The Office of the President announced the appointment of the Auditor General, Mr. Modou Ceesay, as the Minister of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment.
in a press release from the National Audit Office (NAO) dated September 11th, 2025, Mr. Modou Ceesay announced that he has declined the offer to be the Minister of Trade and expressed his dedication in continuing his role as Auditor General.
On September 15, 2025, the Police Intervention Unit (PIU) Officers, some of whom were armed, were deployed to forcefully remove Mr. Ceesay from his office at the National Audit Office.
Gambia Participates expresses its strongest condemnation of the deployment of the Police exercising force to remove the Auditor General from his office. This action exceeds the constitutional powers of the Executive and constitutes an unlawful interference with the independence of the NAO.
The office of the Auditor General is an independent office constitutionally armored from the direction and control of any person or authority in the execution of its mandate. This independence is guaranteed by both section 160(7) of the 1997
Constitution and section 14(a) of the National Audit Act, 2015.
Additionally, section 16(4) of the NAO Act, 2015 strictly limits the removal of the Auditor General to three grounds:
“(a) inability to perform the functions of his or her office arising from infirmity of mind or body or from any other cause; or
(b) misbehaviour; or
(c) incompetence.”
To establish the requirements of these 3 grounds, “a properly constituted Medical Board” must make the recommendation for his removal under “a” and a tribunal constituting: a high court judge, the Ombudsman, member of the Public Service Commission and a chartered accountant for subsection “b” and “c”.
In his forceful removal from office, none of the requirements were met neither the due process followed by the government. The President cannot unilaterally or forcibly remove the Auditor General or to deploy police forces to effect such removal without following the constitution. Such acts are ultra vires, unlawful, and undermine constitutional governance and the principle of rule of law.
Our Position
Gambia Participates, as an organization dedicated to advancing good governance, anti-corruption, transparency and accountability, condemns any attempt to erode the independence of the NAO. We therefore call on the President and all relevant authorities to:
1. Immediately cease any unlawful action against the Auditor General.
2. Allow Mr. Ceesay to resume work immediately at the NAO and continue his service to the nation.
3. Respect and uphold the constitutional and statutory independence of the NAO.
4. Ensure any action concerning the Auditor General’s tenure strictly follows the
1997 Constitution and the National Audit Office Act, 2015.
4. Hold on to the immediate replacement of the Auditor General
5. Parliamentarians to take swift action in exercising their oversight on this matter.
The independence of the National Audit Office is a cornerstone of public financial accountability. Any forceful or arbitrary removal of its head without due process could gravely undermine credibility and public trust on future audits, undermines the rule of law, and democratic institutions.
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