By Yankuba Jallow
In a public hearing before the Local Government Commission of Inquiry on Wednesday, former Brikama Area Council (BAC) Chairman Sheriffo Sonko and former Chief Executive Officer Modou Jonga faced tough questioning over their handling of the Geology Funds—monies allocated for community development for areas where mining takes place.
The Commission, tasked with investigating the financial and administrative practices of local councils between May 2018 and January 2023, focused on transactions involving the Geology Funds during Sonko and Jonga’s tenure. Jonga served as CEO from November 1, 2019, to February 2024, while Sonko held the position of Chairman from May 2018 to May 2023.
Sonko distanced himself from knowledge of the specific transactions related to the funds, stating he was not aware of them. Asked about BAC’s payment procedures, Jonga outlined the process, saying requests originate from user departments and proceed through the procurement unit and internal audit for pre-editing.
Lead Counsel Patrick Gomez pressed for clarification on the Chairman’s role in financial decisions. Jonga replied, “Sometimes [Sonko] is informed about payments but sometimes he is not aware.” He said he informed both the council and the Chairman about the receipt of the Geology Funds during a council meeting, the minutes of which he was instructed to present.
“I informed them the funds are for the quarry operations and for community development,” Jonga said.
According to Jonga, during that meeting, councillors were encouraged to submit proposals for funding. Only Gunjur, Kartong, and Pirang wards submitted proposals, which were reviewed against the council’s strategic plan and forwarded to the finance department. He added that other wards where mining occurs—Sanyang, Kafuta, Bullock, and Giboro—did not submit proposals in 2021.
Jonga provided the submitted ward proposals, ward committee meeting minutes, and pay slips as evidence, all of which were admitted. Some councillors had accused the council of denying them the opportunity to access the funds, but Jonga insisted they were all notified.
He testified that a second disbursement occurred in 2023 and D11.8 million of the D33.7 million total Geology Funds was disbursed to wards. However, evidence before the Commission reflected only D3.8 million.
Jonga admitted to using part of the funds to repay bank loans and overdrafts, a move he acknowledged was inappropriate.
“We could not stick to the course,” Jonga said. “We were taking overdrafts from the bank to pay salary.”
Pressed on who authorized the payments, Jonga said the council did not operate within the thresholds required by the Financial Manual. He acknowledged he approved all the expenditures himself and occasionally informed the Chairman.
Gomez revealed that council staff made significant withdrawals from the Geology Funds. On October 28, 2021, Amadou Touray withdrew D1 million, D500,000, and D855,300, while the next day Omar Saidykhan withdrew D400,000 and D425,000. Jonga said the funds were used for salary payments and claimed a reconciliation had been done, promising to provide proof. He emphasized that Sonko was unaware of most of these transactions.
Jonga also admitted using some funds for road rehabilitation projects without involving the Chairman or council. He maintained that while the Chairman and council were aware of signed contracts, he independently authorized payments to fulfill those obligations.
He conceded his decisions were improper and repeatedly admitted diverting the Geology Funds for unrelated expenditures.
“The money sinks,” Gomez said. “Because you have negative balances.”
“Yes,” Jonga admitted.
Jonga explained the rationale behind his actions, stating the intention was to replenish the funds with future council revenue—revenue that never materialized.
“Unfortunately, the funds never come,” he said, admitting his conduct was unlawful.
Presented with the Memorandum of Understanding between BAC and the Department of Geology, Jonga acknowledged he knew the purpose of the funds but chose to use them otherwise.
“You might have good intentions, but that is subjective. You don’t run the area council based on what you think,” Gomez said.
Jonga agreed: “My action was improper.”
On October 26, 2021, the council received D4,169,708.79 as Geology Funds while the account balance was negative D2.5 million. Most of the funds were used to pay off debts, leaving a balance of D1.6 million. Jonga said Sonko was unaware of the loans and overdrafts and admitted he did not know that ministerial approval was required to secure such financial obligations.
Later, the Commission called Mam Sait Jallow, another former BAC CEO who served from May 2018 to October 2019, to answer questions about honorarium payments to councillors. Jallow said the payments were not authorized by the council, and he could not confirm whether the Chairman was aware. He said the honoraria were for councillors doing work outside their official duties.
Turning to the controversial 5C Energy contract, Jallow testified that BAC initially negotiated with a company called Qlink, which later pulled out, leading to the engagement of 5C Energy Gambia Limited. Gomez questioned Jallow about a discrepancy in the baseline revenue figures—D68 million presented to the company versus the council’s actual baseline of D78 million. Jallow said the reduction resulted from removing market and car park revenues, which the 5C contract supposedly did not cover.
Gomez challenged that claim, stating the contract did not include an exclusion clause. Jallow responded that the markets were not listed, implying exclusion, but Gomez insisted the contract covered all revenue streams.
The Commission also examined BAC’s D12.5 million truck purchase from 5C Energy. Jallow said the acquisition was done on a hire purchase basis due to lack of funds, but Gomez pressed him on the failure to follow procurement rules.
“The issue is why did you not follow?” Gomez asked.
Jonga responded, “The council did not have the funds.”
“Is that the justification?” Gomez replied.
“No,” Jonga said.
Both Jonga and Sonko are scheduled to reappear before the Commission on Monday.
