Africa-Press – Gambia. Phabian Ina Grante Sanyang, a health consultant with the Banjul City Council’s (BCC) Ostend Project, has denied authorizing or signing a D100,000 voucher allegedly used for procuring medical supplies for a research initiative under her oversight.
Testifying before The Gambia’s Local Government Commission of Inquiry on Monday, Ms. Grante Sanyang disassociates herself from the voucher in question, which bore her name, phone number, and a signature attributed to her. The document, reportedly prepared by project official Muhammed Cham, was linked to the purchase of supplies for a study on Aloe vera-based burn treatment.
Lead Counsel Patrick Gomez questioned Ms. Grante Sanyang about the signature on the voucher, pointing out that it had been presented as hers.
“No, this is not my signature,” Ms. Grante Sanyang responded firmly. “Mine is closed, but this one is open. They know my name and number, but they forged the signature. That is not my signature.”
The health consultant said she was seeing the document for the first time during her testimony and denied any prior knowledge of its existence.
Before presenting the voucher, Counsel Gomez asked the witness to provide a new sample of her signature, which was then compared to the one on the disputed document. He noted clear discrepancies between the two.
Ms. Grante Sanyang further testified that she did not personally receive the full amount of D100,000, although she acknowledged that she was given a portion of the funds to procure specific medical supplies not available from a single vendor.
“I cannot remember how much was given to me. I cannot remember even being given a cheque to cash,” she said.
Counsel Gomez referred to her earlier written statement, which indicated that she had received the full sum. “Was that not true?” he asked.
In response, the witness clarified that while the cheque may have been written for D100,000, she did not personally handle the entire amount. She explained that part of the funds was paid directly to Kairaba Pharmacy and that she only received money to buy items not available elsewhere.
“So what was given to me was to get other items because we cannot get all the items at one person,” she added.
Counsel Gomez cautioned the witness that her testimony could either implicate her or clear her of wrongdoing.
“I did not withdraw this money,” Ms. Grante Sanyang reiterated. “I know that they gave me some, and I cannot remember how it was given to me, but it was not D100, 000,” she asserted.
When Counsel Gomez asked whether she needed time to clarify her account, Ms. Grante Sanyang replied that she would need to consult her files.
“There can be only two possible outcomes,” Counsel Gomez said pointedly. “Either you conspire with them or you don’t want to implicate them.”
He further emphasized that it was her responsibility to provide the commission with evidence. If she failed to demonstrate that she was not involved in any conspiracy, she would be considered equally implicated. Counsel Gomez reminded her that the choice was hers, urging her to tell the truth.
The witness was then excused but requested to submit her banking details and other documents as directed by the commission. She was scheduled to return on Wednesday.
Additionally, she provided the commission with a proforma invoice, which she said was obtained from the supplier of the aloe vera for the project. She explained that the invoice was requested to verify the purchase of the aloe vera.
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