The Gambian leader Adama Barrow has declared at least D50.7 million worth of assets to electoral commission, Malagen has confirmed at the Independent Electoral Commission on Saturday.

Gambians head to polls on December 4, in what is the small country’s most crowded presidential race since independence. Close to two dozen candidates are expected to be nominated, a final list of which will be announced on Saturday evening.

According to Gambia’s electoral laws, candidates are required to declare their assets with the IEC. These asset declarations and other documents submitted by candidates were published for public scrutiny on Saturday morning.

However, both members of the public and the media are only allowed 5 minutes each to go through hundreds of documents, something activists and journalists criticized as an impossibility.

“… The four hours for scrutiny is quite insufficient, and giving 5 minutes to individuals is grossly inadequate,” John Charles Njie, the chairperson of Tango, told Malagen. “We clearly need reforms in the laws and on the way IEC does its things. I think the IEC should embrace technology and have more transparent ways and means of conducting the public scrutiny.”

No recording, notepad, filming or pictures were allowed in the room monitored by at least 3 (IEC) staff. All mobile phones or notepads are all left at the door.

However, Malagen was able to obtain details of the assets declared by President Adama Barrow. Below are the list of properties and lands he declared:

–          A property in Yarambamba, acquired in 2004, worth D2 million

–          A property in Taff Gardens, acquired in 2016, worth D5 million

–          A property in Old Yundum, acquired in 2007, worth D1.8 million

–          A property in Kanifing, acquired in 2015, worth D1.5 million

–          A property at Tallinding, acquired in 2016, worth D2.1 million

–          A property in Mankamang Kunda, his birth home, built in 2018, worth 15 million

–          Majum Building along Kombo Sillah drive, acquired in 2015, worth D1.8

–          A land in Tujereng, acquired in 2014, worth D250, 000

–          A land in Jambur, acquired in 2015, worth D200, 000

The Gambian leader has also declared his bank balances with Guaranty Trust Bank, with the savings account having D12.4 million while the business account holds D8.4 million. He has bank balances of D74, 603 at Zenith and D117, 000 at Mega Bank. There are no details as to when the monies were deposited, which make is difficult to ascertain whether he makes those monies while president or not. This is a shortfall Malagen observed with all declarations of Bank accounts of all candidates.

The affidavit which was signed on October 18 also shows the Gambian leader owns a sole proprietorship, Majum Estate. But there is no information on the estate’s value, address and average income per year, something which is a requirement on the IEC declaration form.

President Barrow also declared the acquisition of one radio set, 20 TV sets, 15 satellite discs, 20 decoders, 20 air conditioners, 15 refrigerators and 30 sets of furniture. The only information available were that these assets were bought in 2018. The household belongings are not valued on the declaration form.

According to his declaration form, the Gambian leader also has 16 vehicles. Their brands are not listed on the form as it should be, their values are not there, nor the time they were bought. The IEC form allows the listing of vehicles, brands, time bought and their costs.

President Barrow came to power in 2016 after defeating former president Yahya Jammeh at polls, with the backing of 7 political parties and 3 independent candidates. He is seeking a second term where the key rival is the leader of his former party, United Democratic Party, Ousainou Darboe. Barrow was a UDP treasurer until he was selected to lead the coalition in 2016. He fell out with the UDP, prompting him to register the National Peoples’ Party, on whose ticket he is hoping to win a second term.

The assets of the President that were put on the declaration form but were not valued were his 16 vehicles, household items and the estate agency. This is so far the third candidate whose assets Malagen publishes, after Dr Ismaila Ceesay—the leader of the Citizens’ Alliance and Ousainou Darboe—leader of United Democratic Party— publicly declared their to the medium.

The nominations ended on Friday and the IEC, after the public scrutiny which happened this morning, is expected to publish a final list of candidates on Saturday evening.

Malagen is supported by NED to provide comprehensive coverage, including investigations with respect to the presidential and parliamentary elections of 2021 and 2021, respectively.