By Tabora Bojang
The Ministry of Tourism and Culture has dissolved the board of directors of the Gambia Tourism Board.
Tourism Minister Hamat Bah confirmed the development yesterday but said he will not make any further comments as to the reasons for their removal.
He also confirmed the redeployment of the director general Abdoulie Hydara to the foreign service and his replacement by the GTB director of quality assurance and licensing, Abubacarr Camara.
The dissolution comes amid a standoff between the ministry and its technical body after the minister ordered the entire staff of the board to go on leave with half salary after the collapse of the industry resulting from the coronavirus pandemic.
The chairman of the board of directors, Abdoulie Touray, confirmed the dissolution of the board but said no explanations were given.
“The letter we received does not state any reasons, but remember we were appointed at the pleasure of the authorities and if they dissolved, it is their prerogative,” he told The Standard last evening.
He said prior to their dissolution they had engaged in discussions to proffer solutions to the crisis with first meeting taking place last Thursday.
Touray said the second meeting billed for yesterday could not proceed after the announcement of the dissolution of the board.
The board which includes Malleh Sallah, Babucarr Suwareh and Catherine Nyang was nominated by the president in consultation with the Tourism ministry. It was inaugurated last January for a three-year term.
At the inauguration of the dissolved board last year, Tourism Minister Hamat Bah stated that the ministry has chosen the right people in the tourism industry to drive the new tourism policy in advancing the sector.
