By Fatou Sillah
Seedy K. Touray, the former Chief Executive Officer of the Kerewan Area Council, has admitted to authorizing unlawful expenditures during his tenure. His admission came while testifying before the Local Government Commission of Inquiry.
During his cross-examination, lead counsel Patrick Gomez pointed out that Touray’s actions created a system where revenue collectors had to seek clearance from the CEO before proceeding to the finance department.
In response, Touray explained that he would check the collectors’ records before referring them to the director of finance for verification, after which he would issue them receipts. However, Counsel Gomez challenged this process, stating that the finance director did not independently verify the records but merely acted on the CEO’s instructions.
“He does not countercheck, he goes by your instructions; that is the evidence we have. When the revenue collectors come, they pass through you first. Everyone say the same thing, and then you will clear them and once you clear them all the things the director of finance has to do is to rectify your actions, if you have clear that they have paid the money, and he will just enter it in the main cash book,” The Lead Counsel Said.
The witness informed the commission that the director of finance is responsible for overseeing the revenue collectors. In response, the lead counsel questioned why the witness had carried out that function if it was the finance director’s role.
Touray defended his role by stating that, as CEO, he was also responsible for supervising council management.
“I am also a supervisor to the management of counsel as the CEO, I think I should also have the mandate to check their books too,” The Witness said.
However, Counsel Gomez argued that Touray was effectively controlling council funds that should have been deposited into the finance department. The lead counsel further suggested to the witness that he was doing so because he was spending funds that did not belong to him but to the council.
“Reason: because you were spending monies that were not yours, that were supposed to be banked or paid into the finance department. And then you were spending that money, and therefore they come to you first so that you check those books and then clear all of them,” the Lead Counsel said.
Touray conceded that he authorized certain expenditures at the field level but was reminded by the lead counsel that he had no mandate to do so. When pressed on the matter, Touray admitted, “Yes, I agree.”
Counsel Gomez highlighted that Touray’s requirement for revenue collectors to seek his approval before proceeding to finance was a deliberate measure to control council funds. He questioned the legality of these transactions, noting that an independent audit or financial department should have handled the verifications.
“There was a strict instruction that they should come and see you, is that not the case? Responding, the witness said no.
“How would we even know what you authorise them to pay is even legal? So for all the revenue collection books that we have, all of them were cleared; hardly do you see any revenue collector that had a shortage. Why do you think that is the case?” he asked.
The witness replied that he needed to check them to ensure there would be no shortage.
“That is why they don’t have a shortage, and that is why in all the area council you are probably the only CEO that does not have revenue collectors whose collections are not tallying with the records because you were on top of things,” Gomez asked.
The witness responded, “Not actually, I think I was just doing that to make sure that what I authorised them is what they paid.”
Lead Counsel pointed out that the former CEO was using the funds for personal expenses and financial gain.
Emphasizing this, he noted that instead of ensuring revenues were properly accounted for, the former CEO was more concerned with concealing his actions. He added, “The monies you have spent in very unlawful means are being cleared.”