By Landing Ceesay
The United Democratic Party (UDP) has alleged that the actions of Musa Drammeh, Minister for Lands, Regional Governments and Religious Affairs are politically motivated.
“The United Democratic Party advocates for open governance and the reduction of the incidence of corruption at all levels of government in The Gambia. However, the actions of the Minister are not only politically motivated but vindictive against the person of Mayor Talib Bensouda. The Minister is reminded that the office he occupies is not personal to him or any other holder,” UDP said in a statement on Friday.
The UDP said KMC under the Leadership of Mayor Bensouda lodged a complaint against the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) on allegations of graft and corruption several months ago. Instead of the Minister investigating the matter, he belligerently demanded the return of the CEO to work with armed Police officers escorting her to the council premises.
“In the absence of a strong Local Government Act, UDP have expected the unelected Minister to use best governance practice to defend the rights of the citizens of the municipality that elected the Mayor rather than usurping the rights of the citizens of KMC by willfully going against the resolution of council.
“Citizens of the municipality will go to the polls in the coming months to elect a new mayor and the actions orchestrated by the Minister have political undertones that aim at using instruments of state to derail Mayor Bensouda’s bid for reelection,” the statement added.
The party claimed that Gambians across the political divide can attest to the good work being executed by Mayor Bensouda over three years in terms of revenue mobilisation, sanitation, rehabilitation of Bakoteh dump site and Google Mapping of the Municipality etc.
“The United Democratic Party and the general membership of the party hereby reassure Mayor Bensouda of our unflinching and unreserved support now and in the future. We urge the Minister of Lands to publish the report of the inspectors assigned to look into the affairs of the erstwhile CEO,” it added.
UDP argued that corruption in all its forms must be fought resolutely and the Minister of Local Government should start by policing departments under his portfolio particularly in the area of land administration, if fighting corruption is his objective of setting up the “so-called commission.”
The Ministry of Lands, Regional Governments and Religious Affairs wrote a letter to the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) informing them that it has established a commission of inquiry into the allegations of fraud and malpractice at the Council.
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