By Kebba AF Touray
The Finance and Public Accounts Committee (FPAC) of The Gambia’s National Assembly has officially called for clarifications from the management of Farafenni General Hospital concerning a procurement totaling D2, 031,973.40. This urgent request arises from revelations found in the Committee’s report regarding the 2020 audited accounts of the Gambian government, which was presented to the plenary by Hon. Alagie S. Darboe, FPAC’s Chairperson.
In his report, Hon. Darboe highlighted significant concerns related to the hospital’s procurement activities. The Committee identified that a total of D1, 204.17 was procured in 2020, alongside the aforementioned amount in 2021, without adhering to the necessary government procurement processes outlined by the Gambia Public Procurement Authority (GPPA). Additionally, the Committee noted that the hospital failed to meet several minimum staffing standards mandated by the Ministry of Health, including a lack of peri-operative and public health officers, indicating widespread understaffing across various categories within the hospital.
The investigation also uncovered unresolved financial discrepancies, such as Cheque No. 05005616 issued for D59,587.40 to Jah Oil on May 7, 2018. According to the report, this cheque remains uncashed, marking it as stale in the hospital’s 2020 and 2021 bank reconciliations.
Moreover, further scrutiny revealed that procurements worth D1,474,879.50 were made without adhering to the standard requirement of obtaining three quotations. Hon. Darboe expressed concerns over substantial maintenance contracts valued at D933, 772.00, which were executed without competitive bidding, surpassing the GPPA threshold of D500,000 that necessitates a formal tender process.
In light of these findings, FPAC has issued recommendations aimed at addressing the highlighted issues. The Committee has mandated the CEO of Farafenni General Hospital to provide a detailed explanation within 30 days detailing the non-compliance with GPPA requirements. Furthermore, FPAC has called for a swift resolution to the hospital’s staffing challenges, urging the CEO to consult with the Board and the relevant line Ministry to rectify these urgent issues.
Lastly, Hon. Darboe informed the legislature that FPAC has recommended the GPPA initiate an investigation into the hospital’s procurement practices and report back to the Committee within the same 30-day time frame. The developments underscore a critical need for accountability and transparency in the hospital’s financial management, ensuring better service delivery and compliance with national procurement standards.
