By Buba Gagigo
Both the Mayor of Banjul, Rohey Malick Lowe, and CEO Mustapha Batchilly have refuted allegations made by President Barrow that Banjul City Council (BCC) did not summit their annual Budget for scrutiny.
After the president made the allegations on Friday morning at the swearing in ceremony of the appointed commissioners, our reporter spoke to both the Mayor of Banjul Rohey Malick Lowe and CEO Mustapha Batchilly.
In response to whether her council has submitted its annual Budget to the ministry for scrutiny, she said.
“Am dumbfounded by this news because our Budget has been to the ministry two times. Namely, for Bilateral and the final submission, From the onset, from our side was the CEO and his team together with councilor Abdoulie Boss Gaye who is a member of the finance committee and on the side of the ministry was PS Buba Sanyang, Director of Governance David Gomez, Decentralization officer Sainey Ndong, Mr Musa Bah of The Accountant General’s office and Madam Amie Kolleh Jeng of the ministry of finance,” the mayor responded.
She said After the Bilateral, the Budget was again taken to the General Council for approval and the next day sent to the ministry.
“The receiver was one Fenda as indicated in the weigh book with her signature. I don’t know why they are telling such stories to the President, but Allah is Great. That’s all I have to say. The evidence is there to speak for itself. Thank you Buba for reaching out. You can as well contact the CEO if you wish to have primary information, since he was there himself,” she concluded.
On his side, the Chief Executive Officer of the Banjul City Council (BCC) Mustapha Batchilly said it is surprising to receive such news.
“It’s surprising to me because we have sent it. His (the President’s) statement is really surprising to me. We have sent it that’s why we are able to provide evidence to show you” the CEO told Kerr Fatou.
Below are documents provided by the Banjul City Council (BCC).