Gambia’s Chief of Staff, Mod K. Ceesay, has called an urgent high-level meeting with senior government officials to address growing concerns over a controversial ship registration contract awarded to a Cypriot firm.
The meeting, scheduled for Friday, June 27 at the State House, will bring together key figures including the Director General of the Gambia Maritime Administration (GMA), the Solicitor General, and Permanent Secretaries from the ministries of Finance, Justice, and Transport. The talks will center on legal and procedural issues surrounding the agreement between the GMA and MDIR Ltd, a company based in Cyprus.
According to a letter seen by The Standard and signed by Alieu Loum on behalf of the Chief of Staff, the decision to convene the meeting follows a legal opinion from the Ministry of Justice. The ministry raised serious questions about the validity of the deal, its compliance with Gambian law, and its potential financial impact.
Under the contract, the management of The Gambia’s international ship registry was handed over to MDIR Services Ltd, which later set up a local arm called Gambia International Ship Registry (GISR). The company was granted sweeping authority to register ships (excluding domestic trade), issue and revoke maritime licences, represent The Gambia at global maritime forums, and collect related service fees.
The deal has sparked controversy, especially after it was revealed that GISR’s regional manager in The Gambia is Bintou Janneh—allegedly the daughter of Karamo Janneh, the Director General of GMA. This revelation has fueled concerns about transparency and possible conflicts of interest.
The upcoming meeting aims to assess the contract’s implications and consider potential renegotiation, as recommended by the Ministry of Justice.
