By: Alieu Ceesay
A damning audit report into the operations of Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH), the Gambia’s main referral hospital, has uncovered financial misconduct involving over two million dalasi allegedly misappropriated by former Chief Medical Director (CMD) Ammar Al Jafari and Senior Procurement Officer Nyima Jatta. The report, covering January 1, 2021, to April 30, 2024, was presented by the National Audit Office (NAO) to the National Assembly’s Finance and Public Accounts Committee on Tuesday, revealing a series of financial violations and suspected fraudulent activities.
The audit exposed that Dr. Al Jafari, a Syrian-born doctor, received unapproved allowances totaling D648,000, paid without the EFSTH board’s authorization. Bank statements and payment vouchers further revealed that Al Jafari and Jatta allegedly colluded to divert D766,795 in hospital funds through a supplier. The two officials later withdrew the funds from the supplier’s account. Additionally, the report highlighted that Jatta received kickbacks amounting to D214,050 from suppliers, pointing to systemic corruption within the hospital’s procurement processes.
The audit also uncovered the registration of shell companies by active public servants, violating the Public Finance Act. These companies were awarded contracts worth D2,042,900, raising concerns about conflicts of interest and fraudulent dealings. Other financial irregularities included unretired imprest funds totaling D4,158,885 and partial retirement of imprest amounting to D244,761, both in breach of the Financial Regulations 2016. The report further noted suspected fraudulent expenditures, including D1,426,500 in payments made without internal approval and D80,000 paid to individuals falsely presented as board members.
The NAO’s findings underscored significant weaknesses in EFSTH’s financial management, emphasizing the urgent need for reforms to ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations. The audit was conducted to verify whether all expenditures and revenues were properly accounted for, revealing that the hospital’s leadership failed to uphold these standards. The report described the implicated actions as a betrayal of public trust, particularly given EFSTH’s critical role as the country’s primary training and referral hospital.
In response to the findings, the audit issued several recommendations to address the misconduct and prevent future violations. It urged the EFSTH board to engage the Inspector General of Police to investigate the financial dealings between Jatta and the supplier, focusing on recovering the misappropriated funds. The report also called for the immediate blacklisting of vendors linked to the shell companies. It is recommended that the Gambia Public Procurement Authority (GPPA) be notified of the existence of illicit business registrations. Furthermore, the audit pressed EFSTH management to take administrative action against all staff involved and recover the misused funds from Al Jafari and other implicated parties.
EFSTH management has acknowledged the audit’s findings and expressed agreement with the recommendations, signaling a commitment to addressing the issues raised. However, the revelations have sparked public outrage, with many calling for swift action to hold those responsible accountable and restore confidence in the hospital’s operations.
The scandal has highlighted broader challenges in public finance management within Gambia’s healthcare sector, raising questions about oversight and accountability at EFSTH. As the government and hospital board move to implement the audit’s recommendations, stakeholders are pressing for systemic reforms to safeguard public funds and ensure the hospital can effectively serve its critical role in the nation’s healthcare system.
The National Assembly is expected to deliberate further on the report, with lawmakers likely to demand transparency and decisive action to address the financial mismanagement. For now, the audit serves as a stark reminder of the need for robust governance to protect public resources in Gambia’s vital institutions.
