By: Fatou Krubally
Ass Silvia, a finance officer linked to a European Union-funded project, on Monday faced intense scrutiny over procurement practices that appeared to violate provisions clearly outlined in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Banjul City Council (BCC).
Under questioning from the local government commission of inquiry, Silvia admitted that her organization did not fully comply with the Gambia Public Procurement Authority (GPPA) regulations, despite these being explicitly stated as mandatory in the project’s MOU. She maintained that her team operated under their own internal operational manual, which she argued was in line with international standards and, in parts, with GPPA procedures.
However, commissioners pointed out that the agreement she signed required strict adherence to GPPA rules not merely alignment. Silvia further revealed that her team neither submitted the necessary GPPA forms nor followed official approval processes, including for single sourcing, raising concerns about transparency and accountability in the use of public funds.
The issue intensified when Silvia acknowledged that the procurement of fridges and freezers began in November 2022, months before she claimed training activities commenced in July 2023. A review of financial summaries presented during the session showed payments and disbursements had started as early as February 2022, contradicting her earlier statements.
She also confirmed that a previous joint project with BCC and the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona had taken place in 2019, focused on waste management. Asked about the budget of that project, Silvia was unable to provide exact figures but promised to submit the necessary documentation.
When probed about salaries recorded in the project expenditure, Silvia clarified that they were payments made to her own team of BCC staff as part of training and procurement efforts. The commission, however, requested copies of the original project proposal, including the budget, for verification.
Due to the poor legibility of the documents submitted, Silvia was instructed to return with clearer copies and any additional records necessary to support her testimony. She is expected to reappear before the commission on Wednesday.
Silvia’s appearance underscored significant gaps in procurement oversight and compliance within donor-funded local projects. Her testimony raised broader questions about the monitoring of international development funds, particularly those managed through MOUs with local government authorities.
