Seedy K. Touray, the former Chief Executive Officer of Kerewan Area Council
By Buba Gagigo
Seedy K. Touray, the former Chief Executive Officer of Kerewan Area Council, along with Alasana Keita, the Council’s Director of Planning and Development, has confirmed awarding four contracts to Nyakassi Gassama, who does not have a registered company. Among these, a single borehole was drilled in Palodi for a cost of D850,000.
During his testimony before the Local Government Commission, Seedy K. Touray was asked by the lead counsel about the decision to award contracts to Nyakassi. He admitted that he did not recall the specifics of each contract but acknowledged awarding multiple borehole drilling contracts to Nyakassi. When questioned about the absence of a registered company, Touray explained, “We gave him contracts because he presented authentic documents.”
The lead counsel pointed out that the claim of authenticity was incorrect, highlighting the absence of representation from Sanneh and Sons. The CEO was then asked whether he recalled awarding Nyakassi a D395,000 contract in 2020 for a substation in Farafenni. Touray confirmed that he did.
When asked about the process followed to award the contract, Touray stated that he could not recall the details, but mentioned that quotations were collected from various contractors. However, he was unable to remember the names of the other contractors involved.
At this point, Alasana Keita, the Director of Planning, who was also testifying, clarified that the contract had been single-sourced to Nyakassi Gassama. “I told by the CEO that we needed to drill a borehole in Farafenni and I should consult Nyakassi. There were two, the one at Kerewan and the one at Farafenni. He (Nyakassi) was asked to provide the quotations for those boreholes and that’s how he was awarded,” he said.
Upon hearing Keita’s confirmation, Touray admitted that it was indeed a single-sourced contract, justifying the decision by stating that they believed Nyakassi was capable of completing the job. Stating, “It was single sourced to him because we thought that he was capable of doing the job.”
Touray also confirmed that Nyakassi was contracted to drill a borehole at Daru Salam for D850,000. Despite acknowledging the contract, the CEO insisted that the cost was not an overpayment for the work done.
In 2020, Touray had also awarded Nyakassi a D475,000 contract for drilling a borehole in Palodi village. When asked about the process followed for this contract, Touray could not recall, but Keita explained that Nyakassi had submitted the quotations directly to the CEO.
When asked why he single-sourced the contract to Nyakassi, the CEO responded, “Those documents were just brought on my desk and I don’t know who brought them there. I have my technicians on the ground, so automatically if those documents were brought to the secretariat, and they are brought to my office I also have to make some consultations,” he said.
The Lead Counsel intervened, pointing out that this was not the proper procedure. “You know fully well the procurement process is not that. It is contrary to what you have and adopted on the ground. And it’s done intentional.” The lead counsel said.
Touray later admitted that he had discussed the matter with Director of Planning Alasana Keita, leading to the decision to award the contract to Nyakassi.
Additionally, in 2020, Kerewan Area Council under Touray contracted Nyakassi Gassama for a D666,750 borehole drilling project in Kerewan. Gassama confirmed that the payment was made in installments: 60%, 30%, and 10%.