Since 2020, the Gambia government has spent an astounding D2,879,432,900 on vehicles, upkeep, fuel, and lubricant.
The government has allocated D1,621,253,000 for vehicles, maintenance, fuel, and lubricants, based on the national forecasts for 2025.
According to vehicle control records as of December 2019, the government had 925 vehicles in total, of which 88% were VIP and regular or pool user motors and 12% were project vehicles.
Additionally, 266 motorcycles are available for office functions including mail delivery.
Inadequate institutional and regulatory frameworks, inefficient procurement processes, a lack of a centralised management system, poor operation and management, inappropriate policies, insufficient monitoring and evaluation of the current system, insufficient driver capacity building, and little government involvement in project vehicle procurement are all linked to the high maintenance expenditures.
Through the Ministry of Works and Transport, the government approved a draft vehicle policy in 2021 that will establish rules for the acquisition, use, upkeep, disposal, and general administration of government vehicles. The strategy, which aims to guarantee that all government vehicles are registered and given license plates, hasn’t received much attention. According to that draft strategy, all government vehicles had to be centralised under a department of transportation, which would be in charge of their administration and upkeep.
According to the policy, ministers should be given a saloon utility car and a 4×4 flag, while permanent secretaries and their assistants should be given official vehicles.
According to the policy, a director or deputy permanent secretary who chooses to take out a car loan is entitled to fuel reimbursement for carrying out official duties. The regulation further stated that departmental approval and requisition are required for all other senior personnel to have access to vehicles.
Ebrima Sillah, the transport minister, was unavailable to The Standard during the holidays to provide an update on the car policy.
