The Gambia government has denied giving Covid-19 funds to commercial sex workers. 

The government is force to deny reports making round on social media that have angered many Gambians including imams and religious leaders.

Ebrima Sillah, the Minister for Information, told government supporters at a political rally on Saturday: “There is this rumour circulating these days and [I] want to clarify that as I am the Minister of Information because this past Friday some imam preached on the issue.

“We want to make it clear to every Gambia that the word circulating that the government has given money to sex worker is not true. The government doesn’t have the money or Covid-19 fund to give to sex workers.”

Mr Sillah added: “I want to inform the entire imams that this rumour is not true and I’ll have meeting with media houses to make it clear to the Gambian people that it’s rumours.”

Reporting by Adama Makasuba