By Makutu Manneh
During his testimony before members of the Local Government Commission of Enquiry, Jaja Cham, a former acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC), said he suspects that his signature on a per diem voucher was forged for the Council’s PR Manager and Mayors protocol officer’s trip to Dakar.
The voucher, which was presented to him during his testimony, is a per diem payment for Isatou Faal, PR Manager, and Nuru Deen Adams, Mayor Bensouda’s protocol officer for their trip to Dakar to process the Mayor’s visa application to Canada.
Witness Cham told the Commissioner that the signature on the column he was supposed to sign as the CEO was not his.
“I have doubts about this signature. I want to study the voucher very well because I am not sure this is my signature,” he said.
Lead Counsel Patrick Gomez told the witness that even the request was from him. He denied that the request was from him adding that the CEO approves requests, but does not write them.
Counsel Gomez indicated to the witness that the signature on the voucher was different from the one on the request, which the witness said he also doubted because of the job descriptions indicated.
Counsel Gomez asked what their roles were in the application and the witness replied that they were nominated.
Another voucher handed to Mr. Cham was a per diem for an official mission to Dakar. The witness said the request attached to the invoice was from Dembo Sanneh, the director of administration, which was dated 16th May 2019.
He said it is not clear who prepared the voucher but said it was signed by the account staff, adding that the internal auditors did not sign the voucher.
“The deputy CEO Bakary Jawo signed the voucher. I did not authorize him to sign on my behalf. I am not aware that he signed this, and I do not know much about this voucher,” he said, adding that the director of finance Sheriff Njie, signed together with the recipient whose name was not indicated, and said he was seeing only the number.
For the voucher with the description of payment for a local and overseas congress and conference, witness Cham said he authorized this voucher, which was also signed by the Finance Director and the internal audit staff.
The witness said the voucher was prepared by Nyima Gibba and the payment was received, adding that the request was made by Dembo S.N. Sanneh, who requested per diem payment for four individuals including Mayor Talib Bensouda, Isatou Faal, Nuru Deen Adams and Yusupha Sanneh, for a three-day stakeholders’ meeting in Dakar. He said his office is aware of a voucher dated 21st January 2020 regarding an invitation to a meeting for Mayor Bensouda from the Embassy of India, but said he is not familiar with the letter. He reported that on this voucher, the officials to travel were Mayor Bensouda, Isatou Faal, Nuru Deen Adams, Kibilly Sengula, and Yusupha Sanneh.
At first, the witness testified that he did not approve the voucher, but later changed his testimony to indicate that he was the one who signed it.
“On issues regarding travel, how do you decide who should travel,” Counsel Gomez asked the witness.
Mr. Cham replied that it depends on the program in question, adding that if the program is related to a particular department, then the staff of that department will be the first priority and management will make a decision.
“The people to represent the council should have a degree in their official capacity and in their expertise, to represent the Council. But that is not what you see here,” lead Counsel Gomez told the witness to which he agreed.
Sittings continue.
