Interior Minister says no trace found of D48m forensic lab contract
The Minister for Interior, Abdoulie Sanyang, told lawmakers that his ministry has found no records relating to an alleged D48 million forensic laboratory contract reportedly awarded to Sea Trading Centre in July 2017.
Appearing before the National Assembly during a question and answer session, Sanyang said an extensive search was conducted following a query from the Banjul North lawmaker, who asked about the current status of the D48 million Dalasis laboratory project contract with Sea Trading Centre entered into July 2017. What services have been delivered and what payments have been made under that contract? And if the contract has been terminated, what are the circumstances of its termination?
The minister added officials could not locate any documentation linked to the project.
“My team did a very extensive search from the closed files but could not find any documentation regarding this particular project, there is no evidence that such a contract has been signed by the Ministry of Interior.”
The minister, however, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening forensic investigations, noting that the Gambia Police Force, with support from the European Union and GIZ, recently inaugurated a modern forensic laboratory at the Police Headquarters in Banjul.
On community policing, Sanyang said the ministry intends to formalise and strengthen collaboration between police and community-based security groups across the country. He outlined plans for training, capacity building, information sharing and the development of operational guidelines to improve coordination.
“Community participation remains a cornerstone of effective security governance,” he told lawmakers.
Responding to concerns raised by members about existing community policing groups, particularly in Talinding and Basse, the minister acknowledged the need for stronger cooperation with police, stressing that community groups should not operate in isolation.
“The coordination is very, very important and vital for them to succeed,” he said.
The session also focused heavily on hate speech, tribalism and election security. Sanyang assured lawmakers that the ministry is working with the Independent Electoral Commission and other stakeholders to safeguard national unity and maintain peaceful elections.
He said security services would intensify monitoring of political activities, public gatherings, traditional media and online platforms to detect hate speech and incitement.
When asked whether individuals promoting hate speech would be arrested.
The minister said that while some hate speech cases remain before the courts, law enforcement agencies will continue to investigate and prosecute offenders in accordance with the law.
He further revealed that authorities are tracking individuals accused of spreading inflammatory content from abroad, saying, “We have names, we have a database of those people doing that.”
Sanyang concluded by assuring lawmakers that all necessary measures are being taken to ensure peaceful, credible and inclusive elections free from ethnic and tribal divisions.
Source: The Point
