By Makutu Manneh & Aji Fatou Ceesay
Mr Kajally Janneh, the former Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) had requested time to furnish the ongoing Commission of Inquiry with information on the achievement registered by Kanifing Municipal Transport (KMT).
This was when Lead Council Patrick Gomez told the witness that KMC had transferred five Million Dalasi to KMT as their contribution and that the company had not started any work since its establishment in 2019.
The resident of Tallinding and former Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) appeared before the Local Government Commission of Inquiry on Monday, 23 September 2024.
The Commission is conducting a full and impartial investigation into the local government councils by looking into the administrative and financial operations between May 2018 and January 2023 to enhance transparency and accountability.
Kajally was appointed in April 2020 and left KMC in August 2023. On how he left the KMC, the witness said he was dismissed by the Local Government Service Commission. He testified that the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Sainabou Martin-Sonko, had issues with the Council, and he was assigned by the council to oversee the office of the CEO.
He said the Ministry wrote to him that he should hand over to former CEO Sainabou Martin-Sonko. He added that he related the matter to the Council, and he was told to continue his position contrary to the instruction from the Local Government Commission Service Commission (LGSC). He explained that he received three (3) letters from the LGSC to hand over to Sainabou Martin. He stated that the lawyer for KMC, Yassin Senghore of the Senghore Law Practice, advised him not to hand over, and she was the one responding to the LGSC letters on his behalf. He added that he was following the instructions of the Council and the Lawyer regarding the demands of the LGSC.
The witness was transferred to the Janjanbureh Area Council by the LGSC, but he did not go, culminating in his dismissal. The witness said he has the letters from the LGSC, and he was requested to bring them.
The witness provided 4 resolutions to the Council concerning the controversy. One was dated 23rd June 2021 from the Clerk and addressed to the CEO with the subject General Council Resolution; a memo addressed to the CEO from the Clerk of the Council dated 26 July 2021; a letter dated 21 June 2023 from the Establishment Committee addressed to the Mayor with the subject establishment and recommendation updates; and a memo dated 24 February 2023 from the Clerk addressed to the CEO with the heading ‘General Council Resolution.’
The written statements dated 3 May 2023 and 19 August 2024 of the witness were tendered and admitted in evidence. The witness provided his appointment letter dated 23 March 2024, and it was admitted in evidence.
According to the witness, while performing the function of the CEO, he used to brief the mayor every morning about issues happening, and at times, some senior council officials attended. He added that there are no meeting minutes to show that. He stated that they used to have senior management meetings, with meeting minutes taken. He was asked to provide them to the commission.
The witness said he was responsible for approving payments of up to Five Hundred Thousand Dalasi (D500,000), and when it was beyond that, he went to the mayor for authorization. He added that he only goes to the mayor with the documents and informs him verbally.
“Why do you go to the mayor for approval?” Counsel Gomez asked.
“It is because it is required,” the witness answered
“What is the requirement?” Gomez asked.
“Because every payment above D500,000 requires council approval,” the witness replied.
At this point, Chairperson Jainaba Bah interjected and asked the witness whether there was a resolution or verbal communication made to him that he could approve payments of D500,000 while payments above that would go to the council for approval.
When asked about the projects under his tenure, he said he would need time to provide the information to the Commission. The request was granted. He was asked to bring the project details and their status, the payments made to Espace Motors for the ‘Mbalit’ (Gabbage) Project. The witness said the ‘Mbalit’ Project has its manager, field staff, and supervisors.
He added that he inherited the project and explained that the field workers were appointed on contract by the council. The witness was asked about his control over the ‘Mbalit’ Project based on the functions of the CEO, including financial control.
“It was established in my absence. I did not have much interaction with the staff and documents,” the witness said.
He requested time to provide the information about staff working in the ‘Mbalit’ Project, their remuneration and the number of staff, and any other relevant information.
Mr Janneh stated that the ‘Mbalit’ Project came into being through a council resolution, which also established the management structure.
The witness was asked about the KMT (Kanifing Municipal Transport). The witness said KMT was established by the KMC to provide affordable transportation within the municipality through bus service. He added that the business plan was developed and that a project manager was appointed.
The witness was asked to provide the incorporation documents of KMT, the manner of appointment of staff and board members, and other relevant information.
He testified that one Bakary Sanneh was the Manager, who resigned after he had a diplomatic appointment and was replaced by one Amadou Drammeh, but he also left.
The witness provided certain documents relating to the KMT – Investment Memorandum, Memorandum and Articles of Association, Certificate of Business Registration, and Profiles of the Board Members. They were all admitted in evidence.
The witness provided the 2021 Activity Report of KMT, and it was admitted in evidence. The witness was a board member of the KMT.
In his statement dated 19 August 2024, he stated that the former board members of KMT were Alieu Senghore, Momodou Bah, Bakary Singhateh (General Manager), Lawyer Yassin Senghore (Secretary), Sainabou Martin-Sonko and she was replaced by Yamoundaw Jagne. The current board comprises one J-Paul as the chairperson, and Yassin Senghore is still a board member.
The witness said the Board of KMT had met some investors, but in the end, they pulled out. He added that board members were paid Five Thousand Dalasi (D5,000) as sitting allowances. He explained that they used to meet monthly, and at times, they meet twice a month. He said KMC transferred Five Million Dalasi (D5,000,000) to KMT. He added that the KMT is still not operational since they have not purchased buses yet. He testified that the KMT did not have a partner yet.
“We want to know the successes, if any, and we want to know what is hindering the company?” Lead Counsel Gomez asked.
“I don’t think I can say much about the project,” the witness said.
“Why?” Gomez asked.
The witness said he would endeavour to get the documents and provide the Commission. Lead Counsel Patrick Gomez told him that they were being paid from the taxpayers’ money invested in the KMT for their sitting allowances, and he should provide an explanation as to what happened.
The witness was requested to provide the assessment record, the establishment register, and the asset register at the time he was the acting CEO. The witness was told that the capital expenditure for the KMC in 2020 was D129,668,703.94. He was asked to provide the actual revenue and total expenditure for 2020 and 2021.
He was also asked to provide information about the agreement between KMT and Noflai regarding the shares, the cost involved, and all information related to their agreement.
