A former civil official continued to receive close to D100,000 in salary long after she was fired, according to an audit of the Gambian government’s 2024 financial statements. This raises questions about potential flaws in payroll control.
Sirreh Bojang, whose department was not included in the report, was dismissed from government service in October 2023, according to the National Audit Office. However, payroll records reveal that she continued to be paid D99,526.78 after being fired.
According to auditors, the error highlights a larger danger that unpaid salaries would be disbursed to absentee or former workers, which might inflate the government’s declared payroll expenses.
The audit called on management to submit proof of payback and to retrieve the overpaid money “immediately.”
Management responded to the auditors by stating that Ms. Bojang had been “formally engaged to refund the overpaid amount.” The Central Bank of The Gambia and Guaranty Trust Bank launched a recall of monies, according to the audit team, but no evidence of actual recovery was provided.
“Therefore, the issue remains unresolved up to the time of finalizing this management letter,” the auditors wrote.
