By Mama A. Touray
Director of Procurement Policy and Operations at Gambia Public Procurement Authority (GPPA), Ebrima Sanyang, on Tuesday, before the Local Government Commission of Inquiry revealed that Basse Area Council has recorded 963 (nine hundred and sixty-three) transactions of single sourcing worth D4,708,593.00 (four million seven hundred and eight thousand five hundred and ninety-three dalasi) in 2018.
In his second appearance on Tuesday before the Commission, testified on the 2018 compliance review report. He said, “In 2018, there were 963 transactions of Single Sourcing amounting to Four Million Seven Hundred and Eight Thousand Five Hundred and Ninety-Three dalasi (D4, 708, 593) and there were 27 transactions of request for quotation in 2018 amounting to One Million and Thirty-Eight Thousand Four Hundred and Fifty dalasi (D1, 038, 450)”.
The procurement Policy and Operations Director explained that in 2019, there were 1,413 (one thousand four hundred and thirteen) transactions of single sourcing amounting to D8, 424,728 .9)Eight Million Four Hundred and Twenty-Four Thousand Seven Hundred and Twenty-Eight, Nine Bututs) while there were 60 (sixty) transactions through a request for quotation amounting to D2,683,871.10 (Two Million Six Hundred and Eighty-Three Thousand Eight Hundred and Seventy-One Dalasi and Ten Bututs).
“In 2020, there were 1,251 (One Thousand Two Hundred and Fifty-One) transactions of single sourcing amounting to D9,965,951.44 (Nine Million Nine Hundred and Sixty-Five Thousand Nine Hundred and Fifty-One Dalasi Forty-Four Bututs (D9,965,951.44) and thirteen (13) transactions done through a request for quotation amounting to D4,720,020 (Four Million Seven Hundred and Twenty Thousand and Twenty Dalasi),” he stated.
Director Sanyang said in 2021, there were eight hundred and eighty-eight transactions of single sourcing amounting to Seven Million Four Hundred and Thirty-Seven thousand Nine Hundred and Thirty Dalasi Thirteen Bututs (D7, 437,930.13). And that there were seven (7) transactions of request for quotation amounting to Four Hundred and Twenty-Six Thousand dalasi (D426,400).
He informed the commission that in 2019, Basse Area Council scored 60% meaning they were partially compliant but in 2020 and 2021, they scored 78% which means the area council was mainly compliant.
The Director of Procurement Policy and Operations at GPPA also informed the Local Government Commission of Inquiry (LGCI) that individuals in the Basse Area Council conducted procurement of fuel in 2018 bypassing amounting to Four Hundred and Forty-Six Thousand Three Hundred and Ninety-Three Dalasi (D446,393). He testified that the procurement unit did not conduct the procurement of fuel instead – individuals did it.
Sanyang also testified that the review of procurement transactions of fuel showed that 84 transactions were conductedwithout the involvement of the Specialized Procurement Unit (SPU) for the year ended 2018. This he said means the procurements were done by individuals and that the total spent on fuel without the involvement of the procurement unit amounted to Four Hundred and Forty-Six Thousand Three Hundred and Ninety-Three Dalasi (D446,393).
Sanyang went on to disclose that the transactions were conducted by CEO Ousman Touray of the Basse Area Councilby himself.
Highlighting the implications, he said “The implication for bypassing the procurement unit is very serious as it might result in procurements being individualized for personal gains since there is lack of proper control and supervision on the side of the procurement unit. And the accountability and transparency of the procurements may be compromised”.
He explained that bypassing of the procurement unit by individuals causes the use of the wrong procedure, which can lead to wrong award decisions and that value for money cannot be assured.
Director Sanyang stated that GPPA strongly recommended that the procurement unit should handle all procurement functions, including Fuel, Catering, Rental and Medical Insurance, and any other procurement-related activity with immediate effect as provided for in GPPA (Amendment) Act 2018. GPPA also recommended that the Basse Area Council procurement unit should ensure periodic market surveys to be carried out and inform the Contracts Committee accordingly.
