Aji Fatou Nyang, the chief cashier of Banjul City Council (BCC), testified before the Local Government Commission of Inquiry on Thursday, 20 March 2025, regarding the issuance of per diem cheques in her name for Mayor Rohey Malick Lowe.
Nyang informed the commission that it was customary for per diem cheques intended for the mayor to be issued in her name rather than the mayor’s.
“I expressed my concerns regarding the decision not to issue the cheque in her [Mayor Lowe’s] name or to transfer it directly to her bank account.” The acting finance director, Mr. Cham, informed me that as the cashier, it is necessary to include my name on the cheque. “This is the method that was employed,” the witness clarified.
She mentioned that upon withdrawing the money, she would give it to the mayor, who would then sign a sundry voucher to acknowledge receipt. Nonetheless, Nyang stated that she was unable to remember the exact amount of the cheque in question. She mentioned that the voucher was provided to the council’s investigators. The matter of per diem payments has been a central point of the commission’s inquiry into the financial practices of local government councils. The investigation aims to ascertain if the management of these payments adhered to appropriate financial protocols.
Nyang also responded to concerns about the council’s annual revenue recovery task force, noting that in 2021, the collections were managed by Haddijatou Jambang, Pa Matarr Ndow, and Jojo Sanyang. She mentioned that by the time the collectors came back, she had already finished work for the day.
“I’m not sure what they do with the money, whether they take it home or something else, but this money doesn’t come to me,” she said.
At one moment, she mentioned, she was summoned to the mayor’s office regarding the missing funds. She clarified that she had notified the mayor that these funds were never given to her, but that Mr. Cham, the acting finance director, had begun repaying the missing amounts and had already addressed Haddijatou Jambang’s share.
The witness was interrogated regarding the 2020 audit report, which revealed a cash deficit of 217,488.06 dalasi. Nonetheless, Nyang challenged the assertion, maintaining that the figure indicated a surplus instead of a deficit. She clarified that when the council’s bank account was short on funds, she was requested to deposit the collected revenue to facilitate withdrawals. As this deposit was logged on the same day rather than the next morning, it seemed to be a surplus.
Nyang provided clarification regarding a transaction that included a cheque for 100,000 dalasi and 35,000 dalasi in cash received from Haddijatou Jambang.
“Haddijatou provided me with a cheque for GMD 100,000, and I issued a receipt.” Later, she came back with 35,000 dalasi in cash, stating that she had both a cheque and cash. Having already issued a receipt for the cheque, I opted to provide a separate receipt for the cash to prevent the need to cancel the initial one. “She asked me to wait while she went to get her cash book, but she never came back,” Nyang testified.
Nyang mentioned that Jambang subsequently approached her for the receipt during an internal audit.
“I reviewed my General Transaction Receipts (GTRs), located her receipt, and presented it to her,” she stated.
The Local Government Commission of Inquiry is undertaking a comprehensive and unbiased examination of the administrative and financial activities of local government councils spanning from May 2018 to January 2023. The investigation seeks to improve clarity and responsibility in the handling of public finances.
Aji Fatou Nyang, the chief cashier of Banjul City Council (BCC), testified before the Local Government Commission of Inquiry on Thursday, 20 March 2025, regarding the issuance of per diem cheques in her name for Mayor Rohey Malick Lowe.
Nyang informed the commission that it was customary for per diem cheques intended for the mayor to be issued in her name rather than the mayor’s.
“I expressed my concerns regarding the decision not to issue the cheque in her [Mayor Lowe’s] name or to transfer it directly to her bank account.” The acting finance director, Mr. Cham, informed me that as the cashier, it is necessary to include my name on the cheque. “This is the method that was employed,” the witness clarified.
She mentioned that upon withdrawing the money, she would give it to the mayor, who would then sign a sundry voucher to acknowledge receipt. Nonetheless, Nyang stated that she was unable to remember the exact amount of the cheque in question. She mentioned that the voucher was provided to the council’s investigators. The matter of per diem payments has been a central point of the commission’s inquiry into the financial practices of local government councils. The investigation aims to ascertain if the management of these payments adhered to appropriate financial protocols.
Nyang also responded to concerns about the council’s annual revenue recovery task force, noting that in 2021, the collections were managed by Haddijatou Jambang, Pa Matarr Ndow, and Jojo Sanyang. She mentioned that by the time the collectors came back, she had already finished work for the day.
“I’m not sure what they do with the money, whether they take it home or something else, but this money doesn’t come to me,” she said.
At one moment, she mentioned, she was summoned to the mayor’s office regarding the missing funds. She clarified that she had notified the mayor that these funds were never given to her, but that Mr. Cham, the acting finance director, had begun repaying the missing amounts and had already addressed Haddijatou Jambang’s share.
The witness was interrogated regarding the 2020 audit report, which revealed a cash deficit of 217,488.06 dalasi. Nonetheless, Nyang challenged the assertion, maintaining that the figure indicated a surplus instead of a deficit. She clarified that when the council’s bank account was short on funds, she was requested to deposit the collected revenue to facilitate withdrawals. As this deposit was logged on the same day rather than the next morning, it seemed to be a surplus.
Nyang provided clarification regarding a transaction that included a cheque for 100,000 dalasi and 35,000 dalasi in cash received from Haddijatou Jambang.
“Haddijatou provided me with a cheque for GMD 100,000, and I issued a receipt.” Later, she came back with 35,000 dalasi in cash, stating that she had both a cheque and cash. Having already issued a receipt for the cheque, I opted to provide a separate receipt for the cash to prevent the need to cancel the initial one. “She asked me to wait while she went to get her cash book, but she never came back,” Nyang testified.
Nyang mentioned that Jambang subsequently approached her for the receipt during an internal audit.
“I reviewed my General Transaction Receipts (GTRs), located her receipt, and presented it to her,” she stated.
The Local Government Commission of Inquiry is undertaking a comprehensive and unbiased examination of the administrative and financial activities of local government councils spanning from May 2018 to January 2023. The investigation seeks to improve clarity and responsibility in the handling of public finances.
