The Kanifing General Hospital Management has reacted to The Voice newspaper publication of 30th April 2021 and demands for an apology from the management of the newspaper for publishing a wrong figure on the said issue of Friday 30th April 2021 with the caption Serekunda Hospital: Senior Officials Allegedly Involved in Misappropriation of D700, 000.00.
According to Kanifing General Hospital Management the total cash shortage was five hundred and nine-two thousand and twenty-five dalasis (GMD 592,025.00) and not seven hundred thousand (GMD700,000.00) as reported previously in this medium.
The KGH also stated that the missing funds were indeed detected by the hospital Principal Accountant and not the Auditors as reported by the paper.
However, the Management of The Voice newspaper does apologize for the wrong quoted figures and any inconvenience it might have caused as Kanifing General Hospital Management described as ‘ baseless, malicious and intended to smear the enviable reputation of the institution and its management.’
However, below is the full statement of the Kanifing General Hospital signed by Kebba Manneh, Chief Executive Officer of the hospital:
5th May 2021
Ref: KGH/CEO/001/052021
The Management Director
The Voice Newspaper
32 Sayer Jobe Avenue (Opposite Trust Bank)
Serekunda
Kanifing Municipalty
Dear Mr. Musa S. Sheriff
Re: Serekunda Hospital: Senior Officials Allegedly Involved in Misappropriation of D700,00.00
The attention of the Kanifing General Hospital Management (formerly Serekunda General Hospital) was drawn to the Friday 30th April, 2021 publication of your newspaper with the caption Serekunda Hospital: Senior Officials Involved in Misappropriation of D 700,000.00.
I wish to make it clear to you and your esteemed readership that the allegations against the Senior Management of the Hospital are baseless, malicious and intended to smear the enviable reputation of the Institution and its Management.
According to the article, it was alleged that the Chief Executive Officer-Mr. Kebba Manneh Principal Accountant-Mr. David Bass, Administration Manager (Hospital Administrator)-Mr. Baboucarr Saine and Mr. Muhammed Conteh (Accounts Clerk) misappropriated seven hundred thousand dalasis (GMD 700,00.00) belonging to the hospital . This serious and ill motive assertion cannot be further from the truth.
First of all, it is worth mentioning that the total cash shortage was five hundred and ninety-two thousand and twenty-five dalasis (GMD 592,025.00) and not seven hundred thousand dalasis (GMD 700,000.00) as falsely reported by your newspaper. Secondly, the missing funds were indeed detected by the Hospital Principal Accountant and not auditors as wrongly indicated in your publication. The Principal Accountant discovered the significant cash shortage during routine reconciliation and audit of Hospital Accounts. It was realized that Mr. Muhammed Conteh, one of the (Accounts Clerk, assigned the responsibility of depositing the revenue generated by the hospital reneged on his duties led by to heavy financial loss of the hospital.
The Chief Executive Officer was immediately and duly and formally wrote to the Internal Audit Directorate ( Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs) requesting for an Independent audit Kanifing General Hospital Accounts period 1st January 2020 to 30th September 2020 . Mr Muhammed Conteh was understandably placed on administrative leave to avoid any possible interference in the audit process.
The audit exercise revealed missing funds to the tune of five hundred and twenty -two thousand and twenty -five dalasi. Upon receipt of the audit report, the Hospital Management reported the matter to the fraud squad of the Gambia Police Force. Mr. Muhammed Conteh is currently helping the police in their investigation. Therefore, the allegation that the Senior Management connived with Muhammed Conteh to embezzle funds is totally unfounded and intended to tarnish the image of the Chief Executive Officer, Principal Accountant and Hospital Administrator of Kanifing General Hospital.
In addition, there has never been any instance when any of the Senior Managers of the Hospital instructed Mr. Muhammed Conteh to withdraw money for their personal use. In fact, the statement is not only false but illogical. Mr. Muhammed Conteh is not a signatory to any of the hospital accounts and therefore cannot withdraw funds to hand over to Senior Managers as indicated in your Newspaper.
Furthermore, the allegation that the Hospital Management increased the salaries and allowances of Senior Staff leaving our Junior Staff is again unfounded and misleading. Last month, the Hospital Management in the quest to improve performance and raise staff morale, increased certain allowance such as Night Allowance, Cash Handling Allowance, Duty -Room Allowance, In -Charge Allowance and Senior Management Team (SMT) Allowance. As indicated above; it was allowances and not salaries that the Hospital Management increased with the aim of motivating staff particularly junior staff. Also; except for the SMT Allowance; the rest of the allowances affected junior and middle level staff. For instance, night allowances for Support Staff was increased from two hundred dalasis (200.00) to seven hundred and fifty dalasis(750.00).
This category of staff includes orderlies (cleaners), securities, drivers, maintenance workers, etc.
Similarly, the Night Allowance for the Nurse Attendants (Untrained Nurses) was increased from three hundred and fifty dalasi (D350.00) to one thousand dalasis (1000.00). It was important to mention that prior to this increment; Kanifing General Hospital was the Hospital with the lowest Night Allowance. This has been the case for more than a decade. So, if the current Administration increased these allowances out of good faith, we believe it should be appreciated and supported by all.
However, we are aware that some few disgruntled elements who did not benefit from these increments are the ones peddling lies and fabricating unfounded stories just to foment discord and acrimony in the institution.
The Hospital Management would like to state clearly and strongly that it would continue to work towards improving services at the hospital as well as the working condition of all staff regardless of status/position. The Hospital Management will remain focus and steadfast on its reform agenda and not to be distracted by individuals who are up to no good but to create chaos in the institution.
In conclusion, I wish to express our disappointment with the decision by your Newspaper to go ahead with the publication of these false allegations without the Hospital Management’s version on the issue. What is more shocking is that your reporter, Mr Kebba Ansu, was invited by the Chief Executive Officer of the Hospital to set records straight but he failed to honour the invitation.
In view of the forgoing, we hereby demand a rejoinder and an apology within five days from the date mentioned above. The rejoinder and apology should be published on the front page of your Newspaper. Please be informed that the Hospital Management is poised to take legal action rejoinder and tender a publisher apology.
We look forward to the published rejoinder and apology.
Yours sincerely,
Kebba Manneh
Chief Executive Officer
Cc: Permanent Secretary- Ministry of Health
Permanent Secretary- Ministry of Information and Communication
Chairperson-KGH MB
Legal Adviser-KGH MB
President-Gambia Press Union
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