By Kemeseng Sanneh (Kexx)
Concerns over transparency, strained finances, and staff representation have ignited discontent among workers at Gamcel, the national mobile service provider, following a recent Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the company’s staff cooperative credit union.
The AGM, held last Saturday in Bakau, was meant to present the 2024 financial report of the credit union. However, several staff members — speaking on condition of anonymity — say the process this year was shrouded in opacity, alleging that only selected individuals were allowed to attend, deviating from past practice where all staff were invited.
“This is the first time we have seen such selective attendance,” one employee said. “In the past, everyone was given a chance to attend and ask questions. This time, only a few people, those close to management, were allowed in.”
Adding to the frustration was the absence of media at the AGM — a departure from previous years where journalists were invited, reportedly in the interest of openness.
At the heart of the discontent is the staff’s longstanding inability to verify the status of their salary deductions for both social security and credit union contributions. Workers said they have repeatedly asked for financial clarity, only to be left in the dark.
But in a rare and candid interview, Gamcel’s General Manager, Fatou Fatty, acknowledged the financial strain the company is under — confirming that while staff salaries continue to be deducted for social security and the credit union, the funds have not been remitted.
“We are deducting their salary for their social security and credit union, but we have not yet paid it to the various institutions,” Ms. Fatty said, attributing the shortfall to severe financial difficulties.
Gamcel’s revenue, she explained, has dropped by over 50 percent, mainly due to increasing competition from more technologically advanced network providers. “Comium came back with their 4G while we’re still on 2G and 3G. We just don’t have the infrastructure to compete. We’re barely surviving.”
Ms. Fatty painted a stark picture of Gamcel’s day-to-day financial juggling — from covering D5 million in monthly salaries with inconsistent income, to having to choose between operational essentials and statutory obligations.
“You might receive D500,000 one week, D1 million another, but you still need fuel, cash power, materials for printing bills. If we pay contributions, then we won’t be able to keep operations running.”
While acknowledging that the unpaid contributions are a concern, she emphasized that the current approach was meant to ensure employees continue to receive their basic monthly wages. “The money isn’t there. It’s not that we’re keeping it — we just don’t have it,” she said.
Ms. Fatty also noted that the company has not been able to pay taxes to the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA), which has opted not to enforce collections, understanding the company’s situation.
She revealed that recent staff layoffs — another source of concern among employees — were not initiated by Gamcel management but stemmed from a government directive. She cited a consultant’s report, backed by the Cabinet, which found that Gamcel’s wage bill exceeded its revenue.
“Our revenue is four million dalasis. Salaries alone are five million. So, the government stepped in with a social plan,” she said, adding that compensation for affected permanent staff ranged from D450,000 to D1 million. However, she admitted that contract staff were excluded due to limitations in funding.
Regarding the credit union AGM, Ms. Fatty distanced herself and Gamcel management from its organization, explaining that the credit union is independently managed and governed by the National Association of Cooperative Credit Unions of The Gambia (NACCU).
“I was invited, but I couldn’t attend. As for who got selected as representatives, I wasn’t involved in that process,” she clarified.
Her explanation was echoed by staff representative Burama Darboe, who revealed that NACCU had decided to limit this year’s AGM to a delegate-based format after tensions in previous congresses. Each department was asked to send one representative. “I was given ten invitation cards, which I distributed to department heads to nominate delegates,” he said.
This clarification provided context for the restricted attendance, suggesting it was a compliance measure guided by NACCU, not a decision imposed by Gamcel leadership.
