Mai Ahmad Fatty said financial experts were trying to evaluate the exact loss.

Luxury cars and other items were seen being loaded on to a Chadian cargo plane on the night Mr Jammeh left the country.

Mr Jammeh flew into exile on Saturday, ending his 22 years in power.

He had refused to accept election results but finally left after mediation by regional leaders and the threat of military intervention.

President Barrow remains in neighbouring Senegal and it is not clear when he will return.

However, West African troops have entered the Gambian capital, Banjul, on Sunday to prepare for his arrival.

Cheering crowds gathered outside the State House to watch soldiers secure the building.

The Senegalese general leading the joint force from five African nations said they were controlling “strategic points to ensure the safety of the population and facilitate… Mr Barrow’s assumption of his role”.

Mr Fatty told reporters in the Senegalese capital Dakar that The Gambia was in financial distress.

“The coffers are virtually empty,” he said. “It has been confirmed by technicians in the ministry of finance and the Central Bank of the Gambia.”

He said Mr Jammeh had made off with more than $11m in the past two weeks alone. The BBC is unable to independently verify the claims.

Mr Fatty said officials at The Gambia’s main airport had been told not to let any of Mr Jammeh’s belongings leave the country.

Reports said some of the former leader’s goods were in Guinea where Mr Jammeh had stopped on his journey into exile.

Mr Jammeh is reported to now be in Equatorial Guinea, although authorities there have not confirmed it.

The former leader had initially accepted Mr Barrow’s election win on 1 December, but later alleged “irregularities” and called for a fresh vote.

The move was internationally condemned and the UN-backed Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) issued an ultimatum for him to quit or be removed by force.

–

Source: BBC

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Mr Jammeh was defeated in December’s election by Adama Barrow but he went on to challenge the results.

But two days after Mr Barrow was sworn in, Mr Jammeh left on a plane reportedly bound for Guinea.

Mr Barrow told the BBC that he would be returning to his homeland “sooner than later”.

In an interview with the BBC on Saturday, he said said he wanted to create a truth and reconciliation committee to investigate allegations of human rights abuses during Mr Jammeh’s time in office.

Mr Barrow has been in neighbouring Senegal for days and was inaugurated as president in the Gambian embassy there on Thursday.

Troops from several West African nations, including neighbouring Senegal, had been deployed in The Gambia, threatening to drive Mr Jammeh out of office if he did not agree to go.

Mr Jammeh’s decision to quit came after talks with the presidents of Guinea and Mauritania.

Guinea’s President Alpha Conde is with Mr Jammeh and his wife on the plane that left Banjul late on Saturday.

In an address on state television, Mr Jammeh – who had once said he would rule The Gambia for a billion years – said he would stand down and that it was “not necessary that a single drop of blood be shed”.

The scene at Banjul airport, by BBC Africa correspondent Alastair Leithead

Yahya Jammeh arrived at the airport amid a large convoy of vehicles and throngs of cheering supporters.

He stood on a small platform to hear ceremonial music performed by a military band and then walked down a long red carpet surrounded by dignitaries.

He climbed the steps to the plane, turned and kissed and waved a Koran at those assembled.

After 22 years in power, he left bound for Guinea where it’s believed he will stay before going on to another country.

Soldiers and other dignitaries were emotional as he left – many of them crying.

The details of the arrangements made – or promises offered to persuade him to give up power peacefully are not yet known, but there was the real threat of military action from regional states.

He’s the first president to peacefully hand over power in The Gambia since independence from Britain in 1965.

“I have decided today in good conscience to relinquish the mantle of leadership of this great nation with infinite gratitude to all Gambians,” he said.

Mr Jammeh was given an ultimatum to leave office or be forced out by UN-backed troops, which expired at 16:00 GMT on Friday.

The deadline was set by the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), a regional grouping backed by the United Nations.

The first signs of a breakthrough came on Friday when a senior aide to the new president told the BBC’s Umaru Fofana that Mr Jammeh had agreed to step down.

Mr Jammeh had at first accepted defeat in the election but then reversed his position.

He declared a 90-day state of emergency, blaming irregularities in the electoral process.

