Mr. Ibrahim Ceesay is a Gambian petroleum engineer living in Norway. Recently, former president Yahya Jammeh asserted that President Adama Barrow and former President Macky Sall were involved in a secret arrangement to misappropriate Gambia’s oil. If these allegations are accurate, it indicates that Gambians are being kept in the dark regarding the country’s oil production and licensing processes.
In an interview with AG Radio, Mr. Ibrahim Ceesay dismissed Yahya Jammeh’s assertions regarding the presence of oil in Gambia, labelling Jammeh’s claims as perilous, as they could lead to issues between the two nations. Mr. Ceesay further emphasised that he is speaking solely from an expert perspective, rather than a political one.
Throughout the interview, Mr. Ceesay was posed several questions by the AG Panelists regarding the potential for oil in The Gambia. Mr. Ceesay studied the history of Gambia’s oil exploration, tracing its roots back to the colonial era. Colonial Britain initiated the exploration of oil in the Gambia.
Mr. Ceesay rejected the notion that oil exists in the Gambia, labelling it as nothing more than speculation. He expressed quite clearly that he cannot definitively assert the absence of oil in The Gambia, but all we have is a prospect.
“Currently, oil has not been discovered in The Gambia, but there is prospect of its discovery. A prospect of oil should not be mistaken for a discovery of oil.” Mr. Ceesay remarked.
