By Arret Jatta
Dembo Sanneh, the Director of Compliance, Nyima Camara, the Director of Planning and Development, and Pa Sait Ceesay, the CEO of Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC), on Tuesday, 17th September testified before the Local Government Commission of Inquiry (LGCI) held at Djembe Hotel, Senegambia.
While testifying, the Director of Compliance of KMC said he has been working for KMC since 1992.
He highlighted that the compliance department must make sure that all departments of the council comply with the rules of the law governing the council and ensure they maintain standards.
“When I delivered a presentation of the compliance report to the general council, the general council advised me that the report is bulky and the best practice is to be proactive,” he explained.
“What do they mean by the report is bulky,” Lead counsel Gomez asked.
He explained “For example if I presented more than 50 pages of a report regarding revenue collection, sometimes I do have some problems or challenges because the compliance department will be seen as a threat to other departments,” he further explained.
Nyima Camara, the Director of Planning and Development at KMC also explained her job description at the council.
Ms Camara said she started working for KMC in 1999 and became the Director of Planning and Development in 2019.
The lead Counsel Patrick Gomez also requested her to tender all the details of the projects they had since 2019
“Do you know whether there was a strategic plan at the council,” the lead counsel asked and she replied positively.
“Can you please tender the development plan,” counsel further requested and the witness responded positively.
“When it comes to the committee can you tell us which committees you belong to,” he further asked.
“Contracts Committee and Development Committee,” she responded.
Pa Sait Ceesay the CEO of KMC who took over from SainabouMartin Sonko in 2023 also stated that no proper handing over was done before he ascended office.
When asked if a proper handing over was done he said no, and that it was only an office handed over to him by SainabouMartin.
When asked if he knew why this was the case, he said it was because the council had an issue with Sainabou Martin the former CEO.
He added on it that the council has 13th committees.
“You have the Finance Committee, Establishment Committee, Education Committee, Agriculture Committee, Environment Committee, Audits and Accounts Committee, Contract Committee, Sports Committee, Development Committee, Revenue Committee, Arts and Culture Committee, MbalitCommittee, and all Chairpersons Committee,” he stated the committees.
He noted that these committees are very active.
