Former finance manager of the Brikama Area Council, Lamin Suso, has requested the Local Government Commission of Inquiry to grant him one week to provide an explanation for his withdrawal of over D23 million from the council’s funds.

He made this request during questioning by the commission regarding the D23,381,286.53 withdrawal he made from the accounts of the Brikama Area Council. In response, he asked the Commission for a week’s time to allow him to explain the withdrawals, stating, “These were transactions done by me.”

Suso was also questioned about a D4.6 million withdrawal he made. When asked why he withdrew money from the Council’s accounts, Suso responded that he was instructed by the Director of Finance. He added that this occurred when the accounts clerks were busy.

Initially, Suso argued that his actions were in line with the law because he had the authority to withdraw money from the council’s accounts. However, he could not cite any specific law granting him this power. When his role was read to him, he insisted that other duties were verbally assigned to him from time to time, and he only collected the cheques and carried out the withdrawals.

Lead Counsel Gomez informed Suso that the commission would require him to provide the necessary information regarding where the money was spent. Suso expressed difficulty in doing so, stating, “That will be very difficult for me.” Consequently, Suso was granted a week to gather evidence related to the D23,381,286.53 withdrawal.

During the proceedings, Chairperson Jainaba Bah reminded Suso that the total income received by BAC in 2018 was D70,017,038, and in 2019, it was D78,508,376.98. Suso explained that he was Finance Manager 1, and there was another Finance Manager 2, indicating they shared responsibility for safeguarding the Council’s revenue.

Regarding the handling of cash in 2018, Suso mentioned that only flat rate collectors were permitted to bring cash to the council, attributing this to a management decision and the prevailing arrangement at the time.

Suso was presented with the 2019 audit report detailing a list of deposited funds. The auditors noted that while the monies were recorded in the cash book, there was no evidence of deposits.

In his testimony, Suso mentioned that he used to reconcile with the Principal Cashier (Lamin K. Kanteh) using bank statements, relying on deposit slips, credit advice, and the bank for reconciliation. When Counsel Gomez referenced Mr. Kanteh handing over physical cash after reconciliation, Suso denied receiving physical cash from Mr. Kanteh.

By: Mama A. Touray

Lamin K Kanteh, the principal cashier of the Brikama Area Council, testified before the ongoing Local Government Commission of Inquiry that the receipts mentioned in the 2019 audit report were privately sourced receipts.

A privately sourced receipt refers to unofficial receipts procured by Council staff without authority and used in Council transactions.

Council receipts are printed by the Gambia Printing and Publishing Company (GPPC) and are officially recognized for use in council transactions. However, the Principal Cashier informed the Commission that those receipts were privately sourced.

Kanteh was informed that despite the receipts being privately sourced, they were in his name, and he admitted to this.

On page 51 of the 2019 audit report, the auditors flagged that the witness was issuing receipts to revenue collectors without evidence of deposit, and the money could not be traced in the bank accounts.

Kanteh, after reviewing the first page of the audit report, remarked that the numbers in the audit report were too long.

“I don’t think these are our GTRs. I think these are not in our BCR Book (record of the receipts); definitely, these were privately sourced GTRs. We do not have receipt numbers like this. These numbers are longer than the ones we used in the Council,” he explained.

Counsel Gomez pointed out to him that these findings were found in his cash book, which was audited. “I agree,” the witness said.

He testified that he was present during the audit but did not raise the issue with the auditors. When asked why he didn’t raise it with the auditors, he replied that he was not informed about the audit findings.

“They are the very people who gave me the receipts. Since 2018 to date, I have never appeared in the bank to do a deposit or withdrawal,” the witness said.

He stated that he only issued receipts when he received a receipt from the finance manager and his support staff, adding that the receipt numbers were not the same as the numbers the Council uses. “They are too long.”

The commission noted that in May 2022, Kanteh gave a receipt of D262,000 to Mustapha Joof without evidence of a deposit. Kanteh claimed that it was a Bank transfer to Trust Bank and that he relied on the lodgment roll record for the receipt.

