By Adama Makasuba
The Gambia Ports Authority has asked the Police to help investigate a corruption claim within its Rating Unit.
At least four suspected staffs of the Gambia Ports Authority already suspended pending an outcome of the launched investigation.
The Seaport is expected to publish its preliminary findings into the scandal on Wednesday.
“As we anticipate the initially constituted investigative committee is to submit its findings on Wednesday, 16th March 2022, we wish to inform that the issue of revenue shortage and suspected fraud at the Rating Unit of the GPA has been handed over to the Police to assist in the investigations,” the Ports management stated in a statement.
However the statement states that “We wish to inform members of the public that whistle-blower information raised an issue about signals of likelihood of leakages. Subsequently, the matter was raised and discussed at a management meeting held on Monday 28th February, 2022. Immediately, precisely on Tuesday 1st March, 2022, a memo was issued constituting a three-member committee, excluding the affected Department, to investigate the drop in shore handling revenue covering from 2020 and 2021 and report back on Wednesday 16th March, 2022.
“Apparently, on Thursday 3rd March, an alleged ‘multi-million-dalasi scandal’ broke on What’s On Gambia indicting the Authority. This remains an allegation until proven by the outcome of the investigation. However, four staff suspected of the allegation have been interdicted pending the investigation outcome,” GPA said in a statement earlier.
