By Buba Gagigo
The Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs has revealed that they have reached an agreement with Global Fund to pay them ten million Dalasis (D10, 000000) as a refund for non-compliance expenditures.
The Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs made the revelation after What’s on Gambia broke the story of the missing millions on social media last week.
The minister said the government is taking all necessary steps to address the findings relating to the audit of the Malaria component financed by the Global Fund. They said this audit exercise was conducted in 2019 and the findings have been shared with the government.
“The audit findings came from the regular internal auditing of the Fund operations by the Internal Audit Directorate of the Ministry of Finance. The matter was referred to the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Health (the sector and lead ministry for Fund Operations) and the Executive was briefed accordingly,” the Finance Ministry said in a press release.
The ministry said the conclusion of the consultations was to refer the matter to the Inspector General of Police for investigation.
“The IGP has since commenced the investigations and the outcome of the investigation will determine the restitution action to be taken. We have been advised that the investigations are at an advanced stage for completion and the public will be duly informed. Notwithstanding the investigations, the Government of The Gambia is required under the terms of the financing agreement to settle the ineligible expenditure, otherwise, the Global Fund will recover twice the amount of the ineligible expenditures (that is twice the amount alleged; twenty million Dalasis.).
“This will adversely affect Fund operations in the Country. It is within this context that the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs reached an agreement with the Global Fund to settle the ineligible expenditures with a payment plan of four installments over a period of two years, beginning March 15th, 2023. This course of action is saving GMD10 million and was mutually agreed with the Fund whilst every effort is being exerted to recover the funds,” the ministry said.
The Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs said they Will collaborate with the Ministry of Health to ensure that all appropriate and necessary actions are taken to address this matter;
“The Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs in collaboration with the Ministry of Health will ensure that all appropriate and necessary actions are taken to address this matter. We urge the general public to be patient pending the finalization of the investigations by the police and the next cause of action to be taken by the Government. The Government of HE Adama Barrow will deploy all means to fight corruption,” the Finance ministry concluded.