By Demba Bah
In a move reflecting lessons from the ongoing Local Government Commission of Inquiry, Mayor Rohey Malick Lowe presided over a general council meeting of the Banjul City Council (BCC) on Monday, September 1, 2025, announcing a significant reshuffling of council committees and the introduction of subject-matter experts into all committees.
The mayor said her decision follows revelations from the Commission of Inquiry into Local Government activities, which highlighted concerns over appointments and the absence of qualified personnel in key council committees. Lowe told councillors that she had “learnt her lessons from the Commission of Inquiry,” emphasizing that as the head of the council, she must assume full responsibility for committee appointments and operations.
“I want to be on record that that was a very big mistake. I have to take responsibility. It is through the Local Government Commission of Inquiry that I know that,” she said.
The reshuffle addresses both leadership and expertise within council committees.
“All your committees will now have experts,” she said.
For the Finance Committee, Lowe retained Abdoulie Boss Gaye as chairperson, noting that his extensive tenure provided stability. The mayor said an expert would be sourced from the Ministry of Finance to support the committee’s work.
The Women’s Committee, previously combined with another committee, has been designated a standalone body. Bintou S.M. Jaiteh was appointed chairperson, with Bintou Sonko serving as the committee’s expert. Lowe stressed that all committees will now include experts, a step she described as essential for effective governance.
Bai Essa Ngum was named the expert for the Religious Committee, while Tunko Jammeh was appointed chairperson of the merged Environment and ‘Mbalit’ Committee, with Baboucarr Langley serving as the expert. The Development Committee will be chaired by nominated councillor Abdoulie Krubally, supported by expert Mbugouma Ismaila Jeng.
For the Establishment and Appointment Committee, Deputy Mayor Abdoulie Azize Gaye will serve as chairperson, with Latir Kah designated as expert.
The mayor also outlined the membership of each committee:
Women’s Committee: Bintou S.M. Jaiteh (Chairperson), Fatou Adda Joof, Alagie Sarr (Mia), Ebou Sarr. Sports and Religious Affairs Committee: Pa Mahmoud Ceesay (Chairperson), Fallou Gallas Ceesay, Batholomeu Colley (Bolo), Abdoulie Amar Gaye (Laye Rossi). Environment, Health, Sanitation, and MBALIT Committee: Tunko Jammeh (Chairperson), Sheikh Jaw, Alagie Sarr (Mia). Planning and Development Committee: Abdoulie Boss Gaye, Batholomeu Colley, Sheikh Jaw. Establishment Committee: Abdul Aziz Gaye (Chairperson), Bintou S.M. Jaiteh, Abdoulie Krubally, Fatou Adda Joof, Tunko Jammeh. Finance Committee: Abdoulie Boss Gaye (Chairperson), Abdoulie Amar Gaye, Fallou Gallas Ceesay, Ebou Sarr.
The mayor also proposed co-opting experts into these committees to enhance technical capacity and ensure the council operates efficiently.
Follow-up from Previous Meetings
The September 1 reshuffle builds upon prior council actions. On July 10, 2025, a council meeting presided over by the Deputy Mayor took historic steps to formalize monetary thresholds for council expenditures under Sections 305 & 306 of the Financial Manual for Local Government Authorities.
Under this system:
D0–D25,000: CEO authority
D25,000–D300,000: Lord Mayoress or Deputy Mayor (in her absence)
Above D300,000: General Council approval
The council also reaffirmed the D150,000 Ward Development Vote, with disbursement scheduled no later than August 15. Discussions on the Youth-Led Cleaning Initiative and committee reconstitutions were adjourned for the next sitting.
A resident of Banjul who follows the BCC very closes says Mayor Lowe’s actions signal a new era of governance for BCC, one that emphasizes accountability, professional expertise, and compliance with best practices, lessons drawn from ongoing scrutiny by the Local Government Commission of Inquiry.
“Everything we do now will include the right experts to guide our committees,” Lowe told councillors, stressing that the reshuffle was not only about leadership changes but ensuring technical competence in all council operations.
