By: Fatou krubally
The Local Government Commission of Inquiry has unearthed a troubling pattern of mismanagement and governance failures at the Banjul City Council (BCC), with testimony from Administrative Manager Sandiki Njie revealing deep-seated administrative lapses, financial irregularities, and a lack of accountability.
Njie, who has served at the BCC for over two decades, provided a firsthand account of internal dysfunction, conflicts of interest, and questionable decision-making by senior officials. His testimony painted a picture of a council plagued by secrecy, exclusion, and the apparent mishandling of public funds.
One of the most striking revelations was the alleged mismanagement of a 3.1 million Dalasi European Union grant meant for development initiatives. Njie recounted how he was unfairly denied a scholarship under the program, despite meeting the criteria, while other senior officials benefited contradicting claims that senior managers were ineligible. His repeated appeals to CEO Mustapha Batchilly and even the National Assembly yielded no resolution.
Njie also detailed incidents of workplace intimidation, including the unauthorized relocation of his office while he was on leave in 2018. Additionally, he accused the CEO of unlawful appointments, warning in a 2019 letter that hiring practices were violating the Local Government Act 2002 by bypassing due process. He further criticized the awarding of a consultancy contract to an unqualified individual, describing it as an abuse of power.
The inquiry also raised concerns about Rafela, a women’s leadership initiative linked to BCC. Njie revealed that despite being an independent platform, BCC had allocated funds to its activities, raising accountability questions. Former Banjul Mayor Samba Faal clarified that Rafela was meant to operate nationally, not under BCC’s jurisdiction.
Njie’s testimony further exposed procurement mismanagement, with purchases including software acquisitions lacking transparency and oversight. He described a system where procurement approvals were made without clear guidelines, leaving room for inefficiency and potential financial mismanagement.
As the inquiry continues, Njie’s revelations have intensified scrutiny on BCC’s leadership, raising pressing questions about governance, transparency, and financial accountability within the council. His testimony is set to resume on Tuesday, March 25, 2025.