“This is not a bank transfer. The lodgment roll contains information on what was collected. It is not what was deposited. When you collect using the machine, it shows. You cannot tell me it was evidence of a deposit,” Counsel Gomez told the witness.

However, Kanteh was given the Trust Bank statement of account for the Brikama Area Council to check. Counsel Gomez asked the witness to show the Commission a deposit or transfer made in May 2022 regarding his claim.

He could not find it and instead said that Mustapha Joof should be responsible for the amount.

Counsel Gomez then told him, “You issued the receipt of D262,000 without evidence of a deposit or transfer,” to which he accepted, but when Gomez further accused him of being engaged in a fraudulent transaction, the witness denied it.

Kanteh was given a cash book by Chairperson Jainaba Bah, which had red writings and signatures that the witness confirmed to be his. “These are my own handwriting, and the signatures are mine.”

When asked why he scratched a receipt and changed information contained in a cash book, he replied that he found the practice there and maintained it.

Chairperson Bah told him, “We have ascertained that most of the revenue collectors do not go to the auditors and they stop at your office. You write in their cash book and give them receipts,” which he denied.

By: Mama A. Touray

In line with its mandate to ensure a transparent, fair, impartial, and competitive bidding process in public procurement, The Gambia Competition & Consumer Protection Commission (GCCPC), in collaboration with the Gambia Public Procurement Authority (GPPA) and the Complaint Review Board, launched guidelines on promoting competition in public procurement on Thursday.

The guidelines aim to create awareness among procuring organizations and economic operators about public procurement methods, competition issues in public procurement, and complaint handling mechanisms.

The Director of Policy Procurement, Ibrahim Sanyang, stated that the unveiling of this guide on promoting competition in public procurement signifies a crucial step toward fostering transparency, fairness, and efficiency in procurement processes.

He added, “By combining the expertise of both organizations, we are reinforcing our commitment to upholding the principles of competition, consumer protection, and public procurement in The Gambia. This guide serves as a comprehensive resource, providing valuable insights and practical strategies to enhance competition within our procurement framework.”

Sanyang emphasized that in a rapidly evolving economic landscape, continuous adaptation and innovation are imperative to ensure that procurement practices remain equitable and conducive to the nation’s growth.

He urged all stakeholders to embrace this guide as a tool for driving positive change and promoting a culture of healthy competition in public procurement processes, saying, “Let us strive to uphold the highest standards of integrity, accountability, and efficiency as we work towards the collective prosperity of The Gambia.”

Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary of GCCPC, Amadou Ceesay, in his remarks, said that striking a balance between efficiency and competition in procurement is essential for organizations aiming to optimize their operations while maintaining competitiveness.

Ceesay added, “You cannot separate competition from procurement because without competition, there will be no procurement. Our collaboration with GPPA goes a long way because we have an MOU, and we are giving it meaning. This is not the first time; we jointly produced guidelines on how to detect bid rigging in public procurement four to five years ago, and this is our second collaboration.”

Amadou continued that it’s beneficial to establish strong relationships with suppliers by regularly evaluating their performance, negotiating favorable terms, seeking volume discounts, and further analyzing spending patterns to identify inefficiencies and address overspending areas.

The Director of Policy Operations at GPPA, Ibrahim Sanyang, made a presentation on the mandate and functions of GPPA, setting up a competitive procurement process, and complaint handling, while the Executive Secretary of GCCPC, Amadou Ceesay, made a presentation on the relationship between public procurement and competition.

By: Alieu Jallow

Two families in Sare Soffie, located in the Central River Region of The Gambia, urgently require assistance following a devastating fire that destroyed their homes, reducing them to ashes.

On March 20th, 2024, Jallow Kande’s house caught fire between 1 pm and 3 pm, completely destroying the building and all valuable possessions, including farm produce, rice, onions, sugar, oil, and the entire family’s clothing. Despite surviving Ramadan with minimal support from neighbors, Kande Jallow’s recent condition has become deplorable, as he now struggles to provide three meals a day for his family of over 15 members.

