Matching in closed order with the aftermath of the recently concluded Washington DC protest which incited unprecedented publicity and bruised President Jammeh’s dispirited pride is Pa Bojang’s telling interview with Fatou Camara, a woman of substance. Pa Bojang, who admitted that he was not in any formal employment until 2009 when he was appointed by his cousin, President Jammeh, to manage KGI, was pronounced wanted by the rogue Jammeh government for theft with a bounty of D500, 000 on his head. Fatou Camara, an illustrious television presenter and beauty queen, elicited scandalous information which flings some light on Jammeh’s unexplained millions from the innocuous and susceptible Pa Bojang. His revealing interview is likened to a Hollywood blockbuster movie which captivated millions of Fatu Radio listeners as he vehicle them from his nightmarish Cassamance ordeal to how President Jammeh devours the marrow of the Gambian economy.
Pa Bojang is President Jammeh’s cousin not his nephew as many believed. His father, Asombi Bojang- Yahya’s mum and Kumba Bojang are of the same mother and father. He is brought up by his aunty-Asombi Bojang. According to Pa, he started his schooling in 1995, a year after Jammeh becoming head of state and government, in Bwiam Primary School and completed his Grade 12 in 2005. He then approached his cousin for assistance to travel overseas for further studies but Jammeh opined for Pa to wait. Prior to his appointment as General Manager of KGI, Pa worked voluntarily for President Jammeh Kanilai Family Farms for three years. Pa gave poverty as one of the main reasons for his late enrolment in school. “Preceding Jammeh’s takeover in 1994, the Bojang family was engulfed in abject poverty living from hand to mouth mainly sustained by Asombi Bojang who was residing in Bakau at the time as a smoked fishmonger”, Pa Bojang to Fatou Camara.
President Jammeh who mastered the art of recycling, using and dumping Gambian intellectuals, technocrats and security officers often silence his accomplices by accusing them of economic crimes, abuse of office, neglect of duty, giving false information to a public officer and plotting to overthrow his regime. Many of his unfortunate victims are still languishing in the notorious Mile II Prison Bamba Dinka, while some disappeared without trace and few lucky ones live in self-exile after jumping bail. Most of these cases charged falsely under doctored crimes are subsequently thrown out of court for lack of evidence and perpetual absence of State Prosecutors. In exhibiting his innocence, Pa cited Lang Tombong Tamba and co treason case to rubbish his alleged theft charge. He unveiled that he was lured into the NIA and offered US$30,000 to give false testimony against Lang Tombong and his co-accused for plotting a coup against Jammeh; an offer which he flatly declined stating that he rather starve to death than compromise his self-esteem. Prior to his unceremonious arrest, President Jammeh, General Saul Badjie, erstwhile SG Momodou Sabally, Yankuba Badjie, NIA Director and Officers from the Serious Crime Unit of the Gambia Police Force had a four hours closed door meeting hatching and scheming plans to smear and charge him for theft. He also confirmed that he received a phone call from NIA Director Yankuba Badjie who informed him that he has received an order for his arrest from President Jammeh but advised him to abscond. He refused to run on the basis that he has not committed any crime and then drove straight to State House where he was arrested escorted to the NIA on arrival. He further added that he received his matching order as General Manager of KGI three weeks after his arrest.
What is even more surprising and fishy about his arrest is he spent four hours chatting with Jammeh in his office the day before he was whisked into confinement. Lang Conteh who was also a Managing Director of KGI before Pa Bojang was equally arrested, charged with theft and held at the Serious Crime Unit in Banjul Police Headquarters for six months without bail before he was subsequently remanded at the Mile II Central Prison. Recently, it is reported that Lang Conteh’s case file has suddenly developed legs and gone missing after taking a walk from the Court Records Office.
Briefly, Pa Bojang has disclosed and confirmed many stories which Jammeh is allegedly said to commit. Amongst them are:
- Japan grants 12,500 metric tonnes of rice; 3,600 metric tonnes of flour; tractors and fertilizer yearly to the people of the Gambia
- The rice is sold at D425 then increased to D575; the tractors at US$20,000 usually sold for cash
- KGI also has a fashion shop, bakery, butchery and other businesses
- President Jammeh bought Futurex Building which houses KGI, Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Higher Education, Maligan Television station for D42 million after it was seized and auctioned by the court
- Bato Kunku was fenced for D36 million
- Jammeh’s mosque in Gunjur for D70 million
- Wanna Beach D15 million
- Leman Street D5.6 million
- Banjulinding 1 and 2 D12 million
- Farato D1.8 million
- Bijilo D4.2 million
- Bujenga- Asombi Bojang’ compound D16 million
- Fajara D5 million
- Kanilai D20 million
- KGI funds all the First Lady’s numerous trip and Jammeh’s Dialogue with the People Tour
- Jammeh took a loan of D35 million from Trust Bank
- Jammeh took US$2.7 million from Guaranteed Trust Banjul excluding tax
- Jammeh took D10 million from SSHFC
- Jammeh mines gold in Basse
- Jammeh’s sand mining business is run by Tony Gitters, a Lebanese
- Jammeh gave Pa Bojang D200,000 and Ansumana Jammeh D200,000
- First Lady Zainab Jammeh employs only Moroccans at the State House
Pa Bojang has also disclosed that there are five most influential people and commanders of Gambia’s affairs. The people he said are Amadou Samba, Addy Sage, Mohammed Bassi, General Saul Badjie and President Jammeh. Pa vehemently denied have anything to do with the government. However, he admitted whenever he heard any Gambian having issues with President Jammeh, he will intervene to broker peace before things get out of hands. He cited Banta Kaira, late Numo Kujabi and Yankuba Badjie as some whose imprisonment he has averted.
When he was asked to deliberate on the First Family, he did not hesitate to underscore that Zainab is snobbish and has little to do with Jammeh’s family. Her children had never visited their grandma. He has also uncovered that General Saul Badjie and President Jammeh believed in black magic. He went on to narrate that Saul Badjie’s had a very strong spell on President Jammeh that the President will do whatever Saul Badjie ask him. He concluded that President Jammeh is blindfolded by Saul and Yankuba Badjie.
It was also revealed and confirmed that Pa Bojang has a huge followers among the youth force particularly the Green Boys. He promised to use his influence among the youths to effect a political change in the Gambia.
Sulayman Jeng, Birmingham, UK (Commentary)