By Adama Makasuba
In its alleged corruption, the Gambia Ports Authority (GPA) preliminary investigation has revealed that demurrage charges were being understated and receipts issued outside of the system. GPA has since suspended four staff over the alleged corruption.
In a statement through its communication officer, Yankuba Manneh read that “As previously reported, the GPA internal investigation panel setup in the wake of fraud allegation at the Rating Unit has submitted its report on Wednesday 16th March, 2022 as assigned.
“The Preliminary findings revealed demurrage charges were being understated and receipts issued outside of the system. According to the report, there was no indication that receipts were duplicated but rather understatement of demurrage charges which accounted for the revenue leakage.”
“It is also worthwhile to state that the average revenue collection at the Rating Unit on annual basis is around D70 million and the report suggests that D25 million may have been unaccounted for 2020 and 2021. We therefore remain optimistic that the exact figure could be ascertained upon completion of the further police investigation. The Management has also reported the matter to the GPA Board of Directors and an emergency meeting of the Board is scheduled for next week to consider the matter,” stated in the statement.
However, Gambia Ports Authority also said: “The Board of Directors of the new Dock Labour Company (Gambia) Ltd. (DLC) on Friday 17th March, 2022 convened its first meeting since its establishment last week.
“The seven-member Board is chaired by Yaya Pito Kassama, a former Managing Director of GPA. The composition includes three members from GPA and the Dockworkers Union each. The private Company, DLC, is co-owned by the GPA and the Dockworkers on 50% shareholding each, while the recommendation is for the GPA to subsequently withdraw its holding in the DLC to allow the Company to be a fully-fledged private entity.
“The new Dock Labour Company is part of the institutional reforms the GPA is implementing, to complement the envisaged infrastructure improvements under the Port Expansion. The main objectives of the new arrangement is to improve stevedoring operations at the Port of Banjul, while addressing workers concerns for improved terms and conditions of employment. The clamour for better terms and conditions has been a perennial issue with the management of Dock Labour in The Gambia since the inception of the Scheme in 1953. The setting up of the DLC coincides with the Golden Jubilee anniversary of the GPA, and Management expects to launch transformative projects in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Port.”