Procurement Officer Claims D13M Contract Awarded to Mayor’s Relative, Exposes Conflicts of Interest
By: Fatou Krubally
Ida Njie, a former procurement officer at Banjul City Council (BCC), on Tuesday revealed shocking details of mismanagement, conflicts of interest, and questionable procurement practices within the council.
Her account sheds light on the troubling dynamics that led to her eventual demotion and alleged efforts to sideline her from procurement responsibilities, despite her qualifications.
Njie, who was part of the procurement unit from 2014, testified that upon joining the council, there was no specialized procurement office in place. Instead, employees were trained at the Management Development Institute (MDI), though the training was abruptly cut short due to issues surrounding unpaid school fees. Despite completing the course at a certificate level, Njie was later sidelined, and her colleague, who had joined the council from the cleansing service, was appointed as the head of procurement, despite Njie having better qualifications.
Njie further testified about her exclusion from critical procurement activities, stating that her colleague was often allowed to oversee procurement matters without her involvement, even though she was officially the assistant procurement officer. She also revealed that the council’s contract committee regularly excluded procurement officers, failing to follow proper procedures.
One of the key revelations involved a D13 million procurement for trash bins that was allegedly mishandled. Njie questioned the procurement process after the specifications for the trash bins were found to have been copied from another city’s procurement document. She also raised concerns about a possible conflict of interest, as the contract was reportedly awarded to a supplier connected to the mayor’s family, raising suspicions of corruption.
She described a meeting with the CEO and other council officials, during which she was allegedly pressured to conform to decisions that seemed to undermine proper procurement processes. Njie said she was at one point told by the CEO that her qualifications were irrelevant and that she should align with the council’s interests, even when they appeared to be compromising on ethical standards.
Njie’s testimony also detailed how her career at BCC came to a halt in 2019, when she was left dormant with no work assigned. After expressing her frustrations, she was reassigned to another office but continued facing opposition when trying to uphold ethical standards in procurement. The situation worsened when she alleged that the mayor’s office attempted to bribe her into accepting their decisions, regarding the procurement of trucks and trash bins.
Ida Njie’s testimony has uncovered serious questions about the procurement practices at Banjul City Council. Her detailed account points to systemic issues within the council, including a lack of transparency, favouritism, and possible corruption involving senior officials. As the commission continues to investigate these claims, Njie’s brave decision to speak out may shine a light on the troubling practices that have been allowed to persist within local government.
