By: Binta Jaiteh
The director general of the Gambia Livestock Marketing Agency (GLMA) Modou Darboe alongside agency’s director of technical and field services Sang Marget Mendy and finance manager Fatoumatta Sonko have been accused of receiving allowances from the management of Abuko Central Abattoir.
This revelation was made by the manager of Abuko Abattoir Maddy Kuyateh held at the Abuko Abattoir on Monday.
Kuyateh claimed that DG Modou Darboe illegally received monthly allowances of D7000, adding that the director of technical and field services received D6000 while the finance manager received D5000 from January 2024 to December 2024.
“These allowances were paid to them from our own account. Our account is independent. Initially when they came, we suggested that the allowances should be paid to government consolidated revenue fund because we want to avoid problems. You can’t receive money on behalf of government and pay it in your own account,” he argued.
Mr. Kuyateh told reporters that he insisted that all government revenues should be paid to the consolidate revenue fund but the DG and co-accused persons refused to accept this proposal.
According to him, the management paid them through cheques, amounting to D18,000 per month.
Abdou Colley, chief revenue collector at the abattoir also said the trio of DG Modou Darboe, Sang Marget Mendy and Fatoumatta Sonko are not working at the abattoir and were still receiving allowances more than the staff.
“ This is not right and action should be taken as soon as possible,” he charged.
When contacted, the Director of Technical and Field Services Sang, Marget Mendy, clarified that they only received fuel allowance during supervision.
“On the alleged monetary allowances, I don’t have much to say on that particular issue,” he maintained.
He, however, explained that when their administration took over the management of GLMA, they discovered that staff salaries were poor and deemed it necessary to restructure the system.
“The salaries of the cleaners are poor but through consultation, management decided to augment their salaries,” Mendy stressed.