“Since Ramadan ended, I have found it extremely difficult to provide three meals a day for my family, as we continue to cope with a roofless house and lack of bedding or clothing. I appeal for any support, whether in cash or kind,” Kande lamented.

Similarly, Isatou Jallow, a resident of the same village (Sare Soffie) and an elderly woman, recently fell victim to another fire that consumed her home, leaving nothing untouched. The fire destroyed her food supplies, furniture, and family clothing.

“I am grateful that no lives were lost, but everything I had accumulated over the years is now lost. I appeal to Muslims and kind-hearted individuals to assist me,” she humbly requested.

While there were no reported casualties, the circumstances of these families are dire, as they struggle daily to feed and clothe themselves.

Those wishing to support these families can contact The Fatu Network at 3802391 / +220 274 3275 / +220 512 2727.

Any form of assistance will greatly improve the lives of these families.

By Mama A. Touray

Justice Ebrima Jaiteh of the Banjul High Court ruled on Tuesday in the alleged Sukuta Jabang traffic light police shooting incident that Director of Public Prosecutions AM Yusuf’s objection to the admissibility of PW6’s call log lacked merit.

The ruling came shortly after Counsel J Darboe, the lawyer for the first accused (Ousainou Bojang), informed the court that the witness’s call log had been provided by Africel after they were served with a notice to provide Ebou Sowe’s call log.

He then applied to tender the call log of state witness six (Ebou Sowe’s) from Africel Gambia Limited, which was objected to by the DPP.

Before the DPP’s objection, the call log had been given to the witness, who confirmed that the number on the first line was his number.

Counsel J Darboe further informed the court that the call log was accompanied by a certificate from Africel and applied to tender Sowe’s call log, which was objected to by the Director of Public Prosecution.

Director of Public Prosecution AM Yusuf argued that Section 22(2) of the Evidence Act clearly stated the conditions before a computer document is admitted in court and urged the court to reject the application.

In response to this objection, Counsel J Darboe argued that the case before the court dealt with allegations of serious crime and that the person who submitted the call log had appeared before the court several times.

Darboe added that the summons were directed to the CEO of Africel Gambia Ltd, who sent a competent officer from the institution to present the call log in court.

Justice Jaiteh ruled in favor of Counsel J Darboe, stating that he considered two things after listening to both counsels: whether the call log is computer-generated and whether it has fulfilled the legal requirements.

He ruled that the call log is important and fundamental in this case and has met the legal requirements.

“Therefore, DPP AM Yusuf’s objection lacks merit.”

The witness testified that he was part of the team that took the first accused to his residence in Brufut and apart from that visit, he couldn’t remember going to another place with the accused on that day.

When asked about the visit to the empty land where the alleged gun was found, he told the court that the first accused showed them his escape route and that the empty land was in that area.

He also testified that he does not recall being part of any team that went to the empty land on September 14, 2023.

According to the charge sheet, Ousainou Bojang was charged with murder, acts of terrorism, attempted murder, and grievous bodily harm, while his sister Amie Bojang was charged with being an accessory after the fact of murder.

The particulars of the offense state that Ousainou Bojang is alleged to have caused the death of Police Constable Sang J Gomez and Pateh Jallow by shooting them with a gun.

He is also alleged to have attacked Police Constable Sang J Gomez and Pateh Jallow by shooting them with a gun, resulting in their deaths.

Ousainou is also accused of attempting to unlawfully cause the death of Police Constable Ansey Jawo with a gun and unlawfully shooting her with a firearm, causing her grievous bodily harm.

His sister Amie Bojang is accused of assisting him in fleeing the country to escape punishment after knowing that he allegedly committed murder.

The matter is adjourned to April 22, 2024, at 2 pm for the continuation of the cross-examination of PW6 by Counsel J Darboe.

By: Dawda Baldeh

Mayor Rohey Malick Lowe of the Banjul City Council (BCC) welcomed Osei Assibey Antwi, the Executive Director of the Ghana National Service Scheme (NSS), to explore partnership areas for a Youth Volunteerism Project.

