Governor of the Central Bank of The Gambia Buah Saidy has said the bank will do everything to clear its name over a multimillion dalasi fraud allegations. 

Mr Saidy made the statement in Banjul today (23 February) at a joint news conference with the Information minister Ebrima Sillah and Government spokesman Ebrima Sankareh.

He pledged to resign from his job if the bank was found wanting in the fraud investigation. 

Abdou Ceesay, a staff of the bank was arrested last week and released pending police investigation. 

However the governor threatened to take legal action against the claimants if they were found to have made false allegations. 

“I don’t know what the IGP will do, but I can tell you what I will do. I don’t know what Abdou [Ceesay] will do and I will not go into details as I said this is still under investigation. 

“But to show you that the central bank is taking it seriously and our press release has shown it. That’s what we will do whether Abdou is our staff or not, that’s immaterial to us. 

“It’s the soul of the central bank that’s out there at stake and that’s not mine and it’s not yours, it belongs to the Gambian people?” he said.

“Our reputation is our biggest asset [and] our reputation is key to us. And if he [Abdou] is involved we will take action but I leave that to the IGP. 

“[But] if Abdou is innocent and these people accused him and the central bank of trying to stain it, we will take action. 

“We have to clear the name of this central bank because we know we are innocent. This central bank has undergone through different troubles [because] I was here,” he added.

“And we know this center is innocent of it, I know because I am a responsible person and my integrity matters to me. 

“If 155 million dalasis as alleged entered the central bank, I will resign from my job ‘Belaye wolaye talaye’ as a practising Muslim. Look I am not desperate for this job and I have my principles,” he said.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba