BANJUL, Sept 12 (The African Portal) – The frozen GT Bank account of ousted Gambian president Yahya Jammeh is now yielding millions in dividends for the state.
According to the receiver of Jammeh’s seized assets, Alpha Barry, the Gambian government is reaping huge financial benefits from the former president’s shares in GT Bank.
Testifying before lawmakers yesterday, Barry explained that after Alpha Kapital was appointed as the receiver of Jammeh’s frozen assets, he met with the bank’s chief executive officer to discuss his mandate. The bank, however, requested confirmation from the government, which was later provided by the Attorney General’s Chambers.
Barry added that he subsequently worked with the bank to determine Jammeh’s outstanding dividends, which were eventually paid into government coffers.
Jammeh, who ruled The Gambia for 22 years, fled the country in 2017 after losing elections to Adama Barrow. He initially rejected the results, sparking a political crisis. Barrow, fearing for his safety, was sworn in as president while in Senegal.
ECOWAS, the West African bloc, had threatened military intervention if Jammeh refused to step down. He eventually left The Gambia for Guinea before heading into exile in Equatorial Guinea.