Osei Assibey Antwi praised Mayor Lowe for her dedication and support in developing women and young people in the country.

Their bond was established in 2018 after Antwi was inspired by Mayor Lowe’s compelling speech at a conference in Abuja.

He described her as a champion of youth empowerment and called on Gambians to support her visionary leadership.

Antwi is currently in the country at the invitation of Mayor Lowe, who is spearheading the country’s first Youth Volunteerism Scheme.

The scheme aims to provide skills training for over 500 Gambian young people in Banjul.

The discussion between the Ghanaian NSS boss and Mayor Lowe focused on areas of cooperation such as agriculture and skills development.

Under the initiative, selected youths will have the opportunity to learn various skills, including tailoring, hairdressing, and agriculture, both within the country and abroad.

Antwi stressed the importance of offering skills training to the youth and supporting Gambian women in their entrepreneurial endeavors, noting that it benefits not only their personal growth but also the collective progress of communities and the nation.

Mayor Lowe highlighted the importance of skills development among young people and expressed her appreciation to Antwi for accepting her invitation.

She believed that their cooperation would significantly contribute to youth development in the city of Banjul.

By Mama A. Touray

The principal cashier of Brikama Area Council, Lamin K Kanteh, has requested time from the ongoing Local Government Commission of Inquiry to file supporting documents for the receipts he issued amounting to over Sixty Million Dalasi in 2019, without the money being traced in the Council’s accounts.

“When receipts are issued, it means the money has been deposited in the account or the Council has received the cash; in this situation, the Principal Cashier issued the receipts, but the auditors could not trace the money in the Council’s bank accounts, and there were no bank slips to provide proof of deposit.”

Kanteh told the commission that the procedure at Brikama Area Council was that the revenue collector would do the collection, deposit the money in the bank, and then come to the Council for auditing and reconciliation before receiving a receipt from him.

Lead Counsel Patrick Gomez told Lamin, “Most of the time, you would issue receipts without deposit slips,” to which he admitted, “That is not the correct procedure.”

Lamin K Kanteh testified that some revenue collectors would collect money and not record it in their cash books. He blamed his junior, Modou Jadama, for not following his directive to record dates, names, amounts, receipt numbers, and the destinations of people who made payments.

Lead Counsel Patrick Gomez told the witness, “You were issuing receipts without evidence of deposits made, no recordings, and most of the time, there were no deposits,” to which he admitted, “That is correct.”

When asked why he would issue receipts to revenue collectors without deposit slips or recording in their cash books, he responded, “That was a gap (weakness).”

“Don’t tell us it was a gap. We know what you were doing. Were you engaged in any form of fraud? How can you issue multiple receipts without evidence of deposits?” Gomez asked.

Lamin relied on the lodgment record. When asked if he had the records he relied on, he said he did not have them. Gomez told him, “The truth is you issued receipts without any evidence,” which he accepted, saying, “Yes, I agree.”

When asked what a receipt signifies, he said when he issues the receipts, it means the collector has deposited the money in the bank. He admitted that it was wrong for him to issue receipts without bank deposit slips but was quick to say that the revenue collectors should be held responsible.

Lamin initially denied liability, but when questioned further with more facts, he admitted that he is also liable.

Gomez said, “You are the chief player, the primary player in all the frauds in the Brikama Area Council,” and he admitted, “It is true.”

At this juncture, Chairperson Jainaba Bah instructed Lamin to find his cash book and bring it to the Commission. He responded that he is looking for it in the “big store; the cash book is my biggest concern. I will do my best.”

Lead Counsel Gomez referred Lamin to the Financial Manual, which states that only after the revenue collector provides evidence of bank deposit should a Cashier issue a receipt.

The Manual further states that all revenue collectors should make a daily deposit of their collections in the bank or pay to the Cashier of the Council, and the collector must provide evidence of deposit before the Cashier issues receipts.

Lead Counsel Gomez said the practice of issuing receipts without evidence of deposits was rampant at the Brikama Area Council.

