By Makutu Manneh
The Chief Executive Officer of the Kuntaur Area Council, Momodou Sambou has admitted before the Local Government Commission of Inquiry that the council bypassed procurement regulations in the purchase of seven motorbikes for the council.
Testifying under questioning from Lead Counsel Patrick Gomez, Sambou acknowledged that the selection process for the supplier was improper. He explained that three different suppliers were invited to submit quotations, and the most responsive bidder was chosen.
“We called the dealers. We got them through findings,” Sambou told the commission. “I may not recall how we got in contact with them. We invited them and asked them to send in their quotations, after which the most responsive bidder was selected.”
Pressed further, Sambou conceded that he had personally contacted the suppliers. He said he analyzed the quotations before forwarding his recommendation to the council’s finance director. Ultimately, Conteh Jula Enterprise was selected as the supplier.
When Counsel Gomez pointed out that the procurement process was conducted without a contract committee, Sambou acknowledged that there was no functioning committee when he assumed office. However, Gomez reminded him that, as CEO, he had the authority to establish one. Sambou responded that he had temporarily appointed individuals to oversee contracts, but admitted they had not received official appointment letters.
“You did pick a supplier without your temporary committee sitting over the matter,” Gomez asserted. “You reviewed the quotations individually.”
Sambou insisted the committee had deliberated on the decision, but could not commit to providing meeting minutes as evidence.
The commission then read aloud a memo Sambou had written to the finance director, in which he unilaterally identified Conteh Jula Enterprise as the contractor. When confronted with this, Sambou did not dispute the content.
Counsel Gomez pressed further about how he determined which bidder was the most responsive, Sambou said the decision was based on price differences among the bidders.
“The amount is not the only determining factor in awarding contracts,” Gomez countered. Sambou admitted the process had been flawed.
The lead counsel also raised concerns about corruption allegations against the council, specifically claims that contractors were required to pay bribes. Sambou denied accepting bribes from Conteh Jula Enterprise and dismissed accusations of frustrating contractors. He added that if such allegations had been made outside the commission’s proceedings, he would have pursued legal action.
Chairperson Jainaba Bah then pointed to a discrepancy in the procurement records: Conteh Jula Enterprise had been awarded the contract, but another company, Happiness Enterprise, had received the payment. Sambou said he had no explanation for the mix-up.
The inquiry also examined the disposal of two council-owned pickup trucks. Sambou said the process had begun before his tenure and that the council had awaited approval from the Gambia Public Procurement Authority (GPPA) when he assumed office. He was asked to provide documentation of that approval.
Regarding how potential buyers were identified, Sambou stated that interested parties had been informed through the officer in charge.
“How does that happen? How do you know the people interested?” Gomez asked.
Sambou struggled to explain.
“Your problem is you want to lie, but you don’t know how to lie,” Gomez said. “Just be truthful—it’s easier. We all know how our institutions work.”
Sambou eventually said he was not involved in the process and could not explain how the buyers were selected.
One of the vehicles, he confirmed, had been purchased by the council chairman for 35,000 dalasi, though the chairman still owed the council an outstanding balance of 15,000 dalasi.
When asked if the vehicle’s price had been set to favour chairman, Sambou denied any wrongdoing.
He could not, however, explain why the chairman’s payment remained incomplete.
