Africa-Press – Gambia. In a pointed exchange during Tuesday’s session of the Local Government Commission of Inquiry, Lead Counsel Patrick Gomez referred to Mustapha Batchily, the former Chief Executive Officer of Banjul City Council (BCC), as “a rubber stamp” for Banjul Mayor Rohey Malick Lowe — a characterization that underscored the commission’s growing concerns over accountability and administrative overreach at the council.
“Based on the documents we see, it appears as if you were only the rubber stamp of the mayor,” Counsel Gomez said during his questioning of Batchily. “I know it is a harsh word, but I am talking about the fact.”
The remarks come amid an investigation into the financial and administrative practices of the Banjul City Council. While Mayor Lowe previously told the commission that the CEO had independently made decisions and offered policy advice, Gomez pushed back, arguing that the documentary evidence — including council minutes and financial directives — painted a different picture.
Gomez highlighted what he described as a troubling duplication of responsibilities within the council, suggesting that Mayor Lowe frequently operated beyond her mandate, at times acting simultaneously as CEO, finance director, and even cashier.“Mr. Batchily, why did you allow this?” Gomez asked.
In response, Batchily defended his role, explaining that the council and administration would jointly draft and approve budgets before submitting them to the Ministry for endorsement. He said expenditures, including social support payments, were drawn from these budgeted allocations.
“I would like to reiterate my stand on these social expenditures; like I said, the council, together with the administration, would sit and come up with a budget. The budget is approved by the council and is sent to the ministry for endorsement. Requests are made based on some of these areas that are budgeted,” Batchily said.
Batchily defended the social support disbursements under scrutiny, stating that he had advised the mayor on proper procedures.
“My concern here is how we could have convinced the council that giving away support in this particular manner was not the right way. I told you yesterday, especially with regard to the sponsorships, I have given you the names of two individuals who have witnessed me advising the mayor directly without any ill feeling. He said he asked her if it would not be more credible if it is a committee that should be coming up with such proposals,” he said.
But Batchily also spoke of the personal cost of pushing back against directives from the mayor, citing potential backlash as a “demotivating factor.” He promised to provide the commission with minutes documenting instances in which he had advised Mayor Lowe against certain actions.
During the proceedings, Counsel Gomez produced a series of payment vouchers, each bearing Mayor Lowe’s handwritten instructions and forwarded to Batchily for execution. The requests ranged from medical support and financial assistance to individuals to business start-up grants and contributions to local events.
On each voucher, Mayor Lowe had included directives such as “CEO, please take care of this ASAP,” or “Please, CEO, facilitate — it is urgent.” Batchily acknowledged processing all of the listed payments as instructed.
The commission’s inquiry into the operations of the Banjul City Council remains ongoing.
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