17 September 2024 – Local Government Commission of Inquiry
Pa Sait Ceesay was appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) in June 2023. He took over from former CEO Sainabou Martin-Sonko. He had served as the CEO of other area councils in the past.
The witness took over from Sainabou Martin-Sonko.
“There was no proper handing over. Only the office was handed over to me,” he said.
He said the only thing handed over to him is the office. He added that Sainabou came herself and handed over the office to him.
“Do you know why there was no proper handing over?” Lead Counsel Patrick Gomez asked.
“I think she had a problem with the Council,” the witness answered.
The witness said he found Deputy CEO Kajali Janneh in the Council. He added that Kajali Janneh was moved from KMC, but before going there was handing over done. He was asked about the number of KMC projects, but he requested time to check from the handing over note. The Commission requested him to provide the handing over note he received from Kajali Janneh.
He testified that the KMC has 13 committee: Contracts Committee, Planning and Development Committee, Finance Committee, Establishment Committee, Education Committee, Agric Committee, Environment, Budget and Accounts Committee, Sports Committee, Revenue Committee, Arts and Culture Committee, ‘Mbalit’ Committee and All Chairpersons Committee.
The witness said the committees were all active and there are files for each of them. He added that the All Chairpersons Committee is the committee of the heads of each of the other 12 committees.
He was asked about the finance department. The witness said it has a units: license unit, rates unit and market unit. He added that the rates unit are responsible for properties, licence unit for businesses and the market unit for collection from various markets.
Pa Sait Ceesay said he found that personnel in rates unit were not using cash books. Instead, they were using demand notes. He stated that collectors in three licence unit were using cash books.
“When they collect, they take the cash to the Council. They don’t take it to the bank. They take it to the receiving cashiers” Pa Sait Ceesay said.
The witness admitted that the Financial Manual for Local Government Councils provides for the collectors to bank their collections. He testified that KMC operated a different system in which collectors bring cash to the Council and give it to cashiers.
On revenue assessment, the witness said there were no assessments done at the time he came. He requested time to find out when the last time KMC did revenue assessment.
The witness was asked about the revenue baseline and the budgets for 2022 and 2023. He requested to provide the information. It was granted.
Pa Sait said the CEO is the approving authority and he can approve payments up Five Hundred Thousand Dalasi (D500,000). He added that if the payment us beyond D500,000, the Council will discuss it and pass a resolution approving the payment.
The witness said he is the Chairperson of the Contracts Committee and the other members are the Procurement Manager, two experts, two councillors, director of planning and director of administration.
The witness said KMC does not have a fixed asset register in line with the requirement of law.
“Now, we are working on one. According to sources, they prepared one but it was not complete,” he said.
The witness said he found an outdated strategic plan of KMC. The witness said there is an asset register, which he does not have access to. He was requested to bring it to the Commission.
The witness said he does not know whether KMC has a loan policy or not. He added that the council also gives out salary advance to staff.
He said KMC established two companies called KMT and KMM. He added that he is a member of the board of both companies. He was asked about the other board members, the witness said a resolution was passed for the mayor to select and appoint the board members. The Commission requested for the resolution. The witness was further requested to produce the memorandum and articles of association of both companies.
