By: Fatou Krubally
The Auditor General’s 2023 Management Letter has raised serious concerns over procurement irregularities, contract mismanagement, and delays in major government projects, exposing weaknesses in oversight and accountability.
The audit, which examined the Government of The Gambia’s financial statements for the year ending 31st December 2023, highlighted a series of procurement lapses across key infrastructure and public works projects. Notable among these were delays in road construction, stadium rehabilitation, and the Office of the President’s Banquet Hall project.
According to the report, the Kiang West Road Phase 2 contract, valued at GMD 857 million, was awarded without open competitive bidding, and four related contracts were issued without the required no-objection approvals from the Gambia Public Procurement Authority (GPPA). The report also noted prolonged delays, with the North Bank Lot 1 road taking 22 months longer than its contractual timeline and North Bank Lot 2 exceeding its planned completion date without documented approval for extension.
Stadium rehabilitation projects also drew scrutiny. Payments totalling over GMD 15.9 million were made for work that was later demolished or duplicated, while materials from demolished sections were not accounted for. Additionally, reports revealed overlapping contract scopes, unjustified single-source contracts, and deficiencies in progress reports submitted by contractors.
The audit further cited overpayments and irregularities in the Banquet Hall project, including duplicate payments for air conditioning units amounting to GMD 3.3 million and overpayment of GMD 9.8 million on construction work. Evidence of approval for contract addendums and retention payments was also missing or executed prematurely.
The report emphasized that these lapses are symptomatic of systemic weaknesses in procurement oversight, planning, and monitoring. It urged the Ministry of Finance, the GPPA, and relevant ministries to strengthen financial management controls, ensure competitive and transparent procurement processes, and establish proper monitoring mechanisms for public projects.
The Auditor General expressed appreciation to the Accountant General and staff for their cooperation during the audit, but stressed the urgency of corrective action to safeguard public funds and restore accountability.