By Aja Beyai
The Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) on Thursday held an emergency General Council meeting and press conference at its Council Chambers, where councilors unanimously rejected the Government White Paper in its entirety and vowed to defend Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda against recommendations that he be held accountable and removed from office.
In his opening address, Mayor Bensouda outlined the three matters in the White Paper for which economic crime investigations have been recommended against him. The first concerns a market survey exercise in which the Council resolved that every councilor, including the Mayor, would inspect markets in their areas to investigate suspected revenue suppression. The exercise carried an allowance of D10,000.
“This was a resolution by this body, which was put through a vote. It was not a private decision; it was a public decision,” Bensouda said. “And the Financial Audit Act says every council exercises autonomy on how its finances are managed. So, this was not an individual decision.”
He noted that the White Paper calls for a criminal investigation because the D10,000 was not budgeted.
The second matter involves the Mbalit Project. Bensouda said the Contracts Committee, the General Council, and the Gambia Public Procurement Authority (GPPA) approved the project. According to the Mayor, the White Paper argues that feasibility studies should have been conducted and that the failure to do so could have caused Council losses, warranting economic crime charges.
The third issue relates to the arrival of the Mbalit trucks at the port. Bensouda said the Council was denied a duty waiver despite executive directives. “We did not receive support from the government. We took our own initiative and entered an EPP arrangement with Escape Motors, or the Q Group, which went through several approval processes,” he said.
After securing approvals from the Contracts Committee, the General Council, and the GPPA, the trucks arrived, but the waiver was denied. The Council then voted to pay duty totaling D13.1 million to the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA). “So, the White Paper says, we have caused Council losses by paying taxes to the government; therefore, that constitutes economic crimes,” Bensouda said.
He told the meeting that the Council has deliberated on the matter for years and that, across party lines, the position is that it is “beyond administration, it is politics, and almost personal.”
“I have therefore called this General Council meeting, so that the councilors can deliberate on the matter, as the Gambian public watches on, to discuss and decide on whether the recommendation of the White Paper, for this General Body to hold the Mayor accountable, and therefore vote to remove him from office, will hold or not,” he said. “I want to make it very clear, I am not dictating anybody’s vote; in fact, I will not be present during your vote, but it is a matter of principle for me, and I think it is a matter of principle for this General Body.”
Kemo Bojang, Youth Representative, said the commission of inquiry was established because the Council itself reported alleged corrupt practices in the municipality. “In fact, the reason we have this commission is that we reported that corrupt practices were happening in this municipality,” Bojang said. “When the Minister at the time tried to brush it under the carpet, we didn’t allow it.”
He said the investigation report absolved the Council of wrongdoing and questioned the White Paper’s findings on the trucks. “Today, if you are going to say that we spent money we were not supposed to spend by bringing in trucks, we will ask you the question: do you really want to deliver services to the Gambian people, or are you in fact fighting?” he asked. “Because the Mbalit trucks that they are speaking about were brought in to serve the Gambian people. Instead, we were supposed to have duty waivers. We were not given duty waivers.”
On the D13.1 million duty payment, Bojang said: “This D13.1 million that was put in the government’s coffers is the same $13 million they are trying to say that can be used as evidence for economic crimes. How does that make sense? You cannot pay government money, and then the government says that they are going to use it against you.”
He also defended the market exercise, saying it boosted Council revenue, which increased after councilors visited the markets. Bojang further questioned why the President had wanted to inaugurate the trucks if the procurement process was flawed. “If you say that the Mbalit trucks were not ordered the way they were supposed to be ordered, why did the President himself say that he wanted to inaugurate? Why didn’t they stop us then? Because we had followed all our steps and all laws that we were supposed to follow.”
Addressing staff members recommended for suspension in the White Paper, Bojang said they were “collateral damage” and assured them the Council would fight to ensure none of them loses their job. “We are going to reject this White Paper to the fullest of our ability, and let us see what will come out of it. Nobody can impose anything on us as Council without following due process and the law,” he said.
Councilor Habib ML Ceesay, representative of New Jeshwang, said recruitment and disciplinary matters in local government must follow the Employment and Establishment Committee and the Local Government Service Commission. He cited Section 167 of the Local Government Act, arguing that the General Council’s decisions should not be overturned and that the Act provides procedures for handling misconduct by a Council member.
“So, for government to come up with a White Paper that doesn’t reflect [the findings of] the Commission’s [report], I think that is unfair to this Council, and the people of Kanifing,” Ceesay said. “I totally reject the report of this White Paper. Because it’s not in line with our laws.”
The Council is expected to proceed to a vote on the White Paper’s recommendation regarding the Mayor, in his absence.
