By Mama A. Touray
The Basse Area Council(BsAC) announced on Friday that its former CEO and finance director have been sacked for “robbing” the council’s treasury.
Ex-acting CEO Bai Gibbi Sallah and former finance director Lamin Jassey were last Friday sent home following the passing of resolutions at the 5th General Council Meeting.
According to a press release issued to this medium on Friday, the sackings came after BsAC’s audit sub-committee found out that a certain Alieu Jawo withdrew D10,000 from the council’s account without it being supported by any voucher or an activity headline. The release added that Sallah, in cahoots with Jassey, withdrew D40,000 from the council’s account on 12 August 2023, without any voucher or activity headline.
“The Committee considered these withdrawals as robbery and illegal after the Acting CEO admitted and took full responsibility for the malpractices. The committee recommended the repayment of these monies and called for the dismissal of the two officials with immediate effect,” the release stated.
The councilors have passed a resolution that any financial transaction exceeding D1,000,000 should not be approved without the Chairman’s consent. They also passed a resolution that any amount beyond this threshold should be approved only by the General Council.
Meanwhile, BsAC said one-time CEO Ousman Touray and former finance director Lamin Suso have been sent on administrative leave since June this year. This decision, according to the council, was reached after the duo was adversely mentioned in financial malpractices in the immediate-past council.
“The Basse Area Council reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring a transparent and corrupt-free Council in its quest to restore the trust and confidence of the public in the institution,” BsAC said in its release.
