By Madi Jobarteh
The Chairman and Members of the Board of Directors of GCAA and the Managing Director of GCAA must realise that the Gambia Civil Aviation Authority is a public institution and not a secret society for personal benefit. GCAA is not a cult rather it is a public body mandated to manage public resources in order to deliver a public service. For that matter, the Board and Management of GCAA cannot expect to silence members of staff who expose illegality in that institution.
The actions of Ebrima Dampha to expose the illegality and corruption of the Securiport Tax is what is required of each and every public servant who has discovered such misconduct in any public office. This is a right and a duty bestowed on each and every public servant by virtue of the fact that public institutions derive their legitimacy and authority from the people and perform their functions on behalf and for the welfare of the people as per Section 1 subsection 2 of the Constitution. Public institutions have one and only one function which is to manage public affairs and public resources in order to deliver public services according to the law.
GCAA has no powers to impose any tax or levy or charges without the approval of the National Assembly. The Securiport Tax has never got parliamentary approval hence it is illegal. Secondly, the Securiport contract has never been made public. Thirdly, there are already Gambian security agencies at the airport to provide security. Fourthly, this Securiport Tax is against international air travel regulations. And finally, where does the tax money paid go to since it is paid to a foreign company. Therefore, Securiport is illegal and the Board and Management must be held accountable for imposing such illegality in a public institution.
There cannot be any staff service rules, or Act of the National Assembly or the General Orders which can take away that right and duty of citizens to expose illegality and corruption. Public servants like any other citizen have a duty to protect and reserve public interest. Hence any malpractices, acts of corruption or abuse of any nature taking place in any public office or perpetrated by any public officer is a legitimate matter of public interest. To safeguard public interest and maintain the integrity of the public office, public officers have a right and a duty to expose such malpractices in line with Section 222(1) of the Constitution.
The GCAA Board and Management have no right to sack Ebrima. Rather they should have acted lawfully and honestly to make sure the Securiport Tax does not exist in the first place. Therefore, by sacking Ebrima, the GCAA Board and Management have confirmed the allegations of Ebrima L Dampha. Otherwise let them share the contract with the public and explain how this tax is legal and in the national interest.
For that matter, I hereby call on the National Assembly select committee overseeing GCAA as well as the President to institute a commission to investigate GCAA as to why and who is responsible for Securiport Tax and hold them accountable. Failure to do so means both the National Assembly and the President are aiding and abetting corruption at GCAA.
Ebrima L Dampha should be celebrated as a patriotic and conscientious citizen hence a freedom fighter. Anyone citizen that seeks to protect and promote the public interest is a freedom fighter. Conversely any citizen who seeks to destroy, steal, undermine and weak public interest is a traitor. Hence the Board and Management of GCAA are traitors who do not deserve to hold public office. They should be sacked immediately and put on trial for abuse of office and corruption.
All public servants should emulate Ebrima L Dampha. Until public officials become committed to public interest by standing up and speaking out at the abuse taking place in public offices then the Gambia shall continue to be doomed. We need officials like Ebrima who recognise their duty as public officials and execute it accordingly. Ebrima is the new type of Gambian we need in public service. Let us therefore not allow this patriot who is protecting public interest to be victimised by the corrupt GCAA Board and Management.
The sacking of Ebrima L Dampha by GCAA is illegal and against national interest. I hereby call on all Gambians to join together to seek ways to support Ebrima to go to court to sue the GCAA Board and Management fort illegal dismissal. Secondly, I call on all citizens to speak up for the dissolution of the GCAA Board of Directors and the dismissal of the GCAA Managing Director for gross misconduct and act of corruption.
For the Gambia Our Homeland