The deputy director of Services on the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC), Lamin F. Badjie, has come below intense scrutiny after failing to supply passable documentation to account for sums of cash he allegedly took from income collectors on the Bakoteh dumpsite.
During his look earlier than the Local Government Commission of Inquiry, Badjie introduced a number of paperwork requested by the Commission, however notably didn’t present information to account for the every day income collections he acquired.
Badjie, who was anticipated to supply proof supporting claims that he had deposited the funds with the KMC cashier, was unable to substantiate his assertions.
Although he confirmed that dumpsite collectors handed their every day collections on to him, Badjie was unable to supply receipts or documentation displaying the quantities he acquired and deposited, regardless of having beforehand promised to take action.
The inquiry additionally heard from Kemo Fatty, former supervisor of the ‘Mbalit’ Project, who raised considerations over discrepancies between the quantities collected by Badjie and his colleagues from the Bakoteh dumpsite and the precise deposits made to KMC cashiers. Fatty emphasised a big variance within the monetary information, casting doubt on the legitimacy of the funds collected.
In one other improvement, Badjie was questioned about funds made to Nkoland, an organization run by Baboucar Kinteh, which had been contracted by KMC for waste administration companies.
When requested about two conflicting vouchers—one dated 1 November 2018 and one other from October of the identical yr—Badjie struggled to supply readability.
The first voucher confirmed a contract extension, whereas the second indicated that the contract ought to have lasted solely 19 days as a result of arrival of latest KMC vans.
Lead Counsel Gomez pressed Badjie to reconcile the 2 paperwork, however the deputy director of Services had no reply, deferring the matter to his superior, the Director of Services.
Further vouchers, together with one from December 2019 displaying fee to Lang Karamo Suwareh for hiring tools, had been additionally submitted as proof.
He repeatedly claimed that the inconsistencies and points raised throughout the inquiry had been merely oversights, however this did little to reassure the Commission.
Additional paperwork revealed a sample of funds made for clearing unlawful dumpsites and hiring vans and equipment.
He defined that regardless of KMC proudly owning its personal fleet of vans, the Council had continued to rent extra automobiles for waste administration duties up till 2022.
The Commission additionally examined vouchers associated to the clearing of drainage techniques between Churchill’s Town and Tallinding, awarded to contractor Falang Sonko.
Badjie talked about that the acquisition of a shovel loader, which was continuously included within the KMC’s finances, was typically not accepted by the Council, elevating additional questions on monetary mismanagement and procurement procedures.
The Commission’s investigation into KMC’s monetary dealings is ongoing, and Badjie’s lack of ability to completely account for the funds in query continues to forged a shadow over his tenure within the Deputy Director position.
The inquiry is anticipated to proceed probing these discrepancies as a part of its broader investigation into native authorities monetary practices.
Reporting by Adama Makasuba
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