By: Kemo Kanyi
The Local Government Commission of Inquiry (LGCI) is continuing its questioning with the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) Mayor, Talib Ahmed Bensouda, regarding the appointment of certain staff members. The commission’s lead counsel, Patrick Gomez, raised concerns that the grades given to some employees were not commensurate with their qualifications.
During the hearing on Monday, lead counsel Gomez asked Mayor Bensouda about the standard procedure for advertising job openings. The Mayor replied that positions “may be advertised,” adding that he wasn’t fully familiar with the rules on job advertisements.
Gomez informed the Mayor that Habib M.L. Ceesay, the chairman of the establishment committee, had stated in his testimony that Bensouda gave him a list of people to hire, including Mr. Nuri Dean, which caused problems within the council.
Mayor Bensouda denied this claim, calling it “incorrect.” He explained that after his election, thousands of people approached him for jobs, and he always referred them to the establishment committee or the Human Resources Department. “I remember 40 people came to my office who were part of the campaign, and I referred them to either him (Mr. Habib Ceesay) or HR. I am not the right authority for that,” the Mayor stated.
Gomez then read from Ceesay’s statement from July 31, 2023, which claimed that Bensouda had personally presented a list of five individuals – Nuri Dean Adams, Isatou Faal, Sanjali, Yusupha Sallah, and Babucarr Jammeh for appointment during a committee meeting.
Ceesay’s statement continued, “There was no job advertisement conducted for these positions. I recall that Nuri Dean Adams and Isatou Faal were given grades that didn’t match their respective qualifications, which I challenged during our committee meetings. However, there was a general council resolution to appoint Isatou Faal in grade 10 and Nuri Dean Adams in grade 7.1.”
Mayor Bensouda has consistently maintained that staff appointments are not within his authority and that he referred all applicants to the appropriate departments.
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