–

Source: BBC

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In an announcement on state TV, he said it was “not necessary that a single drop of blood be shed”.

The statement followed hours of talks between Mr Jammeh and West African mediators. He gave no details of what deal might have been struck.

Mr Jammeh has led the country for 22 years but was defeated in December’s election by Adama Barrow.

Mr Barrow has been in neighbouring Senegal for days and was inaugurated as president in the Gambian embassy there on Thursday.

Troops from several West African nations, including Senegal, have been deployed in The Gambia, threatening to drive Mr Jammeh out of office if he did not agree to go.

Mr Jammeh’s decision to quit came after talks with the presidents of Guinea and Mauritania.

“I have decided today in good conscience to relinquish the mantle of leadership of this great nation with infinite gratitude to all Gambians,” he said.

“I promise before Allah and the entire nation that all the issues we currently face will be resolved peacefully.”

Shortly before the TV address, Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz said that a deal had been struck and that Mr Jammeh would leave the country. He gave no further details.

Mr Jammeh was given an ultimatum to leave office or be forced out by UN-backed troops, which expired at 16:00 GMT on Friday.

The deadline was set by the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), a regional grouping backed by the United Nations.

The first signs of a breakthrough came on Friday when a senior aide to the new president told the BBC’s Umaru Fofana that Mr Jammeh had agreed to step down.

Mr Jammeh had at first accepted defeat in the election but then reversed his position and said he would not step down.

He declared a 90-day state of emergency, blaming irregularities in the electoral process.

The electoral commission accepted that some of its early results had contained errors but said they would not have affected Mr Barrow’s win.

Mr Jammeh had vowed to stay in office until new elections were held.

–

Source: BBC

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A statement issued by the government on Friday, January 20, congratulated Adama Barrow and said he was the legitimate leader of the West African country.

The statement said, “South Africa recognizes President Adama Barrow as the legitimate President of The Gambia, and looks forward to a close working relationship with him and the people of The Gambia, to build and strengthen our bilateral relations.”

“South Africa commends the sterling efforts made by the international community, spearheaded by ECOWAS, the AU and the UNSC in the quest to finding a lasting and peaceful resolution of the political crisis in The Gambia.”

The government of South Africa further urged longtime leader of The Gambia, Mr Yahya Jammeh, to cooperate with the sub-regional bloc and step down peacefully.

While wishing Mr. Barrow well in his administration, it expressed hope that he returns to The Gambia to assume his democratic responsibility of Presidency.

“The South African Government calls on and urges former President Yahya Jammeh to cooperate with ECOWAS, and should step down peacefully.”

In conclusion, the South African Government expressed it hope that President Adama Barrow returns to his country to assume the role democratically bestowed on him by the people of The Gambia.

‘Jammeh asks for extension of ultimatum’

ECOWAS is making frantic efforts to ensure long-time leader of The Gambia, Yahya Jammeh to step down after he lost the December 1 elections to Adama Barrow.

In what appears to be final attempts to get Jammeh to step down, ECOWAS issued an ultimatum to Mr. Jammeh to step down by 1600GMT.

Mr. Jammeh, has been meeting with the President of Guinea, Alpha Conde, and President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz of Mauritania within the period over the situation.

The talks appear to be the last possible attempt by the subregional body to strike a deal with the former leader before it introduces its military troops.

ECOWAS troops had been on standby on the border of the Gambia since Wednesday, but moved into the country on Thursday when the UN Security Council approved of ECOWAS’ military actions in the West African country.

‘Barrow sworn in as President’

President Adama Barrow was sworn into office at the Gambian Embassy in Senegal after Jammeh’s refusal to step down forced him to leave the country for Dakar.

His inauguration was witnessed by representatives of the ECOWAS, AU and the UN as well as members of the diplomatic corps.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @jnyabor

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According to him, Jammeh’s stay in the Gambia under his presidency, will make governance very difficult.

Speaking to Aljazeera after his inauguration, Mr. Barrow said under the circumstances, Jammeh cannot be allowed to stay in The Gambia.

