By Haddy Touray
More than D5.18 million in market revenue was misappropriated at the Serrekunda and Latrikunda Sabiji Markets during 2024, an internal audit by the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) has revealed.
This, the auditors described as widespread weaknesses in revenue collection and financial accountability.
The findings, contained in an internal audit report seen by The Voice newspaper, indicate that the alleged losses occurred between 1 January and 31 December 2024 through under-reporting of revenue collections, suppression of canteen fees, unaccounted toilet revenue and other financial irregularities.
The latest findings follow an earlier internal audit report that alleged the misappropriation of more than D26 million at the Bakoteh Fish Market and Ice Plant between January 2020 and September 2025, bringing the total alleged revenue loss identified in the two reports to more than D30 million.
According to the report, the total alleged loss at the two markets amounted to D5,184,890.
The auditors attributed the losses to suppressed temporary and permanent canteen revenue, suppressed daily market fees, unaccounted toilet revenue, irregular revenue recording practices and operational shortcomings, including poor sanitation, inadequate access roads, insufficient lighting and limited security.
The report alleges that Serrekunda Market accounted for D1,267,840 in suppressed temporary canteen revenue, D1,264,350 in suppressed permanent canteen revenue and D30,000 in unaccounted daily fees.
At Latrikunda Sabiji Market, auditors alleged D205,500 in suppressed permanent canteen revenue and D1,174,000 in suppressed canteen collections.
The report further states that a review of revenue records found significant discrepancies between amounts recorded in canteen registers and sums deposited into the council’s accounts.
According to the auditors, the discrepancies appeared to result from deliberate under-reporting rather than accounting errors, leading to substantial losses in revenue that should have accrued to the council.
The report names several revenue collectors and market officials, alleging that cash recorded in market registers exceeded amounts reflected in individual cashbooks and deposited into KMC accounts.
One case cited in the report alleges that three revenue collectors at Serrekunda Market collected D6,050,675 in temporary canteen fees during 2024 but deposited D4,782,835, leaving an alleged shortfall of D1,267,840.
The audit report also alleges that two collectors at Latrikunda Sabiji Market received D7,071,500 in canteen revenue but deposited D5,807,150, resulting in an alleged shortfall of D1,264,350.
In another finding, the report alleges that D30,000 collected by the Serrekunda Market Manager was not deposited into the council’s account but was instead used to pre-finance activities related to the reception of a visiting delegation from Madison City in the United States.
The auditors described the alleged financial irregularities as a serious breach of fiduciary responsibility and public trust and recommended a comprehensive investigation, recovery of the missing funds and stronger financial controls to prevent future revenue leakages.
KMC had not publicly responded to the audit findings at the time of filing this report.