Meanwhile, Counsel Gomez informed Lamin that “The audit report of 2019 has shown over Forty-Four Million Dalasi receipts that you issued without evidence of banking. You need to account for this. You issued the receipts, but the money was not traced in the accounts.”

The witness responded that he did not see the 2019 audit report and was not aware of the findings against him. Commissioner Joiner told him that the amount involved was D60,613,728.50.

“I saw this information from the investigators [of the Commission]. What actually happened after the audit findings, the Director of Finance responded to the audit finding, and he is responsible. He has the facts,” the witness said.

Lamin informed the commission that an amount of D44,000,000 was audited and that the Director of Finance has the evidence in his laptop.

When told that the audit finding was against him and not any other person, he said, “I reconciled with the Finance Manager. All the deposits were done by the finance clerks.”

By: Alieu Jallow

Two years ago, a conflict erupted between the communities of Sohm and Faraba Sutu following a post-match dispute that arose among fans. The clash resulted in the hospitalization of over 20 people and damage to properties. This unprecedented friction severed ties between the two neighboring villages and further threatened the social fabric.

In an effort to reconcile their differences, the Alkalos of the two communities organized a football match last August as part of a reconciliation process aimed at healing wounds and restoring harmony.

In a similar move, on Friday, April 12, 2024, the youth of the villages organized a peaceful advocacy carnival to foster a deeper understanding of peaceful coexistence between the two communities, especially among the youthful population.

Yankuba Jarju, the newly elected youth chairperson of the Sohm Youth Association, highlighted the longstanding rivalry between the two communities, heightened by a football match a few years ago.

Jarju emphasized that the peace advocacy carnival not only brought the two villages together but also served as a catalyst to inspire communities to join in the celebration of peace and unity. It also served as a platform to foster understanding, empathy, and solidarity among participants.

“The reconciliation journey between the villages of Sohm and Faraba Sutu demonstrates the transformative power of community-driven initiatives in resolving conflicts and promoting peace. By harnessing the spirit of sports and youth engagement, the peace advocacy carnival became a beacon of hope and a testament to the resilience of human connections in overcoming adversity,” Jarju outlined.

Ebrima Sanneh from Faraba Sutu stated that the carnival allowed members of Faraba-Sutu and Sohm to engage in open and honest dialogue, thus helping to create understanding and enhance empathy between the two communities.

“It raises awareness about the importance of peace. The carnival serves as a platform to educate the communities about the detrimental effects of conflict and the importance of working together to maintain peace and harmony,” Sanneh noted.

During this inaugural peace advocacy carnival, young people from the two villages had a roadshow and wore T-shirts labeled “Bena Sohm and Faraba Sutu Carnival 1st Edition” to promote resolution and tolerance.

By: Dawda Baldeh

The Council of the European Union (EU) has decided to repeal the second layer of the EU Visa Sanction on The Gambia, reducing the visa fee for Gambian nationals traveling to the Schengen area.

Previously, Gambian nationals were required to pay a visa fee of €120, but now they will only have to pay the standard visa application fee of €80.

The decision was announced in a press release by The Gambia Embassy in Brussels and the Mission to the European Union on 12th April 2024.

The Council of the European Union also issued a press release confirming the reduction in visa fees for Gambians.

According to the EU, the initial increase in visa fees for Gambians was implemented in December 2022 due to a lack of cooperation from The Gambia regarding the readmission of its nationals who were illegally staying in the EU.

However, since then, the EU said The Gambia has shown significant improvement in its cooperation on readmission, particularly in organizing return flights and operations.

The EU visa code of 2019 includes provisions that allow visa processing to be used as leverage for cooperation on readmissions with third countries.

Initially, the EU suspended visa processing for Gambians due to a lack of cooperation on readmission.

Additionally, requirements for documents submitted by Gambian visa applicants, processing periods for multiple entry visas, and visa fee waivers for diplomatic and service passport holders were also affected.

With the recent improvement in cooperation on readmissions, the EU has decided to repeal the second layer of the visa sanction and reduce the visa fee back to the standard amount for Gambian nationals.

This decision will allow Gambians to travel to the Schengen areas by paying a visa fee of €80.