The Banjul City Council (BCC) is now embroiled in a fresh conflict. This instance pertains to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and the Finance Director. The previous confrontation had implicated the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor.
Mustapha Batchilly holds the position of CEO, while Momodou Camara serves as the Finance Director. On Wednesday, January 10, 2024, the police became involved in their situation after a physical altercation between the CEO and the Finance Director. The authorities dedicated a substantial amount of time to the Banjul Police Station.
Foroyaa has been carefully observing the progress and engaging in contact to stay updated on the events taking place inside the municipal council. Prior to discussing the content of the letters/memos, Foroyaa has received credible information that there are attempts to forcibly gain access to the office of the Finance Director in order to retrieve certain receipt books. Nevertheless, the financial Director firmly asserts his authority over the financial section and assumes responsibility for its management and oversight. Foroyaa has received reliable information that the Establishment Committee of the Council has granted its sanction for the forcible entrance into the Office of the Finance Director. According to this source, a member of the Committee left the deliberations due to his opposition to their decision.
The CEO is accused of attempting to transfer the trade license receipt books from the Finance Director to those who are not authorized to collect them. However, the Finance Director is refusing to comply with this request. The CEO and his close allies depended on the Establishment Committee to forcibly gain access to the office of the Finance Director, prompting the intervention of the police who arrived at the location.
The beginning or origin.
On 8 January 2024, the Finance Director sent a document to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) titled “Request for Approval to Initiate the Trade License Payment Chain Lifecycle (Invoicing)”. The Finance Director requested the CEO’s consent to initiate the Trade License Payment Chain Lifecycle (TLPCLC) for the fiscal year 2024.
Prior to commencing revenue collection from firms and suppliers in Banjul, the Finance Director presented the CEO with a set of requirements that need to be carefully considered and addressed. The finance unit leader informed the CEO about the Council’s financial obligations.
“Kindly be reminded that we have significant financial obligations to fulfill, including the payment of staff salaries and general council allowances. Specifically, we owe 60% of the November 2023 staff salary and general council allowances, as well as the full amount for December 2023. It is imperative that we address these internal issues,” said the Finance Director.
The Finance Director said that, as the director of finance, it is within his purview to oversee all revenue-related tasks, such as managing funds, improving financial performance, establishing new sources of income, generating reports, managing staff assignments, and overseeing collections, among other responsibilities. He asserted that these tasks are offered in accordance with the Local Government Act and are reinforced by the Financial and Accounting Manual for Local Government Authorities 2009, specifically sections 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, and 209. He underscored that Articles 402, 405, and 406 clearly specify the individuals accountable for the council’s profits.
“I urge you to review and endorse this proposal for the Council to proceed in serving the residents of Banjul.” The Finance Director replied to the CEO, stating that these parts clearly specify the individuals accountable for overseeing and managing Council money.
According to the Finance Director, there has been no official registration or evaluation of any trade license since their arrival at the Council in November 2020.
“I am unsure of the date of the most recent registration and assessment.” The Finance Director inquired.
The Finance Director said that a new trade licensing gazette would be published in 2019.
“I invite you to join me in creating a registration team that will assist the Assessment Team in making comprehensive recommendations for the recovery and invoicing of all businesses and vendors in Banjul in 2024.” “I have complete confidence in my abilities as the director of finance to permanently resolve any issues regarding cash flow for the Council, provided that you offer me your support,” said the Finance Director.
The Finance Director affirmed that in 2021, he had substantial backing from the management and the general council, resulting in a significant increase in income and operational efficiency. He said that they successfully accumulated a total of 90 Million Dalasi. Furthermore, he emphasized that their performance may be improved if he is granted the necessary conditions of undisturbed work and serenity in his role as the director of finance.
“I request assistance in progressing further.” The Finance Director expressed their belief that a significant amount of potential income remains untapped as a result of inadequate registration and evaluation of companies and suppliers within the municipality.
He requested the CEO’s approval for the establishment of the planned registration and evaluation teams, which would include of personnel from different departments and divisions within the Council.
“Your profound knowledge and perceptive viewpoints as the Chief Executive Officer will be crucial and highly valued.” “I am familiar with the path and, with your assistance, we can overcome new obstacles in our efforts to generate revenue,” said the Finance Director.
According to him, the invoicing procedure would occur after the registration and assessment activities. Subsequently, the revenue collectors will be sent out to gather the revenues owed to the Council.
On January 8, 2024, the CEO responded to the Director of Finance, reiterating their earlier orders and requesting the transfer of any relevant licenses, rates, and cost recovery data. This includes invoices, demand notes, receipts, and other related materials. The CEO requested that the Finance Director authorize all revenue department leaders to carry out their duties and obligations with the assistance of the Finance Manager, who would be overseen by the Finance Director.
“However, you neglected to comply with my instructions,” the CEO said to the Finance Director.
The CEO said that they would adhere fully to the proposed revisions approved by the Management. Consequently, they anticipate you to expedite the procedure by no later than mid-day tomorrow, 9 January 2024.
