By Makutu Manneh
Mr Modou Jonga, a former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Brikama Area Council (BAC) continuing his testimony before the Local Government Commission of Inquiry (LGCI), explained to the commission that they operated several accounts because the banks would not agree to pay their yearly trade license fees to a different bank.
He said when the National Audit Office (NAO) recommended for BAC to close down some of their accounts, the council tried but failed because of these conditions laid down by the banks.
Witness Jonga added that he knows there should be one revenue account, but said he inherited these different accounts, arguing that “probably it could be the policies of the banks. These are the challenges we faced.”
“That has been the norm and the banks will say they will only pay their operational fees to our account in their bank and most often that explains why these accounts are dormant.
So we only operate the account when we want to have access to the revenue paid in that account.”
At this juncture, Chairperson Janiaba Bah intervened and told Jonga that could not be the case because the banks are under the laws of the Gambia and the council is an independent institution required under the law to collect tax.
“The banks do not have a choice or a right to refuse the council directing them to pay their fees into a designated account. The banks have no right to condition the council,” he said.
On the issue of the council’s 2020 and 2021 auction, witness Jonga said for the 2020 auction, the Auction Committee did not submit any report, adding that the only report they obtained was the one submitted by the Finance Manager.
He further informed the commission that they asked the committee through the chairperson to submit a report, but it was not done.
Witness Jonga testified that he took another step by asking the police to investigate the matter surrounding the auction.
He said after the investigations, the Police submitted a report to the BAC. The commission instructed him to provide them with this report.
For the 2021 auction, he said a report was submitted. The 2022 internal audit report has indicated that during their review of the contract committee meeting, it was mentioned by the committee chairman, Ebriama Sawaneh, that they generated One Million, Two Hundred and Twenty-nine Thousand and Six Hundred Dalasi from the auction, in which an amount of One Million, One Hundred and Twenty-three Thousand and One Hundred Dalasi was deposited into the council’s account and the outstanding balance of One Hundred and Three Thousand Five Hundred Dalasi was later paid to the account.
The internal audit of the council added that they had several consultations with the Auction Committee chairman to avail them with deposit slips, but that has never been provided to the audit team for verification.
The audit team said due to this, the One Million, Two Hundred and Twenty-nine Thousand and Six Hundred Dalasi is in limbo because they cannot have any meaningful response from the committee about the auction fund.
Witness Jonga informed the Commission that they were able to have the statements indicating deposits of the sum of one million Dalasi in the name of Lamin Suso.
The witness further stated that with regards to the balance, it was concluded that it was recovered through the courts, but that the contract of the prosecutor at the court has ended therefore they cannot get records of the recovery of the balance of One Hundred and Three Thousand and Five Hundred Dalasi.
He told the commission that he could provide them with reports and details surrounding these auctions. He was told by the Commission to provide the documents.
