Dr Ismaila Ceesay, leader of Citizens’ Alliance, today said corruption is hampering the Gambia’s development as he launched his bid for the presidency. 

He made the statement after submitting his presidential nomination papers to the Independent Electoral Commission. 

Dr Ceesay, who was accompanied by his wife and senior CA officials, said he will establish a corruption watchdog when he becomes president. 

“We are serious in fighting corruption because we believe that the perennial problems of this country…one of the key problems of this country is that we cannot progress because of corruption, it is because of lack of transparency,” Dr Ceesay. 

“Of course, if you read our manifesto, one of the things we have emphasised there is that all public officials must declare their assets. Not only the lifestyle audit they do of public officials periodically.”

Dr Ceesay, 46, is the Gambia’s youngest and only presidential aspirant with a PhD degree. 

He was a political science lecturer at the University of The Gambia before running for the presidency. 

Reporting by Adama Makasuba