Banjul North NAM Demands Immediate Operationalization of Anti-Corruption Commission

By CTV Africa

The National Assembly Member (NAM) for Banjul North, Hon. Modou Lamin B. Bah, has called on the government to immediately operationalize The Gambia’s Anti-Corruption Commission, warning that continued delays are undermining accountability, public confidence, and the country’s efforts to combat corruption.

In a strongly worded statement, Hon. Bah said the legal foundation for the Commission has already been established through the Anti-Corruption Act, 2023, which was passed by the National Assembly to create a comprehensive framework for preventing, investigating, and prosecuting corruption in both the public and private sectors.

“The law exists. The mandate is unambiguous. The operationalization of the Anti-Corruption Commission is fundamental to our democracy, our economy, and public trust,” he stated.

The lawmaker questioned why the Commission remains non-functional nearly three years after the legislation was enacted, despite growing public concerns about corruption and misuse of public resources.

According to Hon. Bah, the consequences of inaction are being felt across the country, affecting critical sectors and ordinary citizens who rely on public services.

“Every dalasi lost to corruption is a child without a textbook, a patient without medicine, a farmer without fertilizer, a graduate without a job,” he said. “The Auditor General’s reports continue to flag billions unaccounted for while impunity persists.”

He urged the government to take immediate steps to ensure the Commission becomes operational, emphasizing that institutions created by law must be backed by the necessary resources and political commitment to function effectively.

As part of his call to action, Hon. Bah outlined two urgent measures that should be implemented before 30 June 2026, which marks the International Day of Parliamentarism.

First, he called for the allocation of startup and operational funding through a supplementary appropriation under the oversight of the National Assembly.

“Fund the Commission by tabling a supplementary appropriation to provide startup and operational funds under National Assembly oversight, not Executive control,” he said.

Secondly, he urged authorities to finalize and gazette the Commission’s regulations, recruit technical staff, and commence investigations.

“Issue regulations and open doors. Gazette the rules of procedure, recruit technical staff, and begin investigations. A Commission on paper deters no one,” he stressed.

Hon. Bah also reminded the government of The Gambia’s international commitments under the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption and the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, both of which require member states to establish effective mechanisms to fight corruption.

He noted that while the passage of the Anti-Corruption Act represented an important milestone, the real test of political will lies in implementing the law and ensuring that the Commission functions independently and effectively.

“Passing the 2023 Act was step one. Operationalization is the real test of political will,” he said.

The Banjul North representative further emphasized Parliament’s responsibility to ensure that laws passed by the legislature are fully implemented.

“Parliament did its job by legislating. Now Parliament must use its oversight power to ensure the law lives,” he stated.

He also called on civil society organizations, the media, and citizens to continue demanding accountability and transparency from public institutions.

As the country approaches the International Day of Parliamentarism, Hon. Bah said Gambians should expect concrete action rather than repeated promises in the fight against corruption.

“Corruption fights back, but accountability fights harder. Let us not mark another International Day of Parliamentarism with promises. Let us mark it with a functioning Anti-Corruption Commission,” he concluded.