Momodou Camara, Former Director of Finance, Banjul City Council Sitting Next To Mayor Lowe
By Buba Gagigo
Momodou Camara, the former Director of Finance at Banjul City Council (BCC) and currently serving in the same capacity at Brikama Area Council, has been placed on administrative leave by the Local Government Service Commission (LGSC) pending an investigation into an audit report.
In a letter referenced as HC93/474/01/VII (4) dated September 9, 2024, from the National Audit Office, the LGSC expressed serious concern regarding the audit findings related to Banjul City Council for the financial years ending December 31, 2021, and December 31, 2022, as well as the EU Banjul-Ostende project for the period from January 1, 2020, to April 31, 2024.
“I refer to a letter REF: HC93/474/01/VII (4) dated 9 September 2024 from the National Audit Office regarding the above captioned matter. The Local Government Service Commission (LGSC) at its meeting of 14 October 2024, noted with concern, the audit findings of Banjul City Council for the financial years ending 31 December 2021 and 31 December 2022, as well as the EU Banjul – Ostende project for the period 1 January 2020 to 31 April 2024,” the commission said.In response to these findings, the LGSC has requested an investigation from the Inspector General of Police and has copied the LGSC on this correspondence.
The commission stated, “To that effect, the Commission has accordingly decided to send Mr. Momodou Camara – Director of Finance at your Council who has been adversely mentioned in the said audit reports on administrative leave with immediate effect. Furthermore, he will be placed on half salary pending the final outcome of the investigation.”
The commission concluded that any further decisions regarding Mr. Camara will be based on the investigation’s final results. “Finally, he is required to hand over his responsibilities to the Finance Manager immediately without fail Any subsequent decision(s) by the Commission will be based on the final outcome of the Police investigation.”
Furthermore, 27 other staff members from the same council have also been placed on administrative leave amid allegations of misconduct. Mr. Camara has since been transferred to the Brikama Area Council.