The Civil Society Organisations has stepped in to help mend problem between the Kanifing Municipal Council and Ministry of Local Government and Lands over the matter of the council’s suspended CEO.
CSOs call came hours after KMC announced of being under police siege for its refusal to allow the suspended CEO to get into her office on Monday. KMC Mayor Talib Bensouda suspended Sainabou Martin Sonko after she was alleged to have siphoned D12 million from the council, a matter before the police for an investigation.
Speaking at the at council on Monday , Salieu Taal, President of Gambia Bar Association and a senior member of the CSOs, said: “I will like to appeal to both parties, that’s the Ministry (of Local Government and Lands) and the Council (KMC) and the Mayor in resolving the differences and dispute to do so with decorum and respect and in accordance with the law. And I think that’s what we expect in the new Gambia. That is why we even standing here, having this discussion.”
“In line with our duty as civil society, we thought it is important to get all the facts and information and do our utmost to resolving the process in the interest ensuring accountability, respect for rule of law and good governance. Our first port of call was to the Minister and he in short notice he gave us audience, and in our engagement with the Minister, we raised the issue of the PIU primarily and other issues. And he informed us it was not his instruction or the executive instruction to deploy the PIU.
“Notwithstanding, we reminded and advice the Minister that whatever dispute there may be in term of who has what power between the KMC, the Police Service Commission and the council that matter should (be) resolved in accordance with the law and due process,” he added.
“We also reiterate our concerns thankfully when we came. We did not find any PIU officer, which was a kind of relief. We gathered that the tension has de-escalated. So, we also expressed our concerns that we, as CSO, have been keenly following this issue. But we cannot make any comments or discuss the issue, until we have all the facts. All the facts on the public domain, we have actually got those, and we are looking at it. So, we also sought the views and perspectives of the Mayor [Bensouda] and he gave us a very detailed explanation of his position and the council’s position. He also provided us with documentation,” he said.
According to Mr Taal, Minister of Local Government and Lands promised them that his Ministry will continue to engage KMC on basis of powers vested in them on local government act.
