The minister of Agriculture and leader of the People’s Progressive Party, has reacted to critics questioning the government’s commitment to transparency in their decision to declare their assets to the ombudsman alone and not the public.
Speaking to The Standard at his Pipeline residence on Saturday, Jallow said the suspicions were merely the critics’ lack of understanding of how the system works.
“If the ministers were to declare their assets to the public…, who is going to investigate to ensure the process was flawless or its accuracy,” Jallow questioned.
“That is why they used a government institution that has a mandate that involves such declaration, the Ombudsman. The Ombudsman has a mandate to investigate whether all my assets were declared or not.”
“If I were to declare my assets in public, to whom will I present my assets and who is going to investigate if I am lying? This is a process. People were here for the past 52 years and this has never happened. I think people should appreciate Barrow for taking the initiative,” he added.
Couple of days ago, the director of press at the presidency Amie Bojang-Sissoho told journalists that there were two ministers left to declare their assets.
Fertilizer
Meanwhile, minister Jallow has denied allegations that some parts of Foni were denied access to the state-subsidized fertilizer being sold at D700.
Amul Nyassi, the National Assembly representative for Foni Kansala, raised concerns on the last adjournment debate about a month ago that his people have complained that they did not receive any fertilizer in their constituency.
“There is no discrimination. We have made it abundantly clear that we are here as the government of The Gambia and not as government of any section of the population. It (fertilizer) was distributed in all areas of The Gambia. It was distributed in Foni, of course, and evenly so across the country,” OJ said.
OJ though admitted the fertilizer was inadequate, but added that the hitches were as a result of the inadequate time government has to prepare for the farming season following the impasse.
