The Minister of Information, Media, and Broadcasting Services, Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, has criticised some journalists for misreporting government audit findings, saying many lack a proper understanding of the auditing process.

Speaking to West Coast Radio, Dr. Ceesay said audit figures require context and should not be treated as isolated statistics. 

He expressed concern that some reports have exaggerated or misrepresented government debt and public expenditure.

“Most of our analysts, particularly journalists who report on auditing, are not skilled and don’t have the competence to report on auditing. You need to understand the nuances and complexities of auditing to report accurately,” he said.

Dr. Ceesay also emphasised the importance of due process, noting that audit reports alone are not sufficient evidence in legal proceedings.

“The audits themselves are not enough evidence in a competent court. It has to go through further investigations. We live in a democracy, and due process must be followed,” he added.

He raised concerns over online reporting, suggesting some journalists may have hidden agendas.

“There are quite a few people who call themselves journalists whose reports, particularly online, definitely have an agenda behind them,” he said.

On criticism of The Gambia’s debt-to-GDP ratio, Dr. Ceesay noted comparisons with other countries are often unfair. 

“All countries borrow. The average debt-to-GDP ratio in G7 countries is over 100 percent; Japan has 240 percent, America 125 percent, and we are talking about 67 percent for The Gambia,” he said.