“Under the circumstances, we cannot allow him [Jammeh] stay in The Gambia. It will make our job difficult. That is why all our negotiations is towards he leaving The Gambia.”

He added that, although he wishes Jammeh should not be allowed to stay in the country, he could return at a later time.

“We can let him come back; but as at now, the political climate does not allow that.”

In his message to Yahya Jammeh, Mr Barrow said, “We are the children of the same generation, myself and Yahya Jammeh. And we have made history together, so I’ll advise him to accept everything in good fate and give peace a chance. It is about democracy”

‘Jammeh asks for extension of ultimatum’

ECOWAS had extended an ultimatum it issued to Mr. Jammeh to step down to 1600GMT from 1200GMT.

This was upon the request of Mr. Jammeh, who is currently meeting with the President of Guinea, Alpha Conde, and President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz of Mauritania.

The talks appear to be the last possible attempt by the subregional body to strike a deal with the former leader before it introduces its military troops.

ECOWAS troops had been on standby on the border of the Gambia since Wednesday, but moved into the country on Thursday when the UN Security Council approved of ECOWAS’ military actions in the West African country.

‘Barrow sworn in as President’

President Adama Barrow was sworn into office at the Gambian Embassy in Senegal after Jammeh’s refusal to step down forced him to leave the country for Dakar.

His inauguration was witnessed by representatives of the ECOWAS, AU and the UN as well as members of the diplomatic corps.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Guinea’s President Alpha Conde and Mauritania’s President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz arrived in the Gambian capital Banjul on Friday for last-ditch talks with Jammeh, witnesses said. It was not clear whether Jammeh intended to step down.

A regional military force that crossed the border in support of his democratically elected successor, Adama Barrow, was awaiting orders on Friday. MarcelAlain de Souza, chair of the west African union Ecowas, said troops would force Jammeh out if he refused to leave the country.

The west African troops entered the Gambia on Thursday night, hours after Barrow was forced to hold his inauguration as president in Dakar, the capital of Senegal. De Souza said the west African force, which includes tanks, has so far met no resistance.

Source: Reuters

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According to Mr. Agbodza, President Akufo-Addo exhibited a lack of restraint when he approved the deployment of 205 soldiers for ECOWAS military operations in The Gambia, which has two individuals claiming the Presidency.

The winner of The Gambia’s 2016 general elections, Adama Barrow, took the oath of office at the country’s embassy in Senegal, and he has been recognized internationally.

But the defeated Yahya Jammeh, has refused to step down as President, and West African leaders have threatened to remove him by force. Senegalese troops have already have entered The Gambia to ensure Adama Barrow is the sole president.

This notwithstanding, Mr. Agbodza said the President’s directive constituted an offensive action against The Gambia.

Speaking on Eyewitness News, he said “what we are trying to do in Gambia is an offensive action. There is no war currently going on in The Gambia. We are going in there to start a war and I am saying that it amounts to a declaration of war and I think that the Commander-in-Chief needed to consult with the people’s representatives in Parliament before he could take that decision.”

He further insisted that no resolution by ECOWAS allowed Ghana “to commit troops to an offensive operation in another country.”

“When we invest the power in this country in the President to be the Commander and Chief, we expect him to exercise this power with the best of his intentions, not capriciously.”

In the MP’s view, the law requires the President Akufo-Add0 to exercise his power with the “greatest restraint”.

He, however, said, “I haven’t seen anything that suggests that he is exercising his power with the greatest restraint… the constitution tells him to exercise his powers with the best of intentions and I don’t see those best intentions.”

No need for Parliamentary approval

The MP for Effutu, Alex Afenyo Markin, however, downplayed Mr. Agbodza’s concerns using the law as his basis.

Speaking on Eyewitness News, Mr. Afenyo Markin explained that “under Article 75 of our constituency, where treaties are entered into and same is ratified by Parliament, that treaty becomes part of the international laws of Ghana.”

According to him, Ghana has already signed onto the ECOWAS protocol relating to the mechanism for conflict prevention, management, resolution, peacekeeping and security, and this protocol was subsequently ratified by the Parliament of Ghana on December 10.

