Africa-Press – Gambia. The Mayor of Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC), Talib Ahmed Bensouda, appeared before the Local Government Commission of Inquiry to explain the council’s budget approval process, challenges in budget allocations, and compliance with procurement regulations.
Mayor Bensouda outlined the multi-step process for budget preparation at KMC. He explained that councillors begin by consulting with their Ward Development Committees (WDCs), while departmental heads consult within their respective units. The mayor then provides input on key projects. The finance committee compiles the budget, which is reviewed by council management before being presented to the general council. At the council level, two to three budget sessions are held before the budget is finalized and forwarded to the Ministry of Finance by September 30 each year.
However, Mayor Bensouda identified a significant challenge in the process. He noted that while the council submits the budget by September 30, the ministry’s response often comes as late as February of the following year. “This is a problem because you have to start implementing your projects in January. So I think that should be fixed,” he said.
The mayor also addressed difficulties in budget allocation, particularly relating to the 40/60 ratio between administrative and development funds. He explained that unclear definitions of these funds often complicate budget balancing. “We respect the 40/60 very much; it is one of the key figures of our budget, but it is very difficult to balance,” he stated, suggesting that clearer regulations are needed to define these funds more precisely.
On fund allocation to WDCs, Mayor Bensouda testified that he proposed creating an implementation committee so councillors could oversee projects without direct control of funds, a suggestion that was ultimately rejected by the council. “I suggested that since this WDC fund can be very controversial, councillors should design their projects so that we set up an implementation committee. For the councillors to be part of the project but not the funds.”
Mayor Bensouda reaffirmed his commitment to the decentralization policy, emphasizing that its purpose is to empower local government councils so they, in turn, can strengthen Ward Development Committees (WDCs). However, he expressed concern that there has been no deliberate effort to build capacity within local government areas.
He also voiced support for allocating funds directly to communities to manage and implement community-based projects, stressing that such initiatives would require adequate capacity building at the community level.
On procurement matters, Mayor Bensouda testified about the council’s compliance with Gambia Public Procurement Authority (GPPA) regulations. He informed the commission that KMC has received both verbal and written feedback recognizing it as among the most compliant councils, though acknowledging there is room for improvement. He stressed that the council has been taking steps to enhance its procurement procedures.
The mayor addressed a previous issue raised by the Finance and Public Accounts Committee (FPAC), which criticized the council for not tendering certain procurements, including fuel and lubricants, maintenance, and bulldozing services. The council had believed each transaction was below the D500,000 threshold and thus exempt from tendering. However, FPAC determined that when these procurements were aggregated over the year, they exceeded the threshold and should have been tendered through GPPA.
In response, Mayor Bensouda confirmed that the council has revised its procurement procedures to ensure full compliance. He stated that procurements for bulldozing, fuel and lubricants, and maintenance are now subject to formal tendering through the GPPA.
When Lead Counsel Patrick Gomez asked whether the council has implemented verification mechanisms to prevent procurement fraud, “When you have these reports, do you now verify as council to have a mechanism to make sure there is no fraud at the level of procurement?”
Mayor Bensouda acknowledged past lapses. He noted that while procurement matters are passed to the relevant committees, there should be proper delivery notes and verification procedures to ensure accountability.
“These are lapses, like you said when it comes to the council; we pass it to the corresponding committee, but there should be a delivery note and there should be verification of delivery,” Mayor Bensouda said.
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