The National Assembly’s Joint Committee on Public Accounts (FPAC) and Public Enterprises (PEC) recommended that Gam Petroleum’s managing director, Yerro Jallow, be placed on administrative leave due to perjury allegations, but the government has rejected this suggestion.
One of the resolutions passed after the committee’s investigation into the handling of 36,953.614 metric tons of petroleum products was its recommendation.
Finance and Economic Affairs Minister Seedy Keita presented the government’s stance to parliamentarians on Monday, stating that administrative leave is not now necessary and that the situation is under the jurisdiction of Mr. Jallow’s company.
“The Ministry of Justice notes this recommendation. Decisions regarding the administrative leave of Mr. Yerro Jallow fall within the purview of his employing authority. Accordingly, upon completion of our review and the filing of any necessary processes, we will advise his employers as
appropriate. Sending Mr. Jallow on administrative leave pending the review outcome for alleged perjury would not be necessary at this stage,” Keita told the Assembly.
Nonetheless, the government affirmed that police will look into claims of duty violations and conflicts of interest involving the general manager of Gam Petroleum.
The ullage and storage agreements between traders, OMCs, and GAM Petroleum specify their connection. For the benefit of the traders, GAM Petroleum owns the petroleum stock. Any conflicts of interest and violations of agreements and fiduciary duties against the general manager would be investigated by the police as advised, Keita continued.
The National Audit Office should investigate the fairness of Gam Petroleum’s ullage allocations between January and December 2023, according to the joint committee’s recommendation. The Assembly should get the findings within 60 days.
Additionally, lawmakers ordered Gam Petroleum to end all current contracts with Apogee Gambia Ltd. and refrain from signing into any new ones. Additionally, they directed Gam Petroleum to submit its financial statements for the Auditor General’s review and subsequent reporting to the Assembly.
In response to these resolutions, the government stated that the National Audit Office and Gam Petroleum’s Board would be tasked with reviewing the recommendations and taking the necessary steps.
In order to protect the public interest, lawmakers also urged the Ministry of Finance, SSHFC, GPA, and GNPC to push for governance changes at Gam Petroleum. The government affirmed that the company’s board will also be consulted on this recommendation.
Keita reassured the lawmakers, “The recommendation has been noted and will be referred to the GP board for action.”
