By Buba Gagigo
Lawyer Ousainou Darboe, Secretary General and Party Leader of the United Democratic Party (UDP) has called on the Gambian government to provide clear answers regarding the sale of Mega Bank, questioning who the buyer is and how much was involved.
Speaking to his supporters at his Pipeline residence following a tour of Europe and the US, Darboe expressed concern over the lack of transparency surrounding the sale.
“Before going out of the country I asked a question and was listening whether I would get an answer from them. Mega Bank is sold. We want to know the buyers and how much it was sold for. The Bank belongs to all Gambians. If you sell someone’s property you should inform the person. The minister should go to the national assembly and disclose to people the purchasers and the money involved because it is our national asset and we cannot allow our strategic national assets all to be liquidated. You have seen how they mortgage the bridge. Even at the Airport, there’s another company doing the ground handling service. What happened to GIA? They have killed them too,” said Darboe.
He further criticized President Barrow’s administration for what he described as a pattern of selling national assets without regard for the people and urged Gambians to unite to unseat Barrow in the 2026 elections.
“People are seeing all these. Why can’t we come together and remove him? Some of them are not doing anything apart from thinking about themselves. Thank God, we at the United Democratic Party never think about ourselves, we only think of Gambians and we will continue to put Gambians first,” Darboe added.
During the gathering, Darboe also informed his supporters that the UDP raised six million dalasis in just three hours while in the United States.
“We raised decent funds, we are not vampires, and when I said vampires I am saying so very advancedly. We do not milk people but Gambian people who really want to save this country put together honest earned resources and give them to us. You the members of the United Democratic Party must be very honored. You, the members of the United Democratic Party must be very privileged for your leader to be invited to the convention that shows the selection of America’s next president. That is a great honor for us. It made me come in contact with some leaders in the world and the exposure is great. Gambians and non-Gambians attended our gathering in Atlanta. Some party members gave funds to our party. Minnesota likewise and of course Alaska also did their own. We all also heard what the great city of Seattle did. They contributed six million dalasis under three hours,” Darboe said.
The UDP leader also took aim at President Barrow’s recent leave, criticizing the use of state resources during his time away.
“Any president visiting your home village is very commendable, but he took along with him a fleet of vehicles. The fuel cost of that alone runs into millions when we heard some time ago that teaching materials in the lower Basic Schools were nonexistent. Why don’t we apply that money to the schools? From now on up to November people will be commuting between Banjul and Mankamang Kunda and it will all be at the expense of the government of the Gambia when you are on leave. What are you doing with our vehicles when you are on leave? Government vehicles and you said you are on leave? I think you should have used your own resources as far as you are on leave. Because I have not seen anywhere that we should pay for the president’s leave but if we have to it should be like this,” Darboe argued.