By Makutu Manneh
The Local Government Commission of Inquiry on Tuesday continued with its investigation into the transparency and accountability of a 2020 procurement deal between the Banjul City Council (BCC) and businessman Musa Dem, worth over D1.3 million, for the supply of 3,000 coconut seedlings and 440 bags of organic fertiliser.
Appearing before the Local Government Commission of Inquiry, Dem admitted that only 420 bags of fertiliser were delivered, not 440 as recorded. This discrepancy, along with unclear pricing and lack of documentation raised alarm bells for Lead Counsel Patrick Gomez, who grilled the witness over inconsistencies and a seeming lack of expertise.
“Your business is not known for supplying seedlings or fertiliser. How did you land this contract?” Gomez asked.
Dem conceded that his business had no track record in agriculture supply, claiming instead that he had made a similar delivery under former President Yahya Jammeh’s government. When asked whether he secured the BCC deal through personal connections, Dem declined to respond.
Missing Prices, Missing Paper Trail
Dem was unable to recall how much he charged BCC per coconut seedling, nor could he present any invoice, stating he lost many documents during an office relocation two years ago.
“That’s what everybody says here—that they don’t remember,” Gomez responded sharply. “You don’t know the price per coconut. This is not your business. If it were, you’d know everything.”
Dem said he sourced the seedlings from Senegal, explaining that local prices in The Gambia—about D500 per seedling—would have made his bid uncompetitive. Yet when pressed for the actual price he charged BCC, he again claimed no recollection.
His explanation for fertiliser procurement was similarly vague. He said he bought the 420 bags from Abuko, but couldn’t say what the market price was or how much he paid per bag.
“How can you get this business and be paid over a million dalasi and not know anything about the prices?” Gomez asked in disbelief.
Dem replied, “Whenever an opportunity comes, I find out about the product and prices at that time.”
Gomez questioned whether that meant Dem pursued tenders regardless of qualifications or knowledge. Dem agreed: “Sometimes I apply even if I am not an expert. It’s just a matter of purchasing and supplying.”
The lawyer responded, “If that’s the case, then you should at least be able to answer questions about what you delivered.”
Dem said the contract was signed with BCC and that he was contacted via email. He provided a printed copy of the tender email and the contract, which the Commission accepted into evidence.
A second witness, Momodou Lamin Kinteh, a gardener, also appeared before the Commission. He testified about two separate contracts he held with BCC in 2022, valued at D205,000 and D300,000 respectively.
Kinteh said he signed a contract for the first job but claimed a fire incident destroyed his documents. He stated that he was paid D180,000 via Trust Bank, and was not paid in full because some plants were not supplied due to a dispute over pricing.
“I was to supply Christmas trees costing D1,500 each, but they said they thought the cost was D150,” he told the Commission.
Regarding the second contract, Kinteh said no formal bidding process took place. “I was just called because I worked with them before,” he said. He submitted an invoice and began delivering without a signed contract. He mentioned Alfusainey Gano as one of the officials he coordinated with.
Kinteh admitted he had no delivery notes for the trees supplied and requested time to gather and submit that information.
More witnesses are expected to appear before the Commission as it continues to dig into BCC’s financial and administrative records and other local councils across the country.
