Darboe Faults SG’s Doubling as Minister

Speaking exclusively to The Daily News over the weekend, Ousainou Darboe frowned at the Jammeh administration’s continual breach of the constitution.

He called on Jammeh to remedy the situation, and stop what he called the pollution of the civil service. 

“Civil service advises the government on various matters. When decisions are taken at cabinet level, the civil service becomes the agent for implementing those decisions. And it is rather strange and unconstitutional for a head of civil service to become a politician.

“Section 168(2) categorically stated that the head of civil service shall not hold any office of profit or emolument in the service of The Gambia. This is because the issue of conflict arises.”

According to him, it is not unusual for President Jammeh to move one from being the head of civil service to minister and from minister to head of civil service. But then to hold the two positions together is unconstitutional.

“I think the president needs not to have any legal adviser because he said he know that the law. He is the one who assents to the laws of The Gambia and he ought to know what he has done is a complete contravention of the constitution.

Darboe added: “If President Jammeh has confidence in Dr Njogu Bah, let him use his talent in one aspect; either as a politician, minister or the head of the civil service.

“A head of the civil service anywhere should be apolitical and neutral,” the lawyer cum political figurehead of UDP, said.

He accused President Jammeh of transforming the civil service to a political body.

“I think Dr Njogu Bah himself and President Jammeh should decide either to operate in a political arena or remain as head of the civil service,” Darboe posited.