NAMs Pass Resolution to Recover Over D142 Million of Covid-19 Funds

By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT

Gambian National Assembly Members (NAMs) have passed a resolution to recover over D142 million of misused funds according to the Covid-19 Audit report published by the National Audit Office (NAO). The resolution was tabled by the Chairperson of Parliament’s Finance and Public Accounts Committee, Hon Alhagie S. Darbo on 14^th September 2023.

Hon Darbo who is the Minority Leader and member for Brikama North faced questions from the Speaker of the House, Hon Fabakary Tombong Jatta and his colleagues on how the Inspector General of Police (IGP) would report his findings back to Parliament.

In reaction to this the member for Old Yundum, Hon Abdoulie Ceesay, recommended for the IGP to submit his investigation to the President for Action. However, Hon Alhagie Mbow for Upper Saloum explained that the IGP can only make a presentation at a Parliamentary Committee and it was envisaged that after the investigation he would report to the FPAC who would in turn report the IGP’s findings to the Plenary. At that stage, the Plenary can then decide on which action to take.

It was agreed that this would be the line of action that would be taken going forward.

According to the resolution, all stakeholders who owe monies to be refunded should do so within 10 days failing which the IGP would launch an investigation for possible prosecution. The institutions mentioned in the resolution that should refund the COVID-19 Monies include the National Disaster Management Agency (D137.6 million), the Ministry of Health (D2.8 million), four Gambian Embassies in Beijing, Madrid, Addis Ababa and Abu Dhabi (D1.3 million), GT Board (D202 thousand) and the Grant Management Committee and the Gambia Press Union (D585 thousand).

Institutions are given 10 days to pay the monies or account for them. Failing to do so they would face a Police Investigation. This prompted the Hon member for Jarra Central, Hon Kebba Jallow, to raise a query that the time frame for the IGP to conduct his investigation which starts after 10 days and to finally report to the FPAC was not defined. Hon Jallow recommended that the IGP report back to FPAC in 90 days and this was accepted by the Parliamentarians present.

Below is a table which summarises the main findings which are of cash value.

Below is the “RESOLUTION OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ON COVID-19 AUDIT” tabled by the Finance and Public Accounts Committee (FPAC) and adopted by the Plenary.

WHEREAS the National Assembly considered the recommendations of FPAC on the Auditor General’s report on the Government, Covid-19 Phase 1 & 2 Audit;

RECOGNISING the good work of the Auditor General;

APPLAUDING the FPAC for working during odd hours to deliver a comprehensive report;

COGNIZANT of the provisions of the 1997 Constitution of the Gambia, Public Finance Act 2014 and the Financial Regulations of 2016;

TAKING NOTE of the previous resolution on the consolidated FPAC report of the 5th Legislature to consolidate the resolutions of both phases of the Covid-19 report;

NOW THEREFORE RESOLVED:

1. That the Executive Director of the NDMA must account for all undelivered food items worth over D100 million dalasis, on or before the 25th September 2023 to the Accountant General (AGD) and notify the FPAC, failure of which, the Inspector General of Police must launch an investigation immediately and report back to FPAC within 90 days;
2. That the Executive Director of the NDMA to account for the shortage of delivery of Oil by the International Commodity Insurance worth GMD 37,653,700.00 and the money to be deposited to the National Treasury on or before the 25th of September, 2023 and notify the Accountant General, the Auditor General and the FPAC, failure of which, the Inspector General of Police must launch an investigation immediately and report back to FPAC within 90 days;
3. That the Executive Director of the NDMA must provide to the Auditor General and the FPAC, the Certificate of Confiscation of the damaged food items by the Food Safety and Quality Authority (FSQA) on or before the 25th of September, 2023; failure of which, the FSQA will be summoned by FPAC;
4. Whereas the Executive Director fails to deliver the items/sum mentioned in (1, 2 and 3) above, upon expiry of the deadline, The President must consider sending him on administrative leave pending the outcome of the Police investigations;
5. The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health must produce the missing payment voucher in respect of the payment of GMD 1,650,000.00 to the Auditor General and the FPAC on or before 25th September 2023; failure of which, the Inspector General of Police must launch an investigation immediately and report back to FPAC within 90 days;
6. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health must recover the sum of GMD 1,165,548. 00 being an overpayment to Covid -19 Frontline Workers and pay the sum to the Accountant General, notify the Auditor General and the FPAC on or before 25th September 2023; failure of which, the Inspector General of Police must launch an investigation immediately and report back to FPAC within 90 days;
7. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health must provide to the Auditor General and FPAC all material evidence relating to the request for quotations from the independent bidders on or before 25th September 2023, failure of which, the Inspector General of Police must launch an investigation immediately and report back to FPAC within 90 days;
8. The Gambia Head of Mission in Beijing, Madrid, Addis Ababa and Abu Dhabi, must account for all unpaid Covid-19 funds meant for Gambian students amounting to GMD 1,380,186.08, to the Accountant General Department and notify the FPAC by the end of October 2023, failure of which, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) must lunch an investigation immediately and report back to FPAC within 90 days;
9. The Director General Gambia Tourism Board (GT Board) must account for the GMD 202,000.00 being the difference of monies received from the Government for payment to individuals in the informal sector, on or before 25th September 2023; failure of which, the Inspector General of Police must launch an investigation immediately and report back to FPAC within 90 days; and
10. The Grant Management Committee (GMC) and Gambia Press Union (GPU) must return to the AGD the sum of GDM 585,159.86 being the unused funds for the Covid-19 relief support to media houses, on or before 25th September 2023; failure of which, the Inspector General of Police must launch an investigation immediately and report back to FPAC within 90 days.