carry out the recommendations, by October 30.
It also urged the National Assembly to demand a progress report from the government by October 15, detailing the measures taken to address the committee’s findings.
Beyond these deadlines, the group wants immediate safeguards introduced to protect the remaining seized assets. It has also called for a full reconciliation of financial transactions and renewed international efforts to trace and recover money allegedly transferred outside The Gambia.
The organisation further proposed quarterly public updates on asset recovery and transparent accounting of funds intended for reparations to victims of human rights violations committed during Jammeh’s presidency.
GALA also called for protection for journalists, whistleblowers and citizens seeking information about the management of the confiscated assets.
National Assembly oversight questioned
The movement directed part of its criticism at the National Assembly, urging lawmakers to acknowledge shortcomings in overseeing the implementation of recommendations made by the Janneh Commission, which investigated financial misconduct during Jammeh’s rule.
GALA argued that investigations and parliamentary reports would have limited value if their findings were not followed by practical measures to address identified problems.
It warned that continued uncertainty over the fate of the seized assets could weaken public confidence in accountability institutions and undermine efforts to recover public funds and address past abuses.
For the organisation, the central question is whether the government will translate the parliamentary committee’s findings into action.
GALA maintains that progress should be measured by the recovery of missing funds, the resolution of discrepancies in asset records and the pursuit of accountability through lawful investigations wherever evidence of wrongdoing exists.
The allegations and figures presented by GALA place renewed attention on the government’s handling of Jammeh’s seized assets. A detailed response from the authorities, alongside a public account of recoveries, expenditure and outstanding assets, would help clarify the status of the committee’s recommendations.
