Information Minister Dr. Ismaila Ceesay has revealed that Auditor General Modou Ceesay initially accepted an offer to join President Adama Barrow’s cabinet as Minister of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration, and Employment, only to later decline the position.
According to Dr. Ceesay, the Auditor General was given his appointment letter during a meeting at State House, where he reportedly embraced the president and exchanged smiles, signaling his acceptance. “As far as we are concerned, he had accepted the offer,” Dr. Ceesay explained. “His decision to later decline came as a surprise.”
When asked for clarification, Auditor General Ceesay declined to comment, saying he preferred to communicate any updates through his communication officer. Shortly after, the National Audit Office issued a statement confirming that he had “respectfully declined” the appointment, insisting he remains dedicated to his constitutional role of ensuring accountability in public sector auditing.
The announcement sparked criticism from civil society. The EFSCRJ, led by activist Madi Jobarteh, argued that attempts to remove the Auditor General were illegal under the National Audit Office Act of 2015, which guarantees the independence of the position. The group demanded his reinstatement, stressing that the role is vital for safeguarding transparency and integrity in the management of public funds.
The law states that an auditor general may only be removed for misconduct, incompetence, or incapacity, and otherwise serves up to nine years or until retirement age.
Modou Ceesay, appointed in November 2022, is now the second high-profile official in recent years to resist being shifted into a ministerial role. In 2021, former Central Bank governor Bakary Jammeh contested his removal and reassignment to the Ministry of Trade, calling it unconstitutional, though he eventually stepped down.
