Gambia’s minister of health, Dr. Ahmadou Lamin Samateh, has fired back at Gambians who verbally attacked him in the United States during his attendance at the UN General Assembly.

Confronted in broad daylight by a small group of Gambians, the minister described the incident as “disgusting” and accused the individuals of being driven by ulterior motives.

Speaking at a rally for President Adama Barrow, Dr. Samateh said, “we’re brought up rightly. If not, it would’ve been very tough in America because we are not afraid and not cowards.”

He also criticised the behaviour of the individuals, some of whom he identified as fellow natives of Kiang.

“Natives of Kiang attacked their fellow native, who was me. Some of those who attacked me were sponsored,” he alleged.

Dr. Samateh warned that such attitudes bring no benefit to the country. “We don’t need insulters in our midst because their behaviour will not do us any good,” he added.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba