Introduction:
The position of the office of the Ombudsman is an official who holds the power to
investigate allegations of maladministration, mismanagement,
corruption, discrimination and deal with human rights and protection
of fundamental freedoms of the citizenry. There is only one Ombudsman in the entire country; his
office is located on Atlantic Road, across from the tourist craft
market.
Authority & Scope:
The Constitution of the Second Republic of The Gambia, which came into
force on January 1997, made provision for the setting up of an
Ombudsman.
"Chapter X: The Ombudsman
163. National Assembly to establish office of the Ombudsman
(1) Subject to the provisions of this chapter, in the exercise of his
or her functions, the Ombudsman and a deputy Ombudsman shall not be
subject to the direction or control of any other person or authority
but subject only to the Constitution and the law.
(2) All departments, authorities and other public bodies which are
subject to investigation by the Ombudsman shall accord such assistance
as he or she may require for the protection of the independence,
dignity and effectiveness of the Ombudsman in the performance of his
or her functions."
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First Appointment:
In May 1999, the President appointed the Gambia's first Government ombudsman as required in the Constitution. On May 3,
1999, the National Assembly formerly approved the appointment.
The first person to hold the post was Mr. Sam Sarr.
On the 27th February, 2002, Mr. Sarr handed over the office's first Report to the
President of the Republic, Dr. Alhaji Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh. The
report contained over 105 cases of which 80% have been
investigated and completed.
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