By: Fatou Krubally
In a shocking revelation at the Local Government Commission of Inquiry, former Kuntaur Area Council employee Alagie Hydara has been given time to produce his missing cash books and other records.
Hydara, who was appointed in 2003 despite earlier claims of a 1994 appointment, has come under scrutiny for his handling of council finances.
According to witness testimony, Hydara left his two cash books in the council and initially claimed some receipt books were missing but later found them. The commission has requested him to bring all relevant documents for verification.
From January 2022 to January 2023, Hydara made significant withdrawals totaling D1,011,891, with deposits amounting to D663,015, leaving a balance of D348,876.
Despite being granted the chance to provide evidence for the withdrawals, questions remain surrounding the legitimacy of the transactions.
Hydara, in his defence, stated, “I have evidence to back up all the withdrawals.” However, concerns have been raised about the lack of transparency surrounding the funds and the reasons behind the cheques issued in his name on the instruction of the finance director.
Furthermore, Hydara raised concerns about the lack of training for staff at the Kuntaur Area Council, highlighting potential gaps in financial management practices.
As the investigation continues, the spotlight remains on Alagie Hydara and the alleged financial irregularities uncovered at the Kuntaur Area Council. The public awaits further developments in this unfolding scandal.
One thing is clear: accountability and transparency must be upheld in local government operations to prevent such incidents from recurring in the future.
In a recent testimony at the Local Government Commission of Inquiry, Market Master of Kuntaur Area Council Saikou Omar Cham detailed his experience working in the Kuntaur Area Council and shed light on the financial practices during his time as a market collector.
Cham, who began his tenure as a market collector in December 2021 before being promoted to market master in February 2023, revealed that he did not make any deposits in the council’s accounts during his time in the role. He also admitted to not using a cash book as a market collector, stating that he simply collected receipt books from the market master and returned funds at the end of each day.
When pressed on the lack of deposits and financial records, Cham pointed to the system in place at the time, mentioning that there were six collectors in total. He also mentioned the name of the market master during his time as a collector.
This revelation has raised concerns about the financial management practices within the Kuntaur Area Council and has sparked further investigation into the handling of funds collected at the market.
As the inquiry continues, more witnesses are expected to provide insights into the financial operations of the council and shed light on any potential discrepancies that may have occurred. The testimony of Market Master Saikou Omar Cham serves as a crucial piece of the puzzle in unraveling the truth behind the council’s financial practices.
In the same development, in a shocking revelation at the Local Government Commission of Inquiry, the market collector for Kuntaur Area Council Sorry S. Manneh accused the finance manager, Abdoulie Keita, of misusing council funds.
Manneh alleged that he used to give cash to Keita and another individual, Morro Keita, for council expenditures, only to be receipted for the transactions.
“I used to give them cash to make expenditures for the council, and they would provide me with receipts,” Manneh stated during his testimony.
However, further investigation revealed that Manneh had suppressed revenue in 2022, amounting to over D150,000. Despite providing some deposit slips, there was still a significant outstanding amount that could not be accounted for. Manneh claimed that the remaining evidence was with the finance unit.
The Commission has requested Manneh to provide additional documentation, including his cash books and receipts from Keita and Morro, to verify his claims. He is set to return next week Tuesday 4th January 2025 for further questioning.
This scandal has raised serious concerns about financial mismanagement within the Kuntaur Area Council, with residents and officials alike calling for a thorough investigation into the alleged misconduct. As the inquiry unfolds, more details are expected to emerge about the extent of the misappropriation of funds.