These two correspondences were the most recent communications exchanged between the Finance Director and the CEO. The Finance Director had previously addressed letters to the CEO, accusing him of interfering with his job.
On December 22, 2023, the Finance Director sent a letter to the CEO titled “Interference in my work, roles, and responsibilities.”
“I would like to reiterate my concern regarding your interference in my work, duties, and responsibilities.” Under your supervision, there has been persistent interference with my work, functions, and obligations. The Finance Director said that they have exhausted all options and are now compelled to chronicle the invasions into their employment for official records, since they lack the ability to prevent them.
According to him, the CEO authorized the yearly leave of two employees in the finance department without his consent as the department head. He said that it was incorrect since the personnel had unfinished tasks, and the CEO’s actions had an impact on their job.
On December 28, 2023, the Finance Director sent a letter to the CEO titled “Inflated Invoices.”
The Finance Director wrote to inform you about the invoices sent by the Director of Planning for the rental of bulldozers for a period of nine days. The total amount for clearing the dumpsite is Five Hundred and Eighty-Five Thousand Dalasi (D585,000), with two separate claims of D130,000 and D455,000.
He said that the daily billing of D65,000 is unrealistic and overpriced when compared to the suggested prices from the market study, both at the time of the survey and at current.
According to the Finance Director, the market analysis revealed that D-8 bulldozers have a daily cost of D55,000, while D-6 bulldozers range from D25,000 to D30,000 each day.
“I strongly recommend that you advise the Director of Planning to stop participating in procurement processes and instead allow the Senior Procurement Officer and the Unit to operate independently,” said the Finance Director.
The Finance Director urged the CEO to guarantee strict adherence to the procurement regulations. He said that the two invoices did not undergo scrutiny by the Internal Audit Unit of the Council.
The Finance Director expressed their discomfort with signing for payments that had been artificially increased.
On January 3, 2024, the Finance Director sent a letter to the CEO, alleging that he was meddling in his responsibilities. According to the Finance Director, the CEO selected Ebou Drammeh, the Acting Finance Manager, to go to the United States of America for a task assigned by the Council. However, upon departure, Drammeh intentionally disappeared. He has remained in his position for two years without being replaced.
The CEO withdrew the Finance Director as a signatory to certain accounts of the Council. He said that this occurred when he declined to endorse a check for Nine Hundred Thousand Dalasi (D900,000) issued by Mam Lai Jassey, the EU Project Coordinator, and Alfusainey Gano, the former Project Manager, for visibility activities or promotion. The CEO dissolved the original steering committee of the EU Project and subsequently revoked his status as a signatory to the account, according to his statement. Muhammed Cham, the Project’s Finance Officer, succeeded the Finance Director. Additionally, he said that the CEO dismissed him from the New Steering Committee.
“As the CEO, your ability to violate the law and avoid consequences is your most notable attribute,” said the Finance Director, while reminding the CEO of the legal need for the finance director to be a signatory to all council accounts.
On January 5th, 2024, the Finance Director sent another letter to the CEO, accusing him once again of meddling in his job. According to him, the CEO terminated a source of income from which the city council received a total of Six Hundred Thousand (D600,000) within a single year.
“You deliberately undermined and terminated one of the most successful sources of new revenue, which was the Rental Operational Licenses.” In 2021, the council generated a substantial sum of D600,000 from this new source, which you subsequently terminated. “Mathematically speaking, you are accountable for generating a revenue of at least 1.2 Million Dalasi for the council in both 2022 and 2023,” said the Finance Director in a written communication to the CEO.
In 2021, the Finance Director reported a 38% increase in revenue and generated an additional 25 Million Dalasi in new revenue.
“These statistics are readily visible and it is impossible to ignore them.” “We provide immense value to the Council, and it is simply impossible for the old system to continue operating in the same manner,” said the Finance Director.
The Finance Director informed the CEO that, in his capacity as the Director of Finance, he successfully revitalized the dumpsite, resulting in an annual revenue of at least One Million Dalasi for the council.
“I would like to inquire about the state of the dumpsite prior to my arrival and the destination of the funds.” The noteworthy remark is that you did not perform well before to my arrival. I would appreciate it if you could provide a straightforward response to this basic question: What was your annual income from the dumpsite before?” The Finance Director inquired the CEO.
On January 5, 2024, I corresponded once again with the Chief Executive Officer about bank loans. According to the Finance Director, the CEO obtained an overdraft of more than 8 Million Dalasi from BSIC without obtaining the Finance Director’s consent. He said that the CEO proceeded to use the funds without his consultation.
“Your actions, along with those of your colleagues, have resulted in significant financial difficulties for the Banjul City Council, which persist to this day.” “It caused congestion in payment processing and other financial obligations,” said the Finance Director.
He said that the CEO was a competent leader since the law mandates that, before to acquiring such assets from the bank, the CEO must have obtained the authorization, approval, or otherwise involved the finance director. According to the Finance Director, the CEO has been meddling with the personnel rotation policy that was implemented for revenue collectors and trade license collectors.