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Audit report reveals unaccounted funds at Basse sub-treasury

Aug 16, 2023, 11:04 AM | Article By: Pa Modou Cham

The National Audit Office (NAO) 2020 report on the Covid-19 funds regarding Basse Sub-treasury revealed that payment voucher number 21PV20002024 of the Ministry of Health indicated that Covid-19 allowance for 52 personnel amounting to D704, 741.84 was paid to Basse Sub-treasury.

“Our review of the attachment list showed that the actual number on the attachment list is 51 because the number 36 was omitted from the list. As a result, the actual amount paid was D683, 881.42 and not D704, 741.84 as indicated on the voucher.

Response from Basse Regional Health Directorate dated 13th December 2021 stated that they have gone through the reference section of the audit report which indicated “suspected financial misappropriation” at Basse Sub Treasury.

The management, however, noted that a master list from the RHD, Basse, was prepared with stratification, printed, signed and stamped.

“This was later scanned and sent to your good office for your perusal and eventual payments. Since then, payments have been made at the sub-treasury. Staff were paid based on the list provided to the sub-treasury accountant from Banjul. The RHD was never involved in any form of staff payment neither were they involved in the provision of staff list to the regional accountant for any payment,” the Management states.

It reiterated that the RHD is not responsible for the difference in payment with the stated amount indicated in the report.

The Basse regional health directorate further explained that most people across the region received varying amounts of payments which the ministry has not still augmented based on the category of stratification.