The
Select Committee on Lands and Regional Government at the National Assembly on
Thursday showed their displeasure at Basse Area Council (BAC) for failure to
submit their financial statement for three consecutive years.
Ousman
Trawally, the chief executive Officer (CEO) at the Basse Area Council stated
that having access to the information on the financial statement was a very big
challenge that the council is facing at this time.
Mr.
Trawally apologised to the members for submitting the incomplete document of
the financial statement before them and he assured that this will not happen
again. “This serves as the learning point where the council members will learn
to rectify their errors.”
Foday
Danjo, the council chairman informed that since they took over the office in
2018, the accountants who were working at the council lacked financial
experience but as at now the council sent them to Management Development
Institute (MDI) to build their capacity so that such kind of issues can be
things of the past.
Bakary
Trawally, director of audit responsible for area councils and the
municipalities at the National Audit Office, said Basse Area Council did not
prepare any financial statement for the past years that could be sent for
auditing.
Foday
Drammeh, National Assembly Member for Tunmana and a member of the committee,
called on the ministry responsible for local government to start building the
capacity of the council members on the affairs of the council.
The
committee has now given Basse Area Council three months extension to go and
work on their financial statement so that it can be audited and submitted to
the committee for consideration and approval.