The Trump administration has been hailed by some Gambians for “saving taxpayers money” after reports emerged that several top Gambian diplomats were denied visas to attend the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Among those affected are presidential adviser Momodou Sabally, Njogu Bah, director general of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, a director from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, staff from the Office of the President, two staff members from the Office of the Vice President, and the wife of the Secretary General, who also works at Foreign Affairs.
Reacting to the reports, human rights activist Madi Jobarteh thanked the US Embassy for “saving The Gambia from spending millions of dalasi in 25 air tickets, per diem and other unnecessary expenses.”
“Meanwhile, how many ministers and PSs are out of the country right now? How much are we spending on the UN trip?” he asked.
Latrikunda Sabiji MP Yaya Menteng Sanyang also took a swipe at Sabally, popularly known as the “Gambian Pen.”
He wrote: “So our nation’s pen is refused a visa because the US Embassy said he is useless. Now the question is: are youths really happy?”
