Rédaction Africa Links 24 with babucarr balajo
Published on 2024-03-22 09:37:00
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By Tabora Bojang
In a recent development in the National Assembly, Janjangbureh lawmaker Omar Jammeh made an attempt to introduce a motion to censure Minister Hamat Bah. The motion was based on Minister Bah’s alleged reckless comments against National Assembly Members (NAMs) while they were performing their duties.
The controversy began when some GT Board staff lodged a petition in 2021 accusing senior officials in the GT Board and the Ministry of Tourism and Culture of corruption, irregularities in contract awards, abuse of office, and wrongful land allocations. The petition highlighted issues that were denied by the implicated officials.
The petition committee under the chairmanship of Wuli East lawmaker Suwaibou Touray presented its findings to the plenary, recommending actions like reinstating staff removed due to their involvement in sending the petition to the Assembly.
During a press conference discussing the ministry’s achievements, Minister Hamat, who was subsequently reassigned to lands and regional government, criticized the committee’s report as biased. He specifically called out the committee chairman for allegedly pursuing a political agenda.
Following these events, lawmaker Jammeh tried to table a censure motion against Minister Bah during a debate. He cited the Minister’s remarks as reckless and lacking decorum, especially towards the petitions committee chairman.
Jammeh emphasized the seriousness of corruption in the country and highlighted the importance of respecting the National Assembly’s authority. He expressed concerns about public officers challenging the Assembly’s integrity, especially in response to petition reports.
Despite Jammeh’s motion, it was stated that there was not enough quorum for a censure motion to be tabled against the Minister. It was also mentioned that the motion would need to wait for at least 14 days before being debated.
Other lawmakers like the Minority leader Alagie Darboe and Majority leader Billay Tunkara supported the need for respecting the National Assembly’s processes and preventing any intimidation against NAMs in the discharge of their duties. Darboe urged those dissatisfied with the Assembly’s decisions to challenge them legally rather than undermining the institution.
Ultimately, the session highlighted the ongoing tensions between parliamentary members and government officials, showcasing the complexities of governance and accountability in the country.
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Read the original article on The Standard
