By Makutu Manneh
Mr Ismaila Badjie, a resident of Sutisinjang Village in Foni Berefet and the former Councillor of Bullock Ward, appeared before the Local Government Commission of Inquiry, on Tuesday, 20th August 2024.
He was a member of the VDC/WDR Conflict Resolution Committee and the Market Committee. He served in the Brikama Area Council from 2008 to 2022.
The statement of the witness (Badjie) dated 13 May, 2024, was tendered and admitted in evidence.
He was asked about the Geology Funds that the government periodically sends to the Brikama Area Council (BAC) for the mining communities to benefit. Ex-CEO of BAC, ModouJonga, had previously testified that there were 14 communities where mining activities take place. One of the mentioned communities was Bullock. Ismaila Badjie said he was aware of the Geology Funds, but he did not receive it during his time as Councillor. He added that the issues of the Fund were discussed, but before it was finalised, he had already left the Council.
He testified that in 2019, his ward received Five Hundred Thousand Dalasi (D500,000) as allocation from the Brikama Area Council; adding that it was the only time they received funding from the Brikama Area Council, but it was not the Geology Fund. When asked how the D500,000 was spent, the witness said they purchased 3 milling machines for 3 communities – Bullock, Besse, and Sutisinjang communities. He explained that before the purchase, they obtained different invoices, and it was discussed at the ward level until they decided to take one of the invoices. He testified that Three Hundred and Seventy-Five Thousand Dalasi (D375,000) was spent on the purchase of the machines, and Twelve Thousand Dalasi (D12,000) was spent on the inauguration of the machines. He added that the balance was left in the account untouched.
The Commission moved to the issue of the 1 by 6 allowance he used to receive in the form of advance payment of his salary otherwise qualified as a loan. The witness admitted that he used to take it during festive periods, but he later came to know that it was wrong for him to take a 1 by 6 allowance as it was illegal.
He was also asked about the “Salibo Allowance”. This was given to Councillors during the Koriteh and Tobaski times. Ismaila Badjie said it was an honorarium paid to them by the Council. He confirmed that the only time they received the allowance or the so-called honorarium was during Koriteh and Tobaski feasts.
When asked how the Salibo Allowance came about, the witness said the idea came from some Councillors who discussed and presented the idea to the then Chairman of the Brikama Area Council, Sheriff Sonko.
He testified that there was no council resolution regarding the allowance payment. He was asked what he did to warrant the payment of the honorarium to him. He informed the Commission that he was paid the so-called honorarium without doing anything. He further informed the Commission that he first received Six Thousand Dalasi (D6,000), which steadily increased over the years to Ten Thousand Dalasi (D10,000) as the honorarium.
“The honorarium was totally wrong,” the witness said in admission.
He also testified that he took a loan of Twenty-Five Thousand Dalasi (D25,000) from the Council, but he repaid it.
Readers would recall that the ongoing Commission of Inquiry was established to conduct a full and impartial investigation into the financial and administrative operations of local government councils between May 2018 and January 2023 to enhance transparency and accountability.
Currently, the Commission is doing institutional hearings on the Brikama Area Council after having done the same for Basse, Mansakonko, and Janjanbureh Area Councils.
