In his statement before the Local Government Commission of Inquiry on Tuesday, Banjul City Council Mayor Rohey Malick Lowe disclosed that mayors in The Gambia have little power to manage local councils.
Lead counsel questioned Mayor Lowe during her testimony over who in the council has the authority to approve expenditures. She explained that the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is in charge of accounting, and that the mayor can provide guidance but lacks the legal authority to approve expenditures.
The mayor responded, “I think he should be able to let me know,” when asked if the CEO must approach her for approval before making any expenses. “Should the CEO, in some circumstance, take permission or approval from you in relation to expenditure?” enquired the lead attorney.
The mayor said, “I believe he should be able to inform me.”
The mayor responded, “I think he should be able to let me know,” when asked if the CEO must approach her for approval before making any expenses.
“When he comes to me and I give him advice, even if I ask him to do or not do it, he is the accounting officer; I cannot do anything,” she said in answer to more questions on whether the CEO has a duty to ask for her approval. However, lead counsel Patrick Gomez pointed out that the CEO is answerable to the council and, consequently, to the mayor, suggesting that the mayor does have some legal authority. He underlined that the mayor should have some kind of authority because, within the administrative structure, he represents the council.
“To be honest, I don’t think mayors in The Gambia have powers,” said Mayor Lowe, who disagreed. The mayor is unable to discipline anyone because of the way you put it. Since mayors are unable to hire anybody and she is unable to promote or demote anyone, where are the mayor’s powers? “I have proof that the ministry will write to you and say anything related to discipline, or the permanent secretary will ask you not to write to them and will say, ask the CEO to write to me,” she claimed, adding that the mayor is not allowed to spend any money.
The council had 13 members as of 2021, with nine elected and four nominated, the mayor said, reflecting on her time in office since 2018. She added that the council only meets once a month, unless there are pressing issues that call for more meetings. Finance, Contracts, Employment, Youth, and Sports are the council’s five committees; however, she was unable to remember the name of the fifth committee.
Mayor Lowe stressed in her evidence that she mostly relied on the Local Government Act and the customs of past mayors, such as allocating funds for community support, scholarships, and religious donations. Under her direction, these programs have persisted while adhering to the set protocols.
