By: Fatou Krubally
The National Assembly’s Public Enterprises Committee has recommended the immediate withdrawal of telephone, data and other service benefits provided to former senior officials of the Gambia Telecommunications Company Limited (GAMTEL), citing the absence of a clear policy authorising the practice.
The recommendation is contained in the Committee’s report on GAMTEL’s 2022 audited financial statements, which was presented to the National Assembly on Tuesday.
According to the report, former managing directors, deputy managing directors, general managers and directors continued to receive home telephone services, data services and monthly credit allocations after leaving office.
The Committee noted that auditors were unable to establish any formal policy or official approval authorising the continuation of the benefits.
It concluded that the arrangement lacked transparency and proper authorisation and recommended that the practice be discontinued with immediate effect.
The Committee also called on GAMTEL’s Board and Management to develop a clear policy governing the provision of staff benefits, limiting any such entitlements to serving employees under defined conditions.
It said public enterprises should strengthen oversight of staff-related benefits to prevent unnecessary expenditure and enhance accountability in the management of public resources.
The recommendation forms part of wider findings contained in the Committee’s review of GAMTEL’s 2022 audited accounts, which also identified weaknesses in procurement practices, delays in statutory payments and shortcomings in internal audit systems.
The Committee urged the company to implement corrective measures to address the audit findings and strengthen corporate governance.