Wendy Novianto

Amadou Samba being a graduate in law and holding a post graduate diploma in international law is the widely known business tycoon who has been able to use his knowledge to gain political acceptance. Amadou Samba knowledge of law matters including those relating to international law have enabled him be appointed to senior posts in the state governance for instance, he once held the post of a senior state counsel at the University of justice, a ministry that is very crucial in any country’s administration. This might have provided him with great experience that made him rise.

Amadou Samba friendship with the Gambian President Yahyah Jammeh greatly gave rise to his political influence over the Gambian citizens. This move led to his rise and development both socially and economically. Economically, Amadou Samba was able to team up with President Jammeh to rob off the pensioners their money to run their joint business. For instance, the money they used in constructing and purchase of the Amie Beach Hotel now commonly referred to as Ocean Bay Hotel. The use of pension funds as a collateral to secure a loan Gamco TBL and GT Bank was also another economic boost. Amadou Samba was also able to gain other non-economic advantages from the political line such as not being questioned over the illegal acts he had been doing for example, the mismanagement of the Social Security and Housing Finance resources. The resources were being used to run private businesses in which the President was involved and hence due to his political status, it was not possible for the local government to question that because it feared threats from the President.

Amadou Samba is also able to use his political influence to protect his interests in illicit drug selling scandal. On this ground, he can claim that rumours were made to defame him and hence damage his political reputation. The political position of Amadou Samba could also have created a favourable business environment for a businessman. For instance, enjoying monopoly with his company may be occasioned by the state laws are in favour of his business. This could have been the case with some of his businesses like the Gacem Company Limited which is the only cement packaging company in the whole of Gambia. Also, Gamwater may fall in the same category because it had enjoyed monopoly until recently when there arose other competing companies dealing in the same line of product with Gamwater. Some sources though disclose that Amadou Samba at sometimes is said to have been at loggerheads with the President Yahyah Jammeh, the bad deeds between the two has been brought to a broad daylight after a cover of darkness had hidden them. Amadou Samba is said to have been putting out a plan to overthrow Jammeh from power. Amadou Samba denies having had a plan to overthrow the government of President Jammeh whom the people of Gambia consider to have been using Amadou Samba as his pet boy.

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