By: Binta Jaiteh
A member of the National Assembly’s Finance and Public Accounts Committee (FPAC) Sulayman Jammeh has challenged the Gambia Press Union (GPU) to present evidence to the FPAC, saying the committee’s resolution on the Covid-19 Audit stands.
The Bundungka Kunda NAM emphasized that FPAC will not respond to the GPU’s counter-argument about its resolution.
“If GPU has any justification or material evidence, let them submit it to the committee and we will forward it to the auditors for verification. If that is cleared, the committee will come back and clarify,” Jammeh said during a meeting between MPs and stakeholders at Metzy Hotel recently.
The FPAC last month compelled the GPU and the Grant Management Committee (GMC) to return to the Accountant General’s Department GMD 585,159.86 on or before 25 September 2023.
The auditors said the money is the balance of the COVID-19 relief fund disbursed to media houses.
FPAC warned that if the GPU failed to render an account of the money, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) must launch an immediate investigation and report back to it within 90 days.
“I think, as parliamentarians, when we pass our resolution, they should go by what we said because whatever resolution we pass is generated from the audit query and this particular issue was part of the audit query. For that being the case, we are partners in development but the committee is responsible for holding all institutions accountable and these monies were meant for COVID-19 response to assist media houses,” NAM Jammehstressed.
