By: Kebba AF Touray
The Finance and Public Accounts Committee of the Gambia’s National Assembly (FPAC) has said that auditors reported twenty-one million dalasis worth of missing payment vouchers during the audit of the financial reports of the Gambia College.
This was reported during the plenary session by the Chairperson of FPAC, Hon. Alhagie S. Darboe, who is also the National Assembly Member for Brikama North while tabling the report of the Committee on the 2019 accounts of the government and the financial statements of agencies, institutions, municipalities, and Area Councils.
According to Hon. Darboe, key findings and observations made by FPAC during their interface with the board and management of the Gambia College unveiled that D21 million worth of missing payment vouchers and investment certificates were queried by the auditors. He said that this came when the Gambia College presented its annual activity report and audited financial statement for the year ended 31st December 2018 to the National Assembly.
Darboe said the activity reports and financial statements for 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 remain outstanding, and that the GPPA’s draft compliance reports on Gambia College for 2019 and 2020, were also not finalized. He reported that key findings and observations that the committee made during the interface with the Governing Council and Management of Gambia College, include a draft management letter sent to Gambia College in November 2021 by the auditor and that the management responses of the Gambia College were received ten months ago. He said the committee observed that auditors decried the lack of cooperation from Gambia College, especially from the Board Chairperson. After involving the Auditor General’s Office, Darboe added that the Gambia College’s behavior remained unacceptable, recommending the Gambia College to respect the agreed time frame with external auditors.
“Gambia College must provide all missing vouchers to auditors by the end of October 2023. Failure to present vouchers to the auditors shall result in sanctions being imposed on the responsible parties,” Hon. Darboe said.
