The Ministry of Information yesterday dismissed as unfounded allegations regarding the First Lady's involvement in a ferry incident. The allegations specifically stated that First Lady Fatoumata Bah-Barrow had attempted to prevent Unite Party National President Ebrima Dibba from boarding a ferry bound for Barra. The ministry stated that Unite Party official Ebrima Dibba was at no point prevented from accessing a ferry on the instruction of First Lady Fatoumata Bah-Barrow. "The allegation that the first lady sought to use a public ferry service to discriminate against Mr Dibba on political grounds is therefore false and without basis," the Ministry of Information said in its statement. The ministry urged media organisations and the public to verify claims, especially those that could "unnecessarily inflame political tensions."
Allegations Surface
Ebrima Ceesay, the deputy national campaign manager for the Unite Party, made assertions regarding the ferry incident. Ceesay stated he was present at the Barra ferry terminal and witnessed a confrontation unfold. He further claimed that First Lady Fatoumata Bah-Barrow allegedly issued instructions to bar Mr. Dibba from boarding the same ferry she intended to use. Ceesay also claimed that Gambia Ferry Services (GFS) security personnel were threatened with dismissal. According to Ceesay, these threats were issued if the security staff permitted Mr. Dibba to board the ferry. The deputy national campaign manager's account contradicts the Ministry of Information's statement denying any involvement by First Lady Fatoumata Bah-Barrow in preventing Mr. Dibba from accessing the ferry service.
Ministry's Rebuttal
The Ministry of Information countered allegations that First Lady Fatoumata Bah-Barrow attempted to prevent Unite Party National President Ebrima Dibba from boarding a ferry bound for Barra. The ministry's statement directly addressed claims circulating publicly about the incident, asserting that Mr. Dibba was at no point prevented from accessing the ferry on the instruction of the first lady. Ministry officials described the circulating account as potentially inflammatory, cautioning against narratives that could exacerbate political tensions. They emphasized the importance of verifying information, particularly concerning high-profile individuals and sensitive public matters, to maintain stability and accuracy in public discourse. The ministry did not provide further details on the origin or specific content of the allegedly inflammatory accounts, choosing instead to focus on the categorical denial of the First Lady's involvement.
Context and Call
The Ministry of Information affirmed that Mr. Dibba was ultimately permitted to board the ferry service. In its statement, the ministry explicitly confirmed that Mr. Dibba was allowed to board the ferry. However, Ebrima Ceesay, the Unite Party's deputy national campaign manager, offered a different account of the incident. Ceesay claimed that First Lady Fatoumata Bah-Barrow allegedly issued instructions to bar Mr. Dibba from boarding the same ferry she intended to use.
According to Ceesay, this directive led to a "considerable push and pull" at the Barra ferry terminal. Ceesay stated that despite the initial alleged instruction, Mr. Dibba eventually boarded the ferry. The ministry's statement did not elaborate on the sequence of events at the terminal, focusing instead on its denial of the First Lady's involvement in any attempt to discriminate against Mr. Dibba. The Ministry of Information reiterated its call for media organizations and the public to exercise diligence in verifying information before dissemination, particularly when such information has the potential to inflame political tensions unnecessarily.