Africa-Press – Gambia. The National Audit Office (NAO) formally launched its Strategic Plan for 2025–2029 on Wednesday, outlining an ambitious roadmap for the institution’s growth and development over the next five years. The event, held at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center in Bijilo, underscored the NAO’s commitment to enhancing its administrative and financial independence while bolstering its collaboration with the National Assembly.
The newly introduced strategy prioritizes transparency, good governance, and improved public sector management. Its core objective is to transform the NAO into a model of efficiency and excellence, solidifying its role as The Gambia’s Supreme Audit Institution (SAI).
Central to the plan are initiatives designed to strengthen the NAO’s institutional capacity, reinforce legal and administrative frameworks, and cultivate closer ties with key stakeholders—most notably the National Assembly. These steps are intended to improve oversight of public financial management and service delivery, ensuring greater accountability and effective use of state resources.
In his address at the event, the Auditor General, Modou Ceesay, highlighted the significance of the new plan, emphasizing that it reflects a renewed commitment to the institution’s constitutional responsibilities.
“As an accountability mechanism designed to promote good governance, prudent financial management, and effective public service delivery, a well-crafted strategic plan is essential to the continued success of the Supreme Audit Institution,” he stated. “This plan drives us to produce work that improves the public sector and addresses societal challenges. It embodies the core objective of a SAI, as outlined in the Inter-SAI Principle P12, which emphasizes the transformative impact SAIs can have on citizens’ lives.”
The Auditor General further stressed the importance of strengthening the legal instruments governing the NAO’s operations over the next five years, with a focus on ensuring operational autonomy and enhancing institutional resilience.
“For a Supreme Audit Institution to make a real difference in citizens’ lives, it must prioritize accountability, transparency, and integrity in government and public institutions,” he added.
The Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Fabakary Tombong Jatta, delivered a goodwill message during the ceremony, reinforcing the crucial role the NAO plays in supporting the Assembly’s oversight functions. He reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to collaborating with the NAO in holding public institutions accountable.
“The information provided by auditors is invaluable in assisting the National Assembly’s oversight role. It enables us to hold the government accountable, ensuring that public resources are used legally, responsibly, and efficiently,” he said. “This strategic plan reflects our shared understanding that the NAO and the National Assembly are key players in holding the government to account for the use of public funds.”
With a clear focus on reinforcing accountability and enhancing transparency, the NAO’s Strategic Plan for 2025–2029 positions the institution for a stronger and more impactful role in shaping the future of The Gambia’s public sector.
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