Gamtel and Gamcel Finance Directors Summon Staff to Police Over Defamation Allegations
Pierre Njie in Pink and The Voice of Fanta Program © Askanwi
By Yusef Taylor, FlexDan_YT
Two finance directors for Gamcel and Gamtel have summoned a Gamcel staff member before the Gambia Police Force in Banjul to respond to their allegations of defamation. The Gambian government is in the process of selling 80% of Gamcel to YCell and relieving over 1,000 staff, with 350 being retained on contract.
The matter stems from disagreements over staff salary deductions for social security, the credit union and income tax, which have allegedly not been paid. A 2024 Gamcel Credit Union report revealed that over D13.4 million has been deducted from Gamcel staff salaries and not paid into the credit union.
After Gamcel staff, Mr Pierre Njie conducted an interview on The Voice of Fanta; he was summoned to Banjul Police by Gamcel Financial Director Mr Mustapha Conteh and Gamtel Finance Director Mr Kebba Kinteh on Thursday, 16th April 2026.
The complainants allege that Mr Pierre Njie defamed them by mentioning their names in an interview and demand for the video to be brought down. According to Mr Njie, the host of The Voice of Fanta based in Germany, Ms Fanta Tambedu has refused to bring down the video.
Our reporter got in touch with a police officer handling the case who confirmed that Mr Pierre Njie was summoned to respond to the allegations last Thursday and should report on Wednesday, 22nd April 2026. The police also confirmed that Mr Njie has been warned to bring down the video, and a decision will be made on the case on Wednesday.
Speaking in Wollof on the TikTok video, Mr Njie noted that “we have the most corrupt financial directors in both Gamcel and Gamtel. They are on retirement; that is, Kebba Kinteh and Mustapha Conteh. They ruined everything and destroyed so many lives.”
“Even to have papers [to write on] is a problem, Fanta. Cashpower is a problem,” said Mr Njie.
Speaking to Mr Conteh, he told Askanwi that he was not sure if they would pursue legal action for defamation but was concerned that Mr Njie used their names on something that is not the case.
“He made allegations that we were the finance directors and that we were involved in misappropriation of company funds; that is why they are not paid their social security,” said Mr Conteh.
In his view this was “not only reckless but it was very irresponsible because Gamcel and Gamtel are the employers, and if they fail to pay him, then they should take the responsibility, but you don’t point it to individuals.”
Our reporter is also aware that the Gamcel staff personnel income tax appears to have been deducted but has not been paid, causing some difficulties for staff when applying for vehicle clearance. In addition, social security information has not been accessible to staff, raising concerns that their deductions may also not have been paid for over 3 years.
However, one report obtained on Gamcel Credit Union Arrears reveals that Gamcel owes liabilities to their credit union to the tune of D13,400,372.11 over a three-year period from 2022 to 2024. The 18-month-old report recommended the Gamcel management and Credit Union settle the overdue arrears. Worryingly, the report noted that “these are the only savings for some staff, and they can’t have access to withdraw or have a loan from the credit union from these savings.”
