By Fatou Krubally
Testifying before the Local Government Commission of Inquiry on Monday, a health consultant contracted for Banjul City Council (BCC)’s Health Research Project, shed lights on major challenges that hindered its implementation.
Phabian Ina Grante, the consultant, revealed that the project suffered serious setbacks due to the absence of clear protocols and prolonged procurement delays.
Ms. Grante, who has worked with the Ministry of Health since 2009 and was brought on to lead the health component of the project, described a frustrating year-long struggle to secure necessary approvals and materials for her research on the effectiveness of aloe vera compared to 1% silver sulfadiazine in healing first- and second-degree burns.
She testified that from the outset, the project lacked formal protocols and a memorandum of understanding between BCC and key institutions like Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH), critical for collaboration. Efforts to get project coordinators to formally notify hospital management were repeatedly deferred, delaying access to essential resources and personnel.
Consultant Grante, explained procurement challenges, noting that while she provided detailed lists of medical supplies required for training and research activities, many items lacked specified quantities and prices. The budget was prepared without her input, relying on rough estimates. Procurement responsibilities were assigned to other project staff, leaving her without full control or oversight of purchases.
Despite these obstacles, she took initiative by liaising with local pharmacies to source items and submitted invoices to the project office. However, she admitted that record-keeping was incomplete, and she could not recall specific transactions from the multi-year engagement.
The testimony underscores concern about administrative inefficiencies and weak project management within BCC-linked health initiatives. The commission continues to investigate how these factors may have impacted service delivery and public funds.
Ms. Grante is scheduled to reappear before the commission on Wednesday to provide further details on the health project and clarify outstanding questions related to procurement and project management.
