By Mama A. Touray
Following the disclosure of the Basse Area Council (BsAC) revenue collector’s testimonies at the ongoing Local Government Commission of Inquiry (LGCI) sitting at Djembe Hotel, Senegambia, the communication officer of the council has disclosed that the new council officials inherited a bad system with no financial discipline from the ones.
The communication officer, Foday Manneh, on Monday, told this medium that the new council inherited a bad system with no financial discipline from the former council.
He said, “The new council inherited a very bad system with no financial discipline, and that resulted in this current situation. The council is doing its best to ensure such are addressed at a specific targeted time”.
Mr. Foday admitted in an interview with this medium that BasseArea Council has not paid the salaries of some staff for three months now due to the huge financial challenges it is facing.
He, however, stated that the council is also working on a situational report to be able to inform the public and the people of the Upper River Region about what is happening and what they have found in the office to ensure transparency and accountability.
He added that the situational report will be out soon and a press briefing will be held in time.
It could be recalled that the revenue collectors of Basse Area Council on Thursday 31st August 2023 testified at the commission that it has been three months and the council has not paid their salaries.
Suma Jallow a revenue collector of the council told the commission that Basse Area Council has failed to pay their three (3) month salary, adding that “Council is bankrupt. Any money you deposit in the bank, it sinks”.
“Lamin Suso stole all our money. He ate all our money and If not for the respect for the law, we the people of Basse, will beat Suso to death” the witness stated at the LGCI.
Muhammed Susso who gave his testimony on Monday also told the commission that for three (3) months the workers of the area council have not received their monthly salary.
Adding that “The money was misused, the money did not go through the right direction and everyone is complaining about Director of Finance Lamin Suso,” the witness said.
