A government-sanctioned local government commission of inquiry found that Landing B. Sanneh, Chairman of the Mansakonko Area Council, failed to exercise required statutory oversight, enabling irregular financial practices involving a COVID-19 Task Force account that operated outside formal Council approval.
The Commission determined that the off-budget account violated statutory controls over Council funds. It emphasized that all monies paid into the COVID-19 account constituted public funds of the Council, regardless of donor source. The procurement of COVID-19 supplies revealed prima facie violations of the Gambia Public Procurement Act. The evidence showed a Contracts Committee decision, approved procurement method, competitive quotations, or authorization from the Gambia Public Procurement Authority. Even under emergency provisions, the Act requires documented justification and approval, which the Council did not demonstrate.
Unexplained overpayments to Nemasu Enterprise, combined with the supplier’s and Council officials’ inability to account for the discrepancies, raised serious concerns. Sanneh’s own acceptance that fraud could not be excluded strengthened the basis for potential financial misconduct. The Commission also found that overdrafts were obtained without Council approval and that revenue collectors were authorized to spend collected funds outside a formal imprest or petty-cash framework, showing systemic non-compliance with statutory financial controls. These practices undermined transparency, accountability, and auditability.
The Commission recommended an economic crime review, surcharge, legislative review, a review of fitness for public office, and a finding of improper behavior and negligence.
The Government has accepted key recommendations and directed action. It has instructed the Inspector General of Police to investigate the COVID-19 Task Force account, donations received, transfers made, and procurement payments. Sanneh’s testimony established that he admitted to creating the account outside formal Council structures, that donations were managed through it, and that significant unexplained overpayments occurred. That fraud could not be ruled out. Unresolved audit queries, ledger discrepancies, and cashbook variances further support examination for possible offenses of fraud, misappropriation, abuse of office, or financial misconduct. If criminal culpability is found, the matter will be transmitted to the Attorney General’s Chambers for prosecution.
The Government has also directed the Auditor General to conduct a forensic audit of the account, donations, transfers, and procurement payments involving Sanneh. At the conclusion of the audit, the Government will initiate surcharge proceedings against him for any quantifiable financial loss attributable to him or other officers. As Chairman, he held a fiduciary responsibility to safeguard Council resources.
Given Sanneh’s admissions of major governance failures, including key financial practices carried out without formal Council approval and unresolved audit findings, the Government has directed the General Council to review his fitness to hold elected office under relevant local government laws. It has accepted the finding of improper behavior and negligence and directed the Council to remove him from office under section 20(1) of the Local Government Act 2002, as his conduct was inconsistent with good governance principles and the level of care reasonably expected.
