A pro-Barrow MP has claimed that Gambian journalists are biased against President Adama Barrow.

Majanko Samusa, a Nominated National Assembly member, said the Gambian media is “partisan” and don’t report “fairly on the Barrow government”.

Mr Samusa told Star FM: “The number one hypocrites in this country are the journalists and if people are not careful you [journalists] will put this country on fire. 

“As a journalist, you have to be transparent and non-partisan. I will say it over and again that the number one hypocrites in this country are the Gambian journalists. Let you journalists’ association write anything you want and insult me. I don’t care.”

The firebrand MP added: “You should be fair to the government and the politicians. You have municipalities all over the country taking taxpayers’ monies but nobody knows where they are putting the money. 

“Just look at how terrible our feeder roads are in this country. Where is the money we are paying? But what is stopping the journalists from asking them questions about these things?”

He continued: “Even if the political parties you favor kill people you will not say or write about it. Some politicians will say nasty things here but you will ignore them but even if President Barrow says anything the media will be like Barrow is this and that or he is a sleeping president. 

“Where do you see him sleeping? You are seeing people saying more dangerous things here that could land one to prison but you don’t write it,” he said.

Samusa claimed that President Barrow is the “most accommodative president” Gambia ever had. 

“What President Barrow accepts in this country, Jawara and Jammeh have never accepted that. He has proven to be a real democrat,” Samusa said.

“Even former president Jawara, despite being described as a champion of democracy, once jailed a journalist [Ba Trawally]. I was also sacked by Saikou Sabally because he said I support the NCP. All these things happened under Jawara but the young people have not been told the truth.”