Gambia’s Chief of Staff, Mod K. Ceesay, has summoned top government officials to a high-level meeting over the controversial contract that handed control of the country’s international ship registration to a private Cypriot company.
The meeting, scheduled for Friday, June 27 at the State House, will include the Director General of the Gambia Maritime Administration (GMA), the Solicitor General, and Permanent Secretaries from the Ministries of Finance, Justice, and Transport. The gathering follows a formal legal opinion from the Ministry of Justice questioning the legality, financial soundness, and procedures surrounding the agreement between GMA and MDIR Ltd of Cyprus.
According to a letter signed by Alieu Loum on behalf of the Chief of Staff, the purpose of the meeting is to review the concerns raised and determine whether the contract should be renegotiated or revoked entirely.
The controversial deal outsourced Gambia’s international ship registry operations to MDIR Services Ltd, which later established a local subsidiary—Gambia International Ship Registry (GISR)—to carry out the work. Under the terms of the contract, MDIR was granted sweeping powers to register all types of vessels (except those used in local trade), issue and revoke certificates, collect service fees, and even represent Gambia at international maritime forums.
Criticism intensified when it emerged that Bintou Janneh, reportedly the daughter of GMA Director General Karamo Janneh, is serving as GISR’s regional manager in The Gambia. The revelation has sparked serious ethical questions and fears of a conflict of interest.
The outcome of the upcoming meeting may determine whether the deal stands or is renegotiated in line with national interest and legal standards.
