Barely few months after her appointment as Justice Minister Amie Joof has been fired in absentia while on a two weeks vacation in the United States. Ms Joof was appointed as Chief Justice after the disgraced former Justice Minister Lamin Jorbarteh was fired and arrested alongside the Solicitor General Pa Harry Jammeh. The two have since been charged and are facing trial on several charges of economic crimes, abuse of office and conspiracy to commit crimes.
Ms Joof who is reportedly vacationing in the United States received a call from President Jammeh’s new errand boy Momodou Sabally who is doubling as Minister for Presidential affairs, Secretary General and head of the civil Service. Mr. Sabally reportedly called Ms Joof early Tuesday morning and related the message that she has been fired from her position. No explanation or reason was given for her firing. Ms Joof has been replaced by Justice Mama Fatima Singhateh.
Amie Joof is reportedly confused about her firing as she claimed to have done nothing to warrant her firing. She was stunned and devastated by the news of her firing as she now has to struggle with a difficult decision on whether to return to the Gambia or stay away. The fact that she does not know whether she committed any wrong or not puts her in a state of confusion. Although the news of her firing may not have come as a surprise to many given President Jammeh’s erratic hiring and firing without betting people, Amie’s may be a little more devastating as this was the second time President Jammeh approached her to take the position of Justice Minister which she initially declined. She was tempted to accept the position because she did not want to turn down the President for the second time.
Many political observers of the President’s handling of appointees insinuate that Jammeh is desperate and out of options to appoint people to his cabinet. He has resorted to reaching out to anyone and anybody who would give him a nod in accepting his positions. As a result, he has been recycling people like a shredding machine. This has caused enormous anger and uneasiness for the President and he does not know what to do anymore. Analysts has associated these frequent hiring and firings to President Jammeh’s incompetence and lack of trust for anybody other than himself. Momodou Sabally who is believed to be the next victim is now running Jammeh’s show and sooner or later he too will follow his predecessors not only in being fired but also joining them in Mile II opined a reader. “Jammeh doesn’t only fire you but he makes sure that you are out and never to return again” pointing to Njogu Bah as a living example.