Africa-Press – Gambia. The Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Seedy Keita, has revealed that a confidential report on site visits to EcoBank and Access Bank was submitted to the National Assembly in relation to the ongoing petroleum importation inquiry.
Minister Keita made the disclosure while appearing before lawmakers to provide an update on the report and resolutions of the Joint Committee on Finance and Public Accounts Committee (FPAC) and Public Enterprises Committee (PEC) regarding the parliamentary investigation into the importation of 36,953.614 metric tons of petroleum products, valued at $30 million.
According to him, the Central Bank of The Gambia conducted visits to both banks concerning transactions involving Creed Energy and Ultimate Beige Logistics, to assess possible regulatory and prudential violations.
He added that both the Central Bank and the Gambia Police Force took action following intelligence reports submitted by the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).
“The Police commenced an investigation into the activities of Apogee FZC, Creed Energy, and Ultimate Beige Logistics for potential violations of the Anti-Money Laundering Act and other financial crimes. This investigation was only halted once the source of the funds was established,” Keita said. “As for the recommendation to hold the head of the Gambia Ports Authority (GPA) accountable, we could not find a clear link between the FIU report and the responsibilities of the GPA,” he added.
Minister Keita also informed lawmakers that the Office of the Vice President had established a committee, coordinated by the Chief of Staff, to monitor and update the executive on the implementation of the agreed actions.
He acknowledged the serious governance and regulatory failures exposed by the inquiry and emphasized the government’s commitment to reform.
“The government recognizes the inquiry’s revelations regarding systemic failures. As a result, a comprehensive response has been developed not only to inform the National Assembly but to demonstrate our commitment to good governance, institutional strengthening, and strict enforcement of laws regulating the management of national resources,” Keita stressed.
He assured lawmakers that the government had welcomed the work of the Joint Committee and had taken note of its recommendations.
“We are preparing enhanced regulatory frameworks and emphasizing the urgency of improving inter-agency coordination to prevent a recurrence of such malpractices,” Keita stated.
Notwithstanding, the Finance Minister affirmed the government’s resolve to take decisive action to address all identified anomalies, stressing that the submitted report represented the official response of the executive to the findings and recommendations of the Joint Committee on the importation of petroleum products.
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