Gambia presidential affairs minister describes EU as “crazy guys”

Dr Njogu Bah

Dr Njogu Bah, minister of presidential affairs, and secretary general and head of civil services has referred to the European Union as crazy guys for imposing their 17-point demand on The Gambia government which he said they (the EU) don’t have the moral authority to do.

“Looking at the EU’s submission, we find it very insulting, to say the least; lack of respect to our independence and sovereignty,” Dr Bah said on Monday, during an extra-ordinary session of the National Assembly, convened for parliamentarians to discuss the demands of the EU to The Gambia government.

The EU has presented a 17-point demand to The Gambia government in which it is requesting the government to revise the portion of the Criminal Code that allows for prosecution on the charges of sedition, libel, false publication to a public servant within 6 months; revise laws on freedom of expression and media regulations within 24 months; review the death penalty by the National Assembly within 12 months, and review the provision of the death penalty in the element of the Criminal Code and other laws for most serious crimes within six months.

Dr Njogu Bah said the EU does not have the moral authority to demand that the Gambia government implement these changes in the laws.   

“The laws of The Gambia are adequate as they are,” he says. 

According to him, whatever action taken here (in The Gambia by the government), are taken within the dictates of the laws. 

“They [the EU] have their own laws, but we can pinpoint many flaws in their system, they are not perfect and that is clear to all of us; in fact there is no perfect system in the world,” Dr Bah said.

By telling the government to implement these changes, the presidential affairs minister said the EU is trying to bring chaos and anarchy into the country.

Gambia ready to forgo millions given by the EU, National Assembly members claimed

The APRC and nominated members of the National Assembly have unanimously claimed that The Gambia is ready and willing to forgo the millions of Euro donated to the government by the European Union than to implement the 17-point reforms the EU demanded the government implement.

One after the other, the parliamentarians on Monday, during an extraordinary session of the National Assembly, strongly condemned the EU. 

For them, the EU already knew that the government “will not accept” to implement the 17-point demand, so in that case they can cut aids to the government, but the government is ready to weather the storm.

The extraordinary session was convened for the parliamentarians to discuss the demands of the EU to The Gambia government.

In a 17-point demand presented to The Gambia government, which are strongly condemned and rejected by President Jammeh forthrightly, the EU demanded the Gambia government to undertake some reforms in order to improve the country’s governance and human rights situations.

Among the reforms they are demanding from the government are the upholding of moratorium on the death penalty with immediate effect, revision of laws on freedom of expression and media regulations within 24 months, provision of information regarding the recent executions, including location of burial to the families. 

“Gambia is willing to forgo any kind of aids than to implement these kinds of demands,” said Fabakary Tombong Jatta, member for Serrekunda East and majority leader.  

He said the government will be glad to get the EU funds with respect and dignity, but not under servitude, or slave-master relationship, though he acknowledged that the EU contributes to the socio-economic development of the country.

These kinds of things are done with a pre-conceived mind, Hon. Tombong Jatta says, adding that the EU did this so that if the government refuses, they can take the next action.