By Makutu Manneh
The Acting License Manager of the Banjul City Council (BCC), Pa Modou Ndow, is under investigation after millions of dalasis were deposited into his personal bank account while he oversaw trade license collections. Appearing before the Local Government Commission of Inquiry three times in March 2025, Ndow was grilled over unexplained cash inflows as the Commission probed financial irregularities in local councils between 2018 and 2023.
Ndow, who joined BCC in February 2019 after leaving Rapid Security Company, testified that his role involved billing businesses for trade licenses and issuing invoices while revenue collectors handled fee collection in designated zones. Instead of depositing funds into a bank, he stated that the collectors handed the money to the BCC cashier. He presented a flash drive containing the trade license register from 2019 to 2023, explaining that the register predated his tenure and was updated annually to reflect business openings and closures.
However, scrutiny intensified when Lead Counsel Patrick Gomez presented Ndow’s Eco Bank account statement, which was admitted into evidence. The records showed a series of high-value deposits:
- 2020
- February 10 – D20,000
- February 17 – D100,000
- February 24 – D80,000
- February 28 – D178,500
- March 9 – D125,000
- March 16 – D140,000
- March 23 – D45,000
- 2021
- January 5 – D100,000
- January 7 – D100,000
- February 8 – D174,600
- February 15 – D663,769.21
- February 22 – D130,000
- March 8 – D205,000
- 2022
- January 17 – D304,500
- January 28 – D170,000
- February 4 – D150,000
- February 14 – D140,000
- February 24 – D330,000
According to Commission Chairperson Jainaba Bah, the total deposits amounted to D4,772,549.16. When asked to explain the source of these funds, Ndow initially claimed they came from his sister abroad for a construction project. He said he exchanged foreign currency in small amounts before making deposits. Pressed further, he admitted that not all the funds were from his sister, stating, “Every person makes side money.” When asked to specify, he added, “In this country, there are some side hustles that you cannot disclose.”
Ndow also testified that trade license revenue in Banjul increased from D24 million to D40 million after he took office in 2019. However, he admitted to using personal discretion when billing businesses, as no formal assessment system was in place. While the finance manager handled invoicing for major institutions such as banks and the Gambia Ports Authority, Ndow said he determined fees for commercial businesses. In some cases, he relied on self-assessment, particularly in the construction sector, where fees were set without expert evaluation.
Under official regulations, Class A contractors (contracts worth D5 million or more) were required to pay D100,000 annually, Class B contractors (D3.5 million contracts) paid D50,000, and Class C contractors (contracts between D2 million and D3.5 million) paid D25,000. However, Ndow acknowledged that many construction companies were not paying as required. “We charge companies only once per year, not per contract, even though the gazette says otherwise,” he admitted.
Ndow also disclosed that poultry and livestock vendors were charged daily instead of annually, despite the official gazette mandating an annual fee of D1,500 for frozen goods vendors and D500 for live bird sellers. Counsel Gomez pointed out that while this system generated additional revenue for the council, it placed an unfair burden on vendors. Ndow defended the practice, stating, “It is a management decision.”
When asked about his personal assets, Ndow revealed that he owns two plots of land—one in Jambajelly, which he purchased, and one in Banjul, inherited from his family—as well as a 2015 Nissan Pathfinder. The Commission has requested further documentation to verify his claims regarding the bank deposits and assess whether trade license revenues were properly accounted for.
The inquiry into BCC’s financial practices continues, with investigators scrutinizing revenue management, collection procedures, and the unexplained accumulation of wealth among council officials.
