By Makutu Manneh
Samba MK. Leigh, Former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Janjanbureh Area Council, has explained to the Local Government Commission of Enquiry about the strategic development plan contract given to the council’s Chairman Janko Sanneh’s brother, Amadou Sanneh.
He said the chairman introduced his brother to them as the developer of their strategic development plan funded by Action Aid.
Lead Counsel Yakarr Cox asked the witness if this contract has gone through an open tender and witness Leigh replied that the contract has not gone through an open tender.
Council Cox asked him how they would know that they have got the best person and best price for that project if it hadn’t been subjected to open tender.
“This was done by the chairman. The chairman was leading,” the witness said.
Counsel Cox told him that both he (CEO) and chairman have obligations, adding that the chairman does not account for the monies of the council, and as CEO, he should have reminded him what the law said.
Witness Leigh said he did not challenge the chairman nor told him that wasn’t what the law dictated.
An exhibit was shown to the witness with the heading “cost of developing costing for JAC Strategic Plan.”
In it, it was stated that One Hundred and Eight Thousand Dalasi was paid to Amadou and later Seventy-Two Thousand was paid to him.
The counsel informed him that, according to the document, Amadou was assigned to prepare the cost for the strategic development plan and not the strategic development plan itself.
“What I knew was that he was supposed to develop the strategic development plan and not the costing,” the witness said.
“Who planned the actual plan,” council Cox asked.
The witness responded, “This is what I am telling you, I thought Amadou was developing the strategic plan.”
He said he left the council before the completion of the plan.
Counsel Cox told him “So, for a whole year that you have paid him the entire sum of money you haven’t received it. Were you concerned?”
Witness Leigh said he was concerned and used to frequently call him and sometimes they asked his brother (Chairman), who would come to the council and tell them what was to be done.
The counsel asked him whether he finds out when he returned to the council in July 2023. He replied in the affirmative, saying he has the strategic development plan and can provide the commission with it.
He also said he cannot remember if the contract committee of the council has sat over this issue even though he was part of the committee.
“Is Amadou an expert in preparing strategic plans,” Counsel Cox asked.
The witness responded that he does not know but knows that Amadou is an accountant, a qualified consultant and an ACCA holder and also teaches at the University.
He added that when they (Amadou and co.) met with Action Aid, Action Aid agreed that he can do it.
“We trust him that he can do it and when he does it will be a plus,” he said.
He said he could not fully recall but believes that the project was a bit over D3000.
Witness Leigh also told the commission that he could not recall if there was a writer. On the contract between the council and Amadou Sanneh, he said, “Unless if I consult my director or the chairman if we have a contract.”
He agreed that he was the one who should have signed the contract but maintained that he cannot recall signing the contract.
The counsel asked him to find out and provide the commission with the contract.
Leigh said the general council has met on this issue and passed a resolution agreeing to give this contract to Amadou Sanneh.
He was asked to provide the council resolution to the commission.
The witness said the development of the strategic plan was not provided for in the budget.
Counsel Cox informed him that doesn’t he knew that when a project is not included in the budget, it should not be carried out.
The witness insisted that this was a different case because it was funded by the Action Aid and not the council.
The counsel told him that when Action Aid handed over the money to the council, it becomes the council’s and he later agreed that the money became the council’s.
