Leaders around the world on traditional national occasions use their executive powers to review incarcerations in the nation and grand Pardons to deserving citizens who may or may not have committed crimes that they are being punished for. Section 82 of the 1997 Constitution of the Republic of The Gambia gives the President the powers to grant pardons to prisoners not only in the name of national reconciliation but in line with principles of forgiveness, empathy and religious teachings.
It has been a long standing tradition for Gambian Presidents to extend forgiveness to Gambians and other nationals who are imprisoned for one reason or another and who have shown good behavior and obedience of the law while behind bars. In 2013 President Jammeh pardoned sixteen (16) Prisoners all of whom were freed on the occasion of Eid Adha commonly referred to as Tobaski. This was a gift to the family and love ones of those prisoners which is immeasurable. This year while families of those Gambians behind bars continue to be hopeful and wait patiently for their love one’s possible pardon, nothing is yet heard from the President. This is a great opportunity for any leader to seize the moment to correct misguided judgments against innocent citizens. It is also a chance to assess the magnitude of alleged crimes in comparison to the kind of lives individual citizens have lived and how much they contribute to society.
Although many Gambians don’t have fate in the current justice system in the Gambia, both the courts and the President continue to be the custodians of the law and control the power of governance. Opponents may deny the legitimacy of the government but that does not invalidate the fact that the President continue to make decisions on behalf of the country and the legislative and the judiciary continue to pass laws and execute them respectively. The crunch of the argument here is that the government continues to be the legitimate body that presides over the governing affairs of the state.
In Gambia today, the likes of Amadou Sanneh former accountant General and successful business entrepreneur and many others serving jail sentences deserve a Presidential pardon. Mr. Sanneh like many in Mile II is an exemplary citizen whose life story is incredibly humbling. Here is a citizen among many who has dedicated his life to be a proud independent citizen who created his own entrepreneurship from scratch and provided employment for many Gambian citizens. His accounting firm over the years has been a beacon of hope and confidence for the private business sector both domestic and international to count on his expertise for higher accounting Standards. Mr. Sanneh throughout his life has never committed any crime and any Gambian citizen who knows this honest and humble citizen will attest to his kindness and how many citizens he has personally helped from his own personal wealth. His neighbors, coworkers, and many ordinary citizens will attest that Amadou has come to their aid on several occasions whether he knows them or not. Amadou Sanneh is the kind of citizen that any Gambian could be proud of as a citizen who when the sun sets, citizens known to him or not knock on his door for assistance to feed their families. The impact and contributions of such a citizen on the lives of citizens cannot be measured. Mr. Sanneh’s political ambitions if any ranks at the bottom of his list and continuing to imprison him for his political affiliations sets a bad precedence and gives the country a worst name than any crime he allegedly committed.
To be fair and in the true spirit of the Gambianism where we traditionally look after each other and love our joking relationships and interconnectedness, there are several other Gambians languishing in jail who equally deserve a Presidential pardon. These Gambians have served their country some for better half of their lives; they don’t know anywhere else and have never known any place but Gambia. Granting them pardon is in order and it can only promote the spirit of peace and forgiveness that Gambians have enjoyed for decades.
Gambia is at a critical political cross road and President Jammeh needs to reevaluate his reign in power. He has been in power for 20 years and if he is conscious of history and political life cycles he is nearing the end of his reign. Everything that has a beginning must have an end and his administration is no different. As pundits argue, if Yahya Jammeh truly cares about his legacy and wants to live a free live after the Presidency then he needs to begin to scale back his iron grip on power. It is a fact that when he came to power he condemned Jawara for overstaying in power. He has effectively overstayed his power as well. He may deny this and continue to hold on to power by any means by continuing to believe that his development agenda is better for Gambians, but reality dictates that development cannot be imposed on people. Many Gambians have been hurt including those who got very close to the President. This cannot be welcomed in the lives of many of these citizens and their families.
President Jammeh therefore must follow the footsteps of leaders like Macky Sall who pardoned over 450 prisoners in Senegal during the last Koriteh Eid. He must begin to not only preach peace but implement policies that breed peace and reconciliation. Every family in Gambia deserves to have the security, freedom and the comforts of their love ones. Where citizens allegedly run fowl with the law, justice must be rendered in accordance with the dictates of our constitution and moral heritage of our society. Gambians are one family but the people are increasingly witnessing unprecedented incarceration and unsanitary confinements that is alien to our culture. Many are therefore expecting that the President will do the right thing and put the country back on track for peace and reconciliation. A Presidential pardon for Amadou Sanneh, his co-accused and other deserving citizens presently behind bars would be a step in the right direction and a great beginning to ease political tension in the country. The President must begin to proof his critics wrong that he continue to make gut ranching decisions that push the country towards more division than unity. The best vindication is one that time and again proves your critics wrong rather than embolden them on one decision after another. A pardon is in order and he will have nothing to lose by granting it.
By D. Baldeh Commentary