It is with great concern that I have witnessed the recent development around the independence of the Office of the Auditor General of the Gambia, an office which has been performing its duties very professionally under the Leadership of Momodou Ceesay as Auditor General.

Mr. Ceesay was recently offered a position as Member of the Cabinet, which he officially declined, preferring to focus on his constitutional office as Auditor General of the Gambia. In an unexpected turn of events, it was particularly shocking to witness the police entering the premises of the Audit Institution to forcefully remove the Auditor General from office.

This unilateral removal process is not just shocking, it appears to be in stark contrast with the constitutional and legal provisions around the removal of the Auditor General, which lay out several steps, including the appointment of an independent Tribunal.

The Independence of an Auditor General and its office is a critical element of any democratic society as it contributes to upholding the principles of good governance and accountability.

Therefore, it should not be compromised, and threats to independence should not go unnoticed. We should always remain vigilant and speak up when SAI Independence is under threat. In my capacity as Global Ambassador for SAI Independence, I remain committed to bringing my voice to this important issue: Audit offices must be able to perform their mandate without undue interference.

As the process is now heading to the Courts of the Gambia, I sincerely hope that the democratic principles of the rule of law will prevail and that the independence of the Auditor General will be safeguarded in line with the international standards promoted by the INTOSAI and the United Nations.

IDC Goodwill Ambassador for SAI Independence, the Right Hon. Helen Clark

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