By: Momodou Justice Darboe & Binta Jaiteh
The Gambia Radio continues to suffer interruptions in the middle of broadcasts despite “benefitting” from the D34M that was reportedly given to it and some private media by the OIC.
The Gambia Radio is struggling to provide universal coverage as its signal strengths continue to weaken in some parts of the country.
The GRTS director general Abdoulie Sey sometime ago informed the Public Enterprise Committee (PEC) of the National Assembly that the Supplementary Appropriation Budget (SAB), which was allocated to the GRTS to go digital, was used in the last elections.
Meanwhile, when contacted about the government’s reported disbursement of D34M to institutions in the name of OIC, the National Assembly Member for Wuli East, Suwaibou Touray,said the disbursement of the amount to some institutions, including private media and GRTS, has been mentioned.
Asked why such a kind of money could be disbursed without the knowledge of the National Assembly, Touray said what “he knows is the funds of the OIC do come from donors but despite that they are still accountable to the National Assembly and,therefore, the minister should notify the Parliament to ensure transparency”.
On what the Parliament should do since the monies have already been reportedly disbursed, Touray opined that the Committee on Public Enterprises should take the issue up as a matter of public concern, inquire into it, and insist on having a thorough report.He also said the committee should insist on physically verifyinghow the D34M has been expended and whether there is value for money.
Currently, the listener sentiment has been scathing of the Gambia Radio as it struggles to offer quality broadcast services to the public.
