Gambian Lawmakers Demand Probe Into Missing $48 Million Forensic Laboratory Project
A heated debate unfolded in Gambia’s National Assembly this week after the Minister for Interior acknowledged that a high-profile US$48 million forensic laboratory project, originally announced in 2017, could not be located in government records, prompting urgent calls from lawmakers for a formal investigation.
The project, which had been widely publicised at the time of its announcement, was expected to provide The Gambia with modern forensic science capabilities, including facilities for DNA analysis, toxicology, and digital forensics. Lawmakers said the initiative was presented as a cornerstone of the country’s efforts to strengthen its criminal justice system and reduce reliance on foreign laboratories.
During Wednesday’s sitting, Hon. Modou Lamin B. Bah, the National Assembly Member for Banjul North, raised the matter directly with the Interior Minister, expressing concern that no documentation, budget allocation, or implementation progress could be identified nearly a decade after the project was unveiled. Bah insisted that parliament must establish whether the funds were disbursed, misappropriated, or whether the project had simply stalled without public accountability.
The minister’s reported admission that the project could not be traced has intensified scrutiny of how large-scale public investments are documented and monitored in The Gambia. Several legislators echoed Bah’s concerns, warning that the lack of verifiable records raises broader questions about transparency in the management of donor-backed and state-funded development projects.
Lawmakers have called for the matter to be referred to the appropriate oversight committee and for a comprehensive audit to determine the fate of the project. The controversy adds to ongoing debates within the National Assembly over strengthening fiscal oversight and ensuring that major government commitments are subject to regular reporting.
The outcome of the requested investigation is expected to be closely watched by civil society groups and international partners who have previously expressed interest in supporting judicial reform and capacity-building initiatives in The Gambia.
Source: AllAfrica — read the original report.
