By Haddy Touray
The Banjul City Council (BCC) has said it is considering legal action against a mining company over alleged unpaid royalties, following claims that funds due to the council have not been received.
Speaking at a press conference, BCC Mayor Rohey Malick Lowe denied reports that about 20 million dalasis had been paid to the council as mining royalties, insisting that no such payments have reached BCC.
Mayor Lowe said royalty payments are provided for under the law, but noted that the council has yet to benefit from the arrangement. She disclosed that BCC’s legal team is reviewing the matter to determine the next steps.
“The money is said to pass through institutions such as the Department of Geology and possibly the Ministry of Finance, but the council has not received anything. Our lawyer is making inquiries, and once that process is concluded, we will proceed to court if necessary,” she said.
The mayor also called for stronger collaboration between the council and residents of Banjul, stressing the need for collective engagement in addressing issues related to mining activities in the city. She added that although discussions had previously been held with the company, the expected payments were not made.
According to Lowe, the council’s Director of Finance, Sheriff Njie, made several follow-up efforts on the matter, but without success.
Meanwhile, the mayor expressed concern over reports of the sale of Mile 2 Central Prison at Hamza Barracks, questioning whether adequate consultation and transparency were observed. She said BCC was not informed of the reported transaction and stressed that local authorities should be consulted on decisions involving major public assets within the city.
Mayor Lowe concluded that while decisions affecting Banjul may sometimes be taken without prior notice to the council, this would not prevent her from publicly raising issues she considers important to the interests of the city and its residents.