By: Fatou Krubally
In a shocking revelation, Gamcel’s accountant, Mustapha Conteh, testified before the Local Government Commission of Inquiry regarding payments made by the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) for Joana Hall’s liability. The testimony highlighted a significant discrepancy in the payments made by the KMC, raising questions about transparency and accountability.
Conteh confirmed that the KMC had undertaken to pay Joana Hall’s bond of D154,000 to Gamcel. However, despite receiving a cheque for the said amount, Conteh revealed that Gamcel did not receive the payment. He stated, “I did a thorough search in the records of Gamcel and I was not able to trace it.”
Further scrutiny of the payment vouchers and meeting minutes provided by the KMC indicated that there was confusion regarding the outstanding balance. The Human Resource Manager of Gamcel acknowledged receipt of a payment of D100,000 in 2019 but pointed out that the actual outstanding amount was D54,000 and not the D154,000 as stated in the cheque issued by the KMC.
Conteh’s testimony raised serious questions about the transparency and accuracy of the financial transactions between the KMC and Gamcel. The discrepancy in the payments for Joana Hall’s liability highlights potential inconsistencies in the financial operations of the local government council.
As Conteh prepares to reappear before the Commission, the revelations from his testimony have cast a shadow of doubt over the financial dealings between the KMC and Gamcel. The discrepancies uncovered in the payments for Joana Hall’s liability emphasize the need for a thorough investigation into the administrative and financial operations of local government councils to ensure transparency and accountability.
