By Kebba AF Touray
The National Audit Office (NAO), on Thursday, 24 April, 2025, launched a whopping Strategic Plan amounting to one billion six hundred and sixteen million nine hundred and twenty-seven thousand and nine hundred Dalasi (D1,616,922,900.00).
The ambitious strategic plan, which covers the period 2025-2029, seeks to complement the National Development Plan 2023-2027 priorities for the NAO.
The plan is aligned with the NDP, which highlights, amongst others, the need to strengthen the administrative and financial independence of the NAO, to deliver on its mandate, and to strengthen the relationship with the National Assembly for greater oversight of the audit reports.
Binta Touray, the Communication and Visibility Expert of the NAO, said that the participants present “underscore the significance of the word National in the name of the institution National Audit Office.”
The strategic document, she said, is a reflection of the leadership role of the Auditor General as established by the 1997 Constitution of the Gambia, “which tasks him with auditing and reporting to the National Assembly on the use and management of public resources.”
Auditor General (AG) of the NAO Modou Ceesay said that the new strategic document outlines the objectives of the NAO for the next five years, serving as a testament to his renewed commitment as Auditor General to continue strengthening the office in executing his constitutional mandate.
He said that the strategic document is essential for the NAO, as it drives the SAI to produce work that contributes to improving performance in the public sector and addressing societal challenges, a statement that embodies the primary objectives of the Supreme Audit Institutions, as established under principle 12 of International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI).
He stated that the fundamental principle is to ensure that SAI strengthens the accountability, transparency, and integrity of government and public sector entities, demonstrating ongoing relevance to citizens, parliament, and other stakeholders. Ceesay vowed to make the audit office a model organization.
To achieve the identified strategic outputs, he said that they have prioritised the institutional capacities that need to be developed.
These capacities include, but are not limited to, governance systems of the NAO, Independence, Audit Standards and Methodology, HR and Professional Development, Quality Management, ICT and Communication, and Stakeholder Engagement.
He reiterated that the successful implementation of this Strategic Plan depends on the contributions of every stakeholder group represented here today.
“Thus, while the document is under the custodianship of the NAO, its impact ultimately benefits the citizens of our country, in line with the Auditor General’s mandate,” said AG Ceesay.
Deliberating on the crucial role of NAO in supporting the oversight function of the National Assembly over public institutions, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Fabakary Tombong Jatta, said, “Strategic planning is used as a tool for improving efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery. It ensures that public sector institutions define their strategic directions and make informed and appropriate decisions regarding resource allocation.”
Speaker Jatta said that the collaboration between the National Audit Office and the National Assembly to hold the government to account is what enables good governance to thrive, curbs corruption, guarantees respect for the rule of law, and expansion of the democratic space.
He said, “The NAO is an authoritative source of information and advice to the National Assembly to help hold the Government to account more effectively. It is also widening its reach in the Assembly, improving its communications and putting more emphasis on building relationships with Hon. Members of the National Assembly and staff.”
The four strategic outcomes that the NAO aspires to achieve are enhanced Independence of the NAO, increased Public Trust in the NAO, Improved Public Sector Financial Reporting, and Improved Management of Public Resources.
