Tuesday, October 29, 2024
Over D300,000 Missing At KMC say Karamo Ceesay
source Namasita
KMC Finance Committee Chairman Reveals Investigation into Missing Funds Abandoned
Kanifing, The Gambia – Karamo Ceesay, the Councillor of Tallinding South and Chairman of the Finance Committee of the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC), has revealed that an investigation into deleted financial records was left unfinished, leaving nearly D300,000 unaccounted for. This disclosure was made during his testimony before the Local Government Commission of Inquiry, which is examining the administrative and financial practices of local government councils from May 2018 to January 2023.
Ceesay explained that he had been part of the investigation team looking into the missing financial records from the KMC’s rates unit. However, he stated that the inquiry was abandoned without any conclusive findings, meaning no one was held accountable for the missing funds amounting to D297,941.43. According to Ceesay, “The investigation was not concluded, and until now, the amount remains unaccounted for.”
The Finance Committee Chairman highlighted that former Acting Deputy Director of Finance, Sheriff Njie, had alerted the Mayor’s office to the deletion of records in the Matrix System, the council’s financial management software. This prompted an initial investigation by both the Finance and Establishment Committees. Although the investigation team questioned several key personnel—including the software developer, the cashier, and the IT manager—no clear culprit was identified due to technical limitations in the system, which lacked an “audit trail” to track user activity.
Ceesay disclosed that the investigation hit a major roadblock when the IT manager, who had significant access to the system, unexpectedly resigned during the inquiry and became unreachable. This setback, combined with an incomplete technical assessment of the Matrix System, ultimately led to the abandonment of the investigation. “The IT manager’s resignation left many questions unanswered, and without his input, the committee was unable to reach a definitive conclusion,” Ceesay explained.
Unfulfilled Accountability Measures
Lead Counsel Patrick Gomez expressed concerns over the council’s failure to conclude the investigation. He emphasized that a formal report should have been issued, regardless of the findings. “You must have a report. Your report can indict someone or confirm that no one can be held responsible based on the available facts, but you must have a conclusion,” Gomez stated.
Ceesay agreed with this assessment, acknowledging that the council should have issued a report, even if it was inconclusive. However, he noted that structural and operational challenges at KMC had hindered their ability to take appropriate actions regarding the missing funds.
Concerns Over Compliance with Financial Regulations
During his testimony, Ceesay also addressed questions regarding the KMC’s compliance with financial regulations. He admitted that while KMC had various operational accounts, it did not have a specific “Fund of Council” account as mandated by the Finance and Audit Act of 2004. This act requires all local councils to maintain a development fund account for all revenue generated by the council. Additionally, he revealed that the council’s Accounts Committee, which he was a part of, rarely met to review financial reports, further complicating oversight and accountability efforts.
Ceesay shared that the council allocated D200,000 annually to each ward development committee for small infrastructure projects from 2019 to 2023, except in 2019, when funds were withheld due to the lack of ward development accounts. In that year, the council implemented projects directly, bypassing the ward committees.
Questionable Payments and Oversight Shortfalls
The Commission also probed the council’s practice of making honorarium payments, which were not explicitly permitted under the Local Government Financial Manual. Ceesay admitted that he was unaware of any legal basis for such payments, prompting further scrutiny of KMC’s expenditure practices.
The Commission highlighted multiple audit findings pointing to financial mismanagement and unaddressed allegations of fraud within the KMC. Ceesay admitted that internal audit reports, which are supposed to be reviewed by the Accounts Committee, were often not forwarded to his committee for further action. This lack of oversight, he conceded, likely contributed to the council’s inability to address fraudulent activities and irregularities flagged by auditors.
Uncollected Revenues and Accountability Gaps
In addition to the missing D297,941.43, internal audit reports uncovered significant uncollected revenues within the council. A report for the first quarter of 2021 revealed outstanding invoices amounting to over D29 million, alongside uncollected fees from market canteens and other council assets. Ceesay was asked to provide an update on the collection of these outstanding balances, further underscoring the council’s struggle with revenue management and accountability.
A Call for Improved Governance
The testimony of Karamo Ceesay has raised serious questions about the governance and financial oversight practices at the KMC. The incomplete investigation, coupled with the lack of a robust accountability framework, has left the issue of the missing funds unresolved. Chairperson Jainaba Bah and Lead Counsel Patrick Gomez have emphasized the need for greater transparency and adherence to legal requirements within the council.
As the Local Government Commission of Inquiry continues its work, the revelations from KMC’s operations highlight the importance of rigorous financial oversight and clear accountability measures in local government. For Gambians, this investigation serves as a reminder of the need for transparency and the critical role that councils play in managing public funds responsibly.
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