Dr Ismaila Ceesay, the leader of the Citizens’ Alliance party, says corrupt public officials are worse than the infamous Jammeh hit squad, the Jungulars.

He said the actions of corrupt officials unlike the Jungulars, a paramilitary group linked to torture and extrajudicial killings of Gambians opposed one ex-president Jammeh, are devastating and long lasting and affect the whole country.

“Those who are corrupt, they kill you slowly because corruption if you steal from the public purse it deprived the public to buy blood to ensure there is a good health care system, to ensure there is good education.

“So, you are depriving a whole generation from access to the things they need to live a dignified life, so we should take it [corruption] very seriously to make sure we bring strong Institutions,” Dr. Ceesay said. 

However, he said in order to stamp out corruption in government that the state must ensure public officials are paid well  and motivated.

He said his government will ensure that The Gambia is a corruption free country. 

“Life-style audit must be done in this country and make sure we put stringent laws to say if you are caught with corrupt practices then that’s it.”

Dr Ceesay added that a Citizens’ Alliance led government will ensure public officials are well educated and paid well as well as motivate them not to be corrupt.  

Reporting by Adama Makasuba