By Fatou Sillah
Malang Sambou and Sílvia Llopart Gracia, the co-founders of Mbolo Association, appeared before the local government commission of inquiry on Monday to testify about their involvement in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ostend Banjul Project, valued at D3,423,000. The project was intended for development at Crab Island.
During the proceedings, lead counsel Patrick Gomez questioned Sambou about his association’s engagement with the Banjul City Council (BCC). Sambou explained that Mbolo Association, a non-profit organization, is focused on advancing the lives of women through vocational and technical education (TVET). He noted that the organization provides skills training in areas such as tie and dye, sewing, cooking and pastry, basic electricity, solar installation technology, and media journalism, among others.
“You had an engagement with Banjul City Council in which you were paid an amount of three Million Four Hundred and 23 thousand dalasis. Do you recall this?” The Counsel asked.
Sambou clarified that Mbolo had received only 50 percent of the agreed amount. “We were not paid D3 million; we were paid 50 percent; the other 50 percent is not yet paid.”
The witness further clarified that the MoU outlined a total payment of D3,423,000, which he provided to the commission along with the MoU and payment vouchers as evidence.
Malang Sambou also recounted a visit in 2022 when representatives from the Banjul City Council (BCC) came to the Fandema Innovation Center. He explained that prior to this visit, he had no prior acquaintance with anyone in BCC’s management.
“In 2022, BCC came to visit us in the Fandema Innovation Center. Before this visit, I did not know anyone in the management of BCC. When they came, they informed me they came for a technical visit, and I took them around just like any other visitor. They said they would like to have something like this in Banjul,” he said.
He added that “They later came back with the Ostend team, and then they proposed a MoU, adding that they are reconstructing crab Island and want it on a bigger scale, so they want to use our expertise to have this in Banjul,” he said.
Lead Counsel Patrick Gomez asked the witness to clarify the specific services for which he was compensated by the council.
In response, the witness outlined that the services involved replicating the solar multifunctional platform in Banjul, establishing waste management systems, and transferring the welding techniques used at Fandema.
“The services we are supposed to render against the monetary value are to replicate the solar multifunctional platform in Banjul, waste management, how we conduct our welding, and providing equipment so that they can have the business start up. We provide them with freezers, fridges and dryers.”
The witness later testified that they refunded part of the initial payment because the agreed-upon activities were not carried out.
“We refund them part of the initial payment because the activities were not conducted and that was the money balance we were left with of the 50 percent they paid. They did not ask for the refund, we sent it back to them,” He Said.
The witness further stated that the MoU was subsequently terminated due to delays in the renovation works at Crab Island. He explained that on March 7, 2024, a meeting was held between representatives from Banjul, Ostend, and Mbolo, where it was agreed that Mbolo would no longer carry out the remaining activities due to time and financial constraints.
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.