By: Momodou S. Gagigo
Youth representatives from across the Janjangbureh Local Government Area have sharply criticized the Janjangbureh Area Council for operating without an Internal Auditor, describing the vacancy as a serious threat to financial accountability and the successful rollout of the council’s Strategic Plan.
The concerns were voiced during a high-level Interface Dialogue organized by ActionAid International The Gambia (AAITG) with support from the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (UNPBF). The forum brought together council officials, youth leaders, civil society organizations, and community representatives to review progress on the Strategic Plan and identify obstacles hindering local development.
Participants praised some achievements recorded under the plan but zeroed in on the absence of an Internal Auditor as a glaring institutional weakness. Youth representatives argued that the position is indispensable for ensuring prudent financial management, enhancing transparency, and safeguarding public resources from potential mismanagement.
“The lack of an Internal Auditor creates a major gap in oversight,” one youth delegate stressed. “It undermines public confidence and leaves room for inefficiencies in how council funds are handled. We urge the authorities to treat this appointment as a matter of urgency.”
Beyond the auditor vacancy, discussions highlighted the council’s persistently weak revenue base, which participants said severely restricts its ability to fund development projects and deliver quality services to residents. Youth leaders called for aggressive strategies to broaden revenue streams and lessen over-reliance on donor support.
Low compliance with the payment of rates and taxes emerged as another critical concern. Poor collection efforts have starved the council of internally generated funds, limiting investments in vital areas such as infrastructure, sanitation, and public amenities. To reverse the trend, participants recommended robust public sensitization campaigns on civic obligations, modernization of revenue collection systems, and full transparency in the use of locally raised income.
The dialogue also served as a platform for youth to demand greater inclusion in local governance. Representatives pushed for sustained engagement with young people and increased youth representation in decision-making bodies, especially on issues relating to governance, employment creation, and local economic development.
Council officials present at the meeting welcomed the frank feedback. They acknowledged capacity constraints and difficulties in revenue mobilization but reaffirmed their commitment to addressing the gaps. “We are committed to strengthening our governance structures, improving financial systems, and deepening community participation,” a council representative stated.
The Interface Dialogue is part of the larger Youth Promotion Initiative being implemented by ActionAid International The Gambia with funding from the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund. The initiative seeks to empower marginalized young people to engage actively in civic life, support peacebuilding efforts, and hold public institutions accountable for delivering on development promises.
Organizers and participants left the session with a strong call for accelerated institutional reforms. Filling the Internal Auditor position, they agreed, represents a concrete and immediate step towards bolstering accountability, restoring public trust, and ensuring more effective service delivery at the local level.
As the Janjangbureh Area Council navigates its Strategic Plan, the pressure is now on authorities to translate dialogue outcomes into tangible actions that address long-standing structural weaknesses and respond to the aspirations of the area’s youthful population.
