The Finance and Public Accounts Committee (FPAC) of The National Assembly has exposed significant financial irregularities and governance failures at the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) and the Banjul City Council (BCC), according to a newly released report.
Based on audits covering 2019 to 2021 and the governmentβs accounts for 2020, the report details missing funds, unrecorded revenue, staffing irregularities, and serious lapses in procurement and IT management at both councils.
At KMC, auditors found that payment vouchers worth over GMD7.6 million were missing, and GMD60,000 in collected revenue was unaccounted for. Unresolved fraud allegations include a GMD12 million land loan, a forged guarantee letter, and a GMD30,000 bribery claim none of which have been addressed through formal investigation. The report also criticized the hiring of unqualified staff into key positions.
At BCC auditors uncover a lack of financial statements from 2019 to 2022 and extensive violations of accounting standards. GMD195,120 in market revenues was never deposited, while key financial records including ledgers and reconciliations were absent. Two construction projects, each worth nearly GMD2 million, remained unfinished despite full payment, with officials ordered to refund the contract sums.
Other troubling findings at BCC included unbudgeted payments of GMD394,276, unsupported expenditures linked to COVID-19 relief, uncertified disbursements of GMD4.5 million, and unrecovered debts of over GMD198,000. FPAC also flagged procurement abuse, mismanagement of assets, and critical IT failures, such as the purchase of unused software and use of unsecured, non-genuine systems.
FPAC issued over 30 recommendations demanding financial recoveries, enforcement of procurement laws, IT system upgrades, and disciplinary actions against implicated officials. Compliance deadlines range from 30 to 60 days, with legal action threatened for non-compliance.
The report, presented by FPAC Chairperson Hon. Alagie Darboe, sparked heated debate in the National Assembly. Lawmakers unanimously adopted the findings, calling for swift and decisive reforms.
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