By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT
I am set to publish an in-depth article on detailing where the cuts and additions were made to the D3.4 Billion Supplementary Appropriation Bill culminating with the D2.8 Billion Supplementary Appropriation Act 2020.
First the positives, I want to thank Hon Ousman Sillah, Hon Alhaji Sankung Jammeh, Adama Touray UTG Lecturer and Secretary-General of CepRaas and all those who engaged me on the Supplementary Appropriation Act (D2.8 Billion).
However, on the flip side, I was very disappointed not to get a response from two National Assembly members whom I greatly respect in the name of Hon Halifa Sallah and Hon Sheikh Sidia Jatta.
I first approached Hon Halifa Sallah for an interview who declined because he says he does not discuss issues which have already been passed in Parliament. Not looking to go into a heavy debate I requested that he could answer the questions which he felt comfortable with but he refused to come on record and instead offered to engage me in a private discussion. Unfortunately, since I was engaging him for a publication I declined to proceed as our interview had to be on the record.
The second surprise was after days of engagement with the Chairperson of the National Assembly Finance and Public Accounts Committee, Hon Sheikh Sidia Jatta, who declined to respond to my questions after already agreeing to do so. According to him the questions I raised were not relevant and concrete. In his view, these are issues which have already been dealt with by the National Assembly and he was busy with other concrete matters.
However, during my followup conversation with him today for his responses he claimed that “some of you journalists are not up to date with issues”. He was very annoyed at my questions and claimed that “you journalists are misleading the public”. My questions were on the D2.8 Billion Supplementary Appropriation Act.
I want to thank Kexx Sanneh for his efforts in helping me contact the two NAMs. I also want to put it on record that I have no issues with either of these leaders who I greatly admire for their stance against accumulating public debt. In fact, this is one of the reasons I engaged them and I will look to continue engaging NAMs and other public officials on our Public Finance.
By the way, I have been struggling to get in touch with the relevant Officials at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs to comment on the Supplementary Appropriation Act.
The publication will be published online in a few days time before the end of August 2020.