By Mustapha Jarju
In a shocking turn of events that has sent ripples through the University of The Gambia, a damning investigative report has uncovered a web of financial mismanagement and alleged theft within the Students’ Union Endowment Account.
The 5th Legislative Body of the University of The Gambia Students’ Union (UTGSU) has laid bare a tale of fiscal irresponsibility that spans years and implicates several former executive members.
The report, a scathing indictment of the 19th Executive Council’s handling of union funds, paints a picture of an endowment account meant for investment and growth instead of becoming a personal piggy bank for certain individuals.
At the heart of the scandal lies a staggering 1,000,000 Gambian Dalasis, allegedly withdrawn by former Gender and Welfare Minister Modou Lamin Jarjusey two years after his tenure ended.
As the sun rose over the university campus this morning, students gathered in hushed groups, their faces mixed with anger and disbelief.
The once-trusted leaders of their union now stand accused of betraying the very principles they swore to uphold. The investigation, triggered by the 22nd Executive Council’s request, has unearthed a series of unauthorized withdrawals and questionable transactions.
From June 2021 to November 2023, the account saw a flurry of activity that raised red flags. Muhammed B. Badjie and Modou Lamin Jarjusey made multiple withdrawals, totaling tens of thousands of Dalasis, without proper documentation or justification.
Perhaps most alarming is the revelation that the 20th Executive Council failed to change the account signatories, inadvertently paving the way for Jarjusey’s alleged theft of 1,000,000 Dalasis long after his term had ended. The report doesn’t pull punches, name names, and demand accountability.
Former President Ousmane Jassey, Auditor General Muhammed B. Badjie, and Deputy Gender and Welfare Minister Sheikh Tijan Njie find themselves in the crosshairs of this financial firestorm. As the dust settles, the 5th Legislative Body has laid out a series of hard-hitting recommendations. These include the immediate repayment of mismanaged funds, the involvement of state authorities, and a swift change of account signatories.
The UTGSU community watches with bated breath as the 22nd Executive Council prepares to act on these recommendations. Will justice be served? Can the stolen funds be recovered? Only time will tell, but one thing is sure – the days of unchecked financial mismanagement at UTGSU may finally be numbered.
