Africa-Press – Gambia. The Member of Parliament for Bas-Saloum, Hon. Sainey Jawara, yesterday presented evidence in Parliament regarding the alleged purchase of 36,953.614 metric tonnes of petroleum product, worth thirty million US dollars ($30,000,000), or about two billion and ten million dalasis ($2,010,000,000), by the Gambia Petroleum and Energy Company.
Following its motion to inquire into the alleged matter on 22 July 2024, the Joint Finance and Public Accounts Committee (FPAC) and the Public Enterprises Committee (PEC) were tasked with examining the matter within 90 days and reporting back to plenary by 22 October 2024.
During his deliberation as the first witness in the case, Honourable Jawara revealed that the vessels in question came from Russia and were supposed to anchor in Ghana. Unfortunately, he said, administrative lapses in Ghana did not allow the vessels to anchor there, and the vessel remained elsewhere for three months until it found its way to The Gambia.
“I was informed that these vessels had been at sea for three months when two Ghanaian companies, Apogee and GRID Energy, said, ‘Why don’t we go to The Gambia and set up a company that would allow these vessels to anchor in The Gambia and make sales there?’ I think that would be a problem,” Hon. Jawara said.
Hon Jawara also revealed that the WhatsApp audio messages detailed the negotiations, final offer and creation of Grid Energy for the establishment of a company based on the idea that they were to sell Apogee products since they had successfully registered their company, and he was informed that during the three months, these vessels were “anchored in our territorial waters for negotiations.”
Similarly, the Minister of Economy and Finance, Mr Seedy Keita, reported on July 14 the landing in Gambian waters of a cargo containing the tons of petroleum products in question.
The Minister of Economy and Finance confirmed the arrival of the petroleum products on August 21, 2023, which were transported to The Gambia by GRID ENERGY and APOGEE. “A total of $1,452,915.45 was deposited into the Greed Energy and Apogee Ecobank Dalasi account, while the dollar account received a deposit of $532,500,” he said. “In addition, $1,692,431.55 was deposited into the Access Bank account.”
Minister Keita explained that when a Petroleum Products Sales Company (SVPP) withdraws a product from the depot, various taxes are calculated before the product is sold.
“Given the special regime of the oil industry, all taxes are calculated on the basis of the SVPP increase and are payable between the 25th and 31st of the month. And “This particular product has paid all taxes and duties that were applied to it. APOGEE’s supplier was incorporated in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and had no business activity in The Gambia prior to this transaction; therefore, it does not fall under our tax jurisdiction,” the Minister said.
The Co-Chair adjourned the hearing to address concerns regarding the witness’s presentation of evidence, given that this was the first time such matters had been the subject of an inquiry.
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