Thousands of Gambians took to the streets of Banjul on Wednesday, protesting alleged government corruption and demanding justice for various national scandals.
Protesters carried handwritten placards with strong slogans like “Gambians are not slaves to corruption,” while chanting “People! Power!” in unison.
“We have been living under pillage and plunder for so long, and corruption is endemic in this country,” stated Fallou Gallas Ceesay, who is the program and administrative director for the youth movement Gambians Against Looted Assets (GALA).
GALA organized the demonstration at Westfield Monument, a popular downtown landmark for such gatherings, seeking accountability and urging President Adama Barrow to address the corruption.
“We have seen so many investigations that have exposed a lot of alleged corruption in this country, and the president is not doing anything about it,” demonstrator Sucre Mike told AFP.
Protesters delivered petition letters to several government ministries, including the Office of the President and the National Assembly, outlining their grievances.
One significant petition, delivered to the Ministry of Health, concerned the tragic deaths of approximately 70 children aged five and under in 2022.
These children died after consuming an over-the-counter cough syrup manufactured by India-based Maiden Pharmaceuticals.
Another petition was submitted to the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, alleging government officials received kickbacks in connection with a Russian oil deal.
“It’s not only the youths who turned out today, it’s the entire country to ensure that corruption becomes the thing of the past,” affirmed Omar Saibo, a GALA spokesman.
Other issues highlighted during the protest included financial scandals related to Covid-19 funding and an embezzlement scheme within the Gambia Ports Authority.