Jonga, Former CEO of Brikama Area Council
By Buba Gagigo
Modou Jonga, the former Chief Executive Officer of the Brikama Area Council (BAC), has confirmed that no Assessment Reports were produced for the Council between 2020 and 2023.
Jonga made this admission during his appearance at the ongoing Local Government Commission on Tuesday.”The steps are the collectors will be assigned to do the assessment of businesses within their own zones. They will provide this information to their line managers, who will transmit this information to the finance department in a report form. That report will inform the finance Sub-Committee and management about what is the most responsible projection of estimated revenue for the fiscal year. I got the information when we were working on developing the budget.
When asked whether he personally reviewed the assessment information, Jonga admitted, “Honestly, I don’t.” He also confirmed that he had five line managers under his supervision.
Initially, Jonga denied the allegations that the Brikama Area Council lacked an assessment report, but he later conceded after the former Finance Director of BAC, Alagie Jeng, confirmed that there were no assessment reports for the years 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023.
When questioned on what basis the budget was prepared without an assessment, Jonga replied, “At that point in time I do not know that the finance department has not overseen an assessment.”
He further admitted that there was no assessment report available during the budget preparation or when the budget was submitted to the Ministry for approval.
When asked if he was aware that the budget figures were inaccurate and unrealistic without an assessment, Jonga confirmed that he was. He acknowledged that this would result in inaccuracies throughout the entire budget. Jonga also admitted that the figures for 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 were mere estimates, lacking the proper documentation needed to accurately inform the budget’s details.