Stop Misleading the Youth: Courts, Not Streets, Are the Path to Justice

In every democracy, rules, laws, and institutions form the backbone of governance. The Gambia is no different. When a new Auditor General, Mr. Cherno Amadou Sowe, was duly appointed to head the National Audit Office, every public servant within the institution had a duty to respect and comply with his leadership. Disobedience of lawful instructions from the legitimate head of the NAO is not only a dereliction of duty but also a direct assault on the very democracy some claim to defend.

Let us be clear: if anyone—whether staff of the NAO or ordinary citizens—believes the removal of Mr. Modou Ceesay was unconstitutional, the courts are the right and only avenue to challenge such a decision. That is how democracy functions. Disputes are settled through legal and constitutional mechanisms, not through inciting civil servants to rebellion or misleading the youth onto the streets.

Those now encouraging staff resistance and mobilizing the youth to defy lawful authority are not defenders of democracy. They are its enemies. For democracy does not mean doing as one pleases; it means abiding by the rule of law even when we disagree with decisions. To insist otherwise is to flirt with anarchy and to recklessly endanger the lives and futures of young Gambians who may be lured into confrontations that will only end in prison cells.

The National Audit Office was established as an independent body to safeguard accountability and transparency, not to become a political battlefield. By refusing to carry out their duties under the new Auditor General, some staff are betraying their professional oaths, undermining the credibility of the institution, and painting The Gambia as a lawless state where authority is mocked rather than respected.

Those agitating for confrontation must answer difficult questions:

Is refusing lawful instructions from a recognized office holder not itself a violation of the Constitution?

Can an institution retain its independence and credibility if its staff place personal allegiances above legal obligations?

Who benefits when Gambian youths are misled into the streets instead of being guided to lawful avenues of redress?

If indeed one believes in democracy, then let us practice what we preach. The courts are open, the Constitution is clear, and the law provides remedies. Resorting to intimidation, insubordination, or street lawlessness is not the way forward—it is the surest path to chaos.

The Gambia deserves disciplined institutions, not divided ones. The NAO must realign itself with its lawful leadership, perform its constitutional role with integrity, and allow those who disagree with government decisions to pursue their grievances through the courts. That is the democratic way. That is the Gambian way.

Enough with the theatrics. Enough with misleading the youth. Let us stand for democracy by standing for law, order, and constitutionalism.