The financial committee of the Coalition 2016 has submitted its report to the stakeholders for scrutiny following allegations that a big chunk of the campaign funds for the 2016 presidential election has not been accounted for.
In the run up to the election, the Gambia Democracy Fund (GDF), an organization set up by Gambians in the Diaspora raised D4.2m for the coalition’s presidential election campaign. A remittance chart published by the organization showed that the funds were sent to Fatoumata Tambajang and Alhajie S. Darboe, two key coalition members, on behalf of the coalition.
There’s been growing speculation that at least one million dalasis of the total amount went missing, piling pressure on the coalition producing its financial statement to clarify how the money was spent.
Last year, Tambajang, a founding member of the coalition and ex-Vice President exonerated herself and blamed Alhajie S. Darboe, a lawmaker for failing to produce the financial statement.
“Since 2016, I have reminded Alhagie S Darboe to produce the accounts so that they can be audited, but I’m yet to obtain them from him. I have reported the matter to His Excellency, President Adama Barrow. I have reported the matter to His Excellency the Vice President, Ousainou Darboe. I have reported the matter to Honourable James Gomez who is the Minister of Water Resources,” Tambajang told the media after being quizzed about the financial report.
According to a reliable source, the finance committee headed by Alhagie S. Darboe and Edrissa Jallow on Saturday submitted its financial report to the stakeholders for scrutiny.
The stakeholders are expected to go through the report before making any final declaration about the 2016 campaign finances.
