16th July 2004:

President Yahya Jammeh has ordered an inquiry into Gamtel's fibre optic cable project with Simens of Germany and BEFAC AG of Switzerland.

This particular project has severely affected Gamtel, causing the public company 'great financial loss', and all attempts made to negotiate to get back the money by the Office of the President failed, according to the President.

Local press reporters have also named Standard Chartered Bank Gambia Limited in the affair, and said as much as US$3 million is involved.

Members of the commission of inquiry, headed by High Court Justice Ahmed O Belgore, were sworn in on Friday at a ceremony held at State House, presided over by the President.

The other members of the commission are Augustus Prom, a chartered accountant and Joanna Mbye a retired headmistress and public ombudsperson. Abdulai Sissoho and Cherno Marena are serving as counsel assisting the commission, and Naomi Sanyang serves as secretary.

Speaking after commission members took their oaths of office, allegiance and secrecy, President Jammeh said investigations into this project should not be difficult, since it is not a very complex case. "There are people who went into agreement with these two companies and materials were not delivered, and we want the money back, period!".

The commission, he went on, will serve two purposes - to recover whatever has been lost; and, to remind Gambians that "if we have to set up commissions for the previous regime, those in the current government should also expect commissions of inquiry on issues deemed fit to be investigated".

President Jammeh emphasised that his team came to power in July 1994 declaring transparency and accountability as principles they hold dear.

"No matter how rich a country is, if the people are not honest, their resources will not benefit the majority who also have the same rights as that minority which enrich themselves", he pointed.

The objective of it all is to inculcate honesty and a sense of justice in the minds of, not only Gambians, but all who live in this country and are entrusted with a responsibility, the President declared.

"This is no witch-hunting; money is spent, materials are not delivered, and we want the money back".

The matter has been dragging for almost 18 months, and all attempts by his office and relevant institutions to unearth the truth in order to recover the money have failed".

"So the best thing is to set up a commission of inquiry to investigate and come up with their findings, for government to take drastic action on whoever is responsible", President Jammeh emphasised.

Speaking earlier, the chairman of the commission, Justice Ahmed O Belgore observed that in recent times, President Jammeh 'has been engaged seriously in matters that deeply touch on the lives of this great nation, particularly issues touching on commercial impropriety'.

"Without sound finance and economy, no nation can aspire to be great", he added, and promised the Gambia leader that his commission will leave no stone unturned in getting to the bottom of the matter.

Vice President, Isatou Njie-Saidy expressed optimism that all the facts would come to light , and that commission members will come up with the information needed to help the Government on the way forward, "so that we maintain Gamtel as the second best, if not the leading telecommunications company in Africa'.

She assured them that they will have the co-operation of Gamtel's management, and all other concerned parties during their investigations, and appealed to them to be steadfast in their probe, so that Government is better informed on what has really transpired, and on the way forward for Gamtel.

The Secretary of State for Justice, Sheikh Tijan Hydara said commission members are people of high moral standing with a lot of experience, and was confident that they would serve the commission well so that the truth will prevail.

Gamtel was a very promising institution, in terms of telecommunications, to a point where The Gambia was rated the second best telecommunications system in Africa.

However, of late, there has been a lot of problems in the administration of the company, which has caused a setback to the further development of telecommunications sector, especially the fibre optic cable network.

It was against this background, that the President decided that the whole problem should be investigated, to look into any malpractice by the management, and also to identify those responsible.