On Monday, Malang Sambou and Sílvia Llopart Gracia, co-founders of the Mbolo Association, presented their testimonies to the local government commission of inquiry regarding their participation in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ostend Banjul Project, which is valued at D3,423,000. The project was designed for development at Crab Island.
Throughout the proceedings, lead counsel Patrick Gomez interrogated Sambou regarding his association’s involvement with the Banjul City Council (BCC). Sambou clarified that Mbolo Association, a non-profit organisation, is dedicated to enhancing the lives of women through vocational and technical education (TVET). He observed that the organisation offers skills training in various fields, including tie and dye, sewing, cooking and pastry, basic electricity, solar installation technology, and media journalism, among others.
“You had an engagement with Banjul City Council for which you received a payment of three million four hundred and twenty-three thousand dalasis.” Do you remember this? The Counsel enquired.
Sambou clarified that Mbolo had received merely half of the agreed amount. “We received D3 million only partially; we were paid 50 percent, and the remaining 50 percent is still outstanding.”
The witness additionally specified that the MoU detailed a total payment of D3,423,000, which he submitted to the commission along with the MoU and payment vouchers as proof.
Malang Sambou also shared an account of a visit in 2022 when representatives from the Banjul City Council (BCC) visited the Fandema Innovation Centre. He stated that before this visit, he had not previously known anyone in BCC’s management.
In 2022, BCC visited us at the Fandema Innovation Centre. Prior to this visit, I was unfamiliar with anyone in the management of BCC. When they arrived, they let me know that their purpose was a technical visit, and I guided them around as I would with any other guest. He mentioned, “They expressed a desire to have something similar in Banjul.”
He mentioned, “They later returned with the Ostend team and proposed an MoU, stating that they are reconstructing Crab Island and wish to expand it. They are looking to leverage our expertise to implement this in Banjul,” he said.
Lead Counsel Patrick Gomez requested the witness to specify the particular services for which he received compensation from the council.
The witness detailed that the services included replicating the solar multifunctional platform in Banjul, setting up waste management systems, and transferring the welding techniques utilised at Fandema.
“The services we are expected to provide in exchange for the monetary value include replicating the solar multifunctional platform in Banjul, managing waste, refining our welding processes, and supplying equipment to facilitate the startup of their business.” We supply them with freezers, refrigerators, and dryers.
The witness subsequently stated that they returned a portion of the initial payment due to the failure to perform the agreed-upon activities.
“We refunded them a portion of the initial payment because the activities were not conducted, and that was the remaining balance of the 50 percent they had paid.” “They did not request the refund; we returned it to them,” he said.
The witness additionally indicated that the MoU was later terminated because of delays in the renovation efforts at Crab Island. He explained that on March 7, 2024, a meeting took place involving representatives from Banjul, Ostend, and Mbolo, during which it was decided that Mbolo would cease the remaining activities due to time and financial limitations.