Thus, the Effutu MP said President Akufo-Addo did not need another approval of Parliament to back the deployment of troops to The Gambia.

“The provisions under Article 21 of the protocol are clear on ceasefire monitoring groups which are composed of standby multi-purpose civilian and military, ready for immediate deployment,” he stated.

“The power given to the President to contribute troops to any mission as is happening today has already been given to him by the ratification of the said protocol on conflict prevention, management, resolution and peacekeeping,” Mr. Afenyo Markin concluded.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Mr. Barrow was sworn in today [Thursday], at The Gambia’s Embassy in Senegal Dakar, where he took the oath of office.

The ceremony was administered by Sheriff Tambadou, president of the Gambian Bar Association.

Mr. Barrow commended the ECOWAS, AU and other international bodies for their support in protecting the will of the Gambian people.

Mr. Barrow in his inaugural speech also instructed the heads of the military in The Gambia to recognise him as the new President, or risk being considered as renegades.

“My right as the winner to be sworn in and assume the office President is constitutionally guaranteed and irreversible. I hereby make a special appeal to ECOWAS, AU and the UN, particularly the Security Council to support the government and the people of The Gambia in enforcing their will and restore their sovereignty and constitutional legitimacy.”

He also called on Yahaya Jammeh to remain loyal to the constitution of The Gambia, and promised to be a President for all Gambians.

“This is a victory for the Gambian nation. Power belongs to the people in The Gambia. This is a day no Gambian will ever forget; first time since The Gambia became independent that it’s changed a government through the ballot box,” Barrow said.

“The capacity to effect change through the ballot box has proven power belongs to the people in The Gambia. Violent change is banished forever from the political life of this country. All Gambians are therefore winners. There is no loser in this election.”

The small West African state now has two men claiming to be president.

Its parliament voted earlier this week to extend Yahya Jammeh’s rule by 90 days, while he challenges his election defeat at the hands of Mr Barrow, a former estate agent, in the courts.

Regional forces, led by Senegal, have threatened to enter the country to oust Mr Jammeh.

The Gambia, popular with European tourists because of its beaches, has never had a smooth transfer of power since independence from Britain in 1965.

Whiles the swearing-in was taking place, the AFP News Agency reported that, Nigeria’s air force was flying over The Gambia, as regional troops prepare to force Yahya Jammeh to quit after his December election defeat.
–
By: Ebenezer Afanyi Dadzie/Ghana/with flies from BBC

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According to the foundation, a lot of lives might also be lost.

Mr. Jammeh, whose mandate per the Gambia’s constitution should have ended at midnight on Wednesday, had that mandate extended by Parliament by 90 days.

[contextly_sidebar id=”KeV69UJW0H8SVlQAjLbwnDzUcCj8myrS”]Meanwhile, following failed efforts by ECOWAS to have Mr. Jammeh to step down after losing the elections organized in December 2016, the sub-regional bloc has sent troops to Gambia to ensure the restoration of rule of law.

But speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Thursday, the Executive Director of MFWA, Sulemana Braimah, explained that lives might be lost through military intervention.

“I will say that at this stage, it may not be the appropriate thing to do to intervene militarily to remove Jammeh…The Gambia has a military force of about 2,500 people…beyond that, I don’t think in terms of fire power they are that strong, so they can easily be defeated, but that wouldn’t mean that they wouldn’t resist. Resisting would mean that some innocent lives will be lost, infrastructure will be destroyed and even if Adama Barrow were to be put in as president he is going to face a very difficult situation,” he added.

Mr. Sulemana also explained that, The Gambia which has a population of about 1.9 million who rally along ethnic lines even in politics.

According to him, due to this situation, the ethnic group where Jammeh belongs to might revolt against the new president if there is any military intervention.

“The Gambia is a small country of about 1.9 million people, they are very well bonded around ethnic groups…and these ethnicity and bonding around ethnic lines are quite strong. And politics in the Gambia over the years has also been around ethnic lines. If you follow development from the international and regional media, there were so many people who were still demonstrating on the streets and social media against what ECOWAS was trying to do…and I think that if Jammeh were to be forcefully removed, the population will be divided and Adama Barrow will have a very difficult situation,” he noted.

