By Makutu Manneh
Assan A. Jallow, an internal auditor at the Banjul City Council (BCC), testified before the Local Government Commission of Inquiry, claiming that an imprest of D300,000 (approximately $15,000) was given to Mayor Rohey Malick Lowe without justification.
Jallow presented a voucher to the commission on Monday, which he said was signed by CEO Batchilly and Finance Director Cham, but notably bypassed the internal audit process.
According to Jallow, the funds were not retired, and the payment lacked appropriate authorization.
The auditor also introduced draft audit reports for 2021 and 2022 into evidence, detailing various financial discrepancies within the council. Jallow cited questionable payments to the Refela secretariat, a group introduced to the council by Mayor Lowe. While the internal audit could not ascertain the purpose or legitimacy of these expenditures, payments were made to various individuals, including Isatou Njie, Musukebba Cham, Ndey Fatima Jammeh, and Ebou Drammeh, all of whom were reportedly involved with Refela but lacked justification for their salaries, according to Jallow.
“There is no explanation for these payments,” Jallow said. “The internal audit team had no idea who they were, nor why they were being paid.”
Further testimony revealed that the internal audit unit was often bypassed in BCC’s financial processes. Jallow reported that numerous payments were made without internal oversight, and that management consistently ignored audit queries.
Jallow noted that relations between the internal audit team and BCC management, particularly with CEO Batchilly and Director of Administration Yusupha Jallow, had deteriorated. He explained that, instead of promoting one of the internal audit members, the council hired an external director for the audit department, which further strained the team’s authority.
The auditor also shared that management had attempted to transfer him to a different department, a move he rejected, claiming it was retaliation for his refusal to overlook financial irregularities.
“These actions are not in line with ethical standards,” Jallow stated, reflecting on the challenges he has faced since joining the council in 2018.
In a final note of frustration, Jallow disclosed that BCC has never provided him with a laptop, forcing him to rely on borrowed equipment to complete his audit work. The inquiry continues as the commission seeks to unravel the full extent of these allegations.
