Africa-Press – Gambia. A parliamentary committee Monday raised serious concerns over repeated audit findings against the Ministry of Petroleum and the Department of Geology.
The National Assembly’s Finance and Public Accounts Committee (FPAC) raised the concerns against the two government bodies, citing delays in reviewing key agreements, missing documentation and inconsistencies in tariff charges.
During continued scrutiny of the Auditor General’s report, committee members questioned officials over a long-standing recommendation to review a petroleum licensing agreement to better protect government interests.
Auditors noted that the issue first appeared in the 2023 audit and remained unresolved, with no clear progress recorded through 2024 and 2025.
Members warned that continued assurances without tangible action were unacceptable.
“The matter keeps recurring year after year. We need concrete steps and timelines, not promises,” one lawmaker said.
Officials explained that the review involved multiple stakeholders, including the Ministries of Justice and Finance, as well as the company concerned.
They said a committee has been formed and letters sent to all parties, with several meetings already held.
Because the agreement spans 25 years, they argued that renegotiation requires careful consultations rather than a quick decision.
Authorities, however, pledged to complete the review within four months, targeting June 2026.
The committee also probed discrepancies flagged by auditors regarding two versions of a contract, particularly differences in Clause 10, which affects the company’s cost calculations and ultimately government royalties.
While auditors said they received two varying documents, officials insisted only one valid contract exists and denied any alterations.
Further concerns emerged over missing licensing files. Auditors testified that documents initially provided were later unavailable when requested again, preventing proper verification.
In another finding, the Department of Geology was questioned over inconsistent tariffs for sand mining royalties, with rates ranging between $30 and $75 per cubic metre.
Auditors warned that the absence of standardized, gazetted tariffs could lead to discretionary pricing.
Officials defended the differences, saying charges depend on location and the quality of sand, but confirmed a new regulation has been drafted to standardize rates.
Committee members demanded that all supporting documents, including tariff approvals and agreements be submitted before 25 February.
The hearing underscored growing parliamentary pressure for stronger oversight, greater transparency, and timely compliance with audit recommendations to safeguard public revenue and government interests.