Gambia: Barrow to be inaugurated in Senegal

Adama Barrow took to twitter to announce that his inauguration will be held at the Gambian Embassy in Dakar, Senegal.

“I would like to inform you that the Inauguration Ceremony is going to take place at the Gambian Embassy in Dakar, Senegal,” he announced.

I would like to inform you that the Inauguration Ceremony is going to take place at the Gambian Embassy in Dakar, Senegal. #Gambia pic.twitter.com/ofxlIpJChl

— Adama Barrow (@adama_barrow) January 19, 2017

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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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According to him, the continent must deal with Mr Jammeh in a straightforward manner.

Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Wednesday, Dr Aning said more stringent measures should be taken since he has disregarded all the necessary diplomatic procedures extended to him.

“When former President Mahama visited Gambia, the psychological game there was that Mr Mahama sends a signal to Mr Jammeh that there was life after Presidency, but you see, it is not always that you can play a decent diplomatic game with a person who does not understand the basic laws and principles of diplomacy,” Kwesi Aning said.

“It has become necessary that the appropriate articles under ECOWAS’ protocols be invoked and if we need to fight to preserve the molecule of respect for ECOWAS,” he added.

There is a political stalemate in the West African country as the President, Yahya Jammeh has resolved not to step down

ECOWAS leaders have failed on two occasions to convince Mr Jammeh to step down.

Jammeh, days after conceding defeat in the elections, raised allegations of malpractices and filed a motion to challenge the results in the Supreme Court.

The country had been without a functional Supreme Court for two years, after Mr. Jammeh sacked some Supreme Court judges for ruling against his government in a case against affecting ex-military chiefs.

The country’s Chief Justice, Emmanuel Fagbenle, pulled out of the case filed by Jammeh, seeking to stop the inauguration of President-elect Adama Barrow.

Other senior officers in Mr. Jammeh’s government including the Ministers of Trade, Environment, Finance and recently Foreign Affairs, have all resigned, spelling more doom for Mr. Jammeh.

There are reports of many citizens and tourists fleeing the country ahead of Thursday’s inauguration of President-elect Adama Barrow who is currently in Senegal until the swearing-in.

‘Military intervention in Gambia’

Parliamentarians in Gambia on Monday, January 16, 2017, passed a resolution demanding that ECOWAS Heads of State Authority desist from using force to remove Mr. Jammeh from office.

The legislators say a peaceful means must be employed to settle the political stalemate, stating that the Gambia was a sovereign nation and its constitution must be respected.

‘State of emergency’

Yahya Jammeh, on Tuesday, declared a 90-day state of emergency in the West African country.

He did not give details for his declaration in the public announcement.

‘Parliamentarians extend President’s rule’

Meanwhile, the Parliament in Gambia has extended the rule of current President Yahya Jammeh by 90 days.

The House passed the resolution on Wednesday, January 18, 2017, a day before Mr Jammeh’s term in office, officially expires.

‘Adama Barrow’s swearing-in in limbo’

The inauguration of President-elect Adama Barrow is currently in limbo.

BBC Africa correspondent, Umaru Fofana told the Citi Breakfast Show currently in Gambia said Barrow’s inauguration might not happen. “To be honest everything seems to be up in the air, nobody is sure what will happen in the next minute… By midnight tonight, his [Jammeh’s] tenure should end, but Parliament extended his mandate yesterday, the legitimacy of that is being challenged. The opposition collation assured me that they will go ahead with their inauguration tomorrow but that was before the state of emergency declaration. Due to the emergency declaration, large gatherings will not be allowed and I honestly can’t see how an inauguration ceremony will go ahead tomorrow with a state of emergency,” he opined.

‘Nigeria’s warship’

There were reports that Nigeria has dispatched a warship to Gambia following the political crisis but Fofana said “at this moment, the Nigerian military source told the BBC that they were not coming to fire any shot at least for a start.”

“If there is cooperation it will end that way but we are not sure what is happening,” he added.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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