By: Kebba Ansu Manneh
Two tractors donated to the Kuntaur Area Council by the government through the Janneh Commission, intended to bolster the council’s waste collection and sanitation efforts, have reportedly vanished, sparking concerns and allegations of mismanagement. Sources close to the council, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed to The Alkamba Times (TAT) that the tractors, originally belonging to former President Yahya Jammeh, were never utilized for their intended purpose and have now disappeared without any official statement from council authorities.
According to insiders, the tractors were left idle since their arrival at the council, neglected until their recent disappearance from public view. One source alleged that an attempt to sell one of the tractors led to its impoundment by the Kaur Police, while the second tractor, previously parked at the council’s former offices in Wassu, has also gone missing.
The issue came to light last week when Councilor Momodou Barry of Kuntaur Ward raised the matter during a council meeting, pressing for answers from Chairman Saihou Jawara, the Director of Finance, and the Director of Planning, all of whom reportedly claimed ignorance about the tractors’ whereabouts.
A councilor, who also requested anonymity, confirmed that the tractors were donated through the Janneh Commission to support the council’s operations. “One tractor is currently at Kaur Police Station, impounded after an attempted sale, while the other, which was at our Wassu office, disappeared last week,” the councilor told TAT. The matter has been reported to Kuntaur Police Station, which is now investigating the disappearance.
The councilor further disclosed that the council had discussed forming an auction committee to sell the tractors, with plans to use the proceeds to purchase vehicles for the Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). However, no sale was officially authorized. “We agreed to set up an auction committee, but nothing was finalized. When Councilor Barry brought this up, the Chairman, Director of Finance, and Director of Planning all said they knew nothing about the missing tractor at Wassu,” said Councilor Sorrie Darboe, head of the council’s development committee.
Darboe added that he personally urged the Director of Planning to involve the police in a thorough investigation, given the lack of clarity from council leadership. He also highlighted the council’s broader operational challenges, noting that all council vehicles, including the two tractors, are currently grounded in garages in Kaur and Farafenni, leaving the council without functional transport for official duties.
In response to the allegations, CEO Momodou Sambou, currently out of the country, dismissed claims of the tractors’ disappearance as “false.” He insisted that no assets could be sold while the Local Government Commission’s work is ongoing and promised to provide evidence upon his return to prove the tractors remain in the council’s possession.
Efforts to reach Chairman Saihou Jawara for comment were unsuccessful, as he declined to respond to inquiries. The Kuntaur Police Station has confirmed that it is investigating the matter, but no further details were provided at the time of press.
The disappearance of the Janneh Commission tractors has raised serious questions about transparency and accountability at Kuntaur Area Council, with stakeholders and residents awaiting clarity on the fate of these critical public assets.
