Africa-Press – Gambia. The Local Government Commission of Inquiry on Wednesday questioned Kanifing Municipal Council Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda regarding his role in approving councillors’ activities.
Lead Counsel Patrick Gomez pressed the mayor to clarify the difference between approving an activity and authorizing its payment. He referred Mayor Bensouda to documents showing instances where Councillor Kemo Bojang wrote to his office seeking approval for proposed initiatives.
In response, Mayor Bensouda maintained that his approval was limited to the activity itself and not to financial disbursements. He explained that councillors often approached the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) directly for both activities and payments, creating pressure on the office.
“The CEOs will complain that the councillors will use their office to put pressure on them, and that may force them to make payments that should not be done,” Mayor Bensouda told the commission.
To resolve the issue, the mayor said he presented the matter to the full council, which agreed that councillors should first submit their requests to him for review. Under this arrangement, he would assess the merits of the activity, while the CEO retained discretion to authorize or deny payments.
Mayor Bensouda stressed that his authority does not extend to financial approval: “When I approve, I am approving the subject matter, not the payment,” he said.
He added that while he considers both the nature of the activity and the proposed cost, the final decision on financial authorization rest with the CEO.
Counsel Gomez, responding to the mayor’s explanation, noted, “I will support that resolution if it is passed. It properly will be in line; you explained the pressure that may be put on the CEO,” Counsel Gomez noted.
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