CIVICUS discusses The Gambia’s youth-led movement for accountability over seized assets with Ebrima Jallow, popularly known as The Ghetto Pen and Secretary of Gambians Against Looted Assets (GALA). GALA is a civil society initiative urging transparency, justice and asset recovery to support national rebuilding following the end of the authoritarian rule of President Yahya Jammeh in 2017.

In July, thousands of Gambians marched across the country in one of the largest youth-led anti-corruption mobilisations in recent history. The protests, organised by GALA, demanded transparency over the mismanagement of assets seized from Jammeh after an investigative report raised alarm over non-transparent property sales. Protesters called for due process and asset recovery to serve national rebuilding efforts, warning that corruption continues to undermine essential sectors.

What drove people to protest over seized assets?

We took to the streets because Gambians deserve to know what happened to the assets seized from Jammeh. Instead of clarity, what we saw was secrecy and signs of a fire sale. Investigations by journalists revealed that properties and businesses were sold below market value, with little explanation about how prices were set or who benefited. The government insisted everything was legal, but never offered the transparency we asked for.

There has never been a full public audit of these sales. Despite repeated promises, no official report has been released to show how much money was raised, who bought the assets and whether the proceeds went towards the national budget. Members of parliament raised alarm and called for scrutiny, confirming the doubts many people already had.

However, it was a crackdown in May that truly galvanised our movement. Police arrested over two dozen protesters and journalists to try to silence us, but this backfired: the arrests made more Gambians realise something was being hidden, and they stood with us. That’s why protests in July were one of the largest youth-led anti-corruption mobilisations in our country’s history.

How should the recovered funds be used?

Asset recovery is not only about punishing corruption but also creating hope. The money recovered should go directly into classrooms, clinics, medicines and roads. When assets are sold fairly and transparently, the funds belong to the public, and they should be used to rebuild the services that have been neglected for years.

We are calling for the creation of a Seized Assets Social Recovery Fund so the proceeds are ring-fenced and protected from misuse. Our proposal is clear: 70 per cent of recovered money should go to education and health, while 30 per cent should be invested in local infrastructure such as energy for clinics, feeder roads and water. This way, Gambians can see and feel the results in their daily lives.

Most importantly, transparency is key to rebuilding trust. If project lists, costs, contractors and timelines are published, then communities, through parent–teacher associations or local committees, can monitor delivery themselves. If people see the benefits of recovered funds in schools and hospitals, they will regain confidence in government and be more willing to pay their taxes. This is precisely how asset recovery can become the foundation for national rebuilding.

What transparency reforms are you demanding?

We have given the government a clear roadmap for the next 90 days. The first step is to publish a complete inventory of seized assets – every property, business and account – with details of how they were valued, the reserve price, the final sale price and who the buyers were. This information must be made available as open data. Any contested transactions should be frozen until an independent review is carried out.

We are also calling for real accountability through parliament and independent auditors. Ministries of Justice and Finance, along with oversight agencies, should be summoned to public hearings that are livestreamed for all Gambians to follow. A forensic audit must be carried out by the National Audit Office together with an external firm, with a hard deadline for publishing the findings. And a special prosecutor or dedicated asset-recovery unit must be established to investigate and prosecute cases of collusion, fraud and kickbacks.

We want permanent fixes to prevent this ever happening again. Asset sales must follow an open-auction rulebook with independent valuations, proper tendering and a cooling-off period before any award. All proceeds should be channelled into the Seized Assets Social Recovery Fund, governed by a multi-stakeholder board that includes civil society. And every contract and details of projects funded with recovered money should be uploaded to a public online portal. These reforms would replace secrecy with transparency and put an end to the culture of impunity.

How are you building momentum?

After the arrests in May, we knew we had to change how we organised. We focused on strict legal compliance, trained our own marshals and legal observers and documented everything. By July, this preparation allowed us to mobilise safely and in even greater numbers, showing that Gambians are united in demanding accountability.

We are now creating local chapters in every region of the country. We use simple infographics and data to show what is possible if corruption is stopped, so people link the idea of asset recovery to their daily lives: classrooms that could be built, clinics that could be stocked, roads that could be repaired. This keeps the movement rooted in people’s real needs and aspirations.

We prioritise safety so people can participate without fear. We have set up systems that span legal hotlines, digital security, women’s and youth safety cells and on-the-ground first-aid teams. But to sustain the struggle, we need international solidarity. The African Union and the Economic Community of West African States should press for full transparency. Financial institutions including the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank should tie their support to accountability benchmarks. Global partners should be ready to impose sanctions on those who profit from corruption. Continued international media attention can also help protect activists and keep pressure on the government. The more attention the world pays, the harder it will be for the government to backslide.