Bah also doubles as the secretary to the Establishment and Appointment Committee, member of the Market Committee and a member of the Social Committee.
He was interrogated over the geology funds sent by the Accountant General to the council for mining communities within its region. Bah affirmed the occurrence of mining activities in Giboro ward as they have sand and gravel.
He testified that issues surrounding the geology funds were discussed at the council as they were informed about the fund from the Government.
“After our discussion,’ he said, “disbursement became the problem. We pursued them until we went into the election and the money was not given to us. We followed them until this year (2024) when we got our first allocation.”
That meant he received the geology funds during his first tenure. He was however informed that the funds are paid periodically to the council.
The day’s hearing progressed. Mr Bah was asked about the Tobaski and Koriteh ‘salibo’ paid to them in the name of an honorarium. He eventually admitted it was illegal.
Additionally, Bah testified that the law requires the council to sit at least a month, but during the time of former BAC Chairperson Sheriffo Sonko, they sat for about 4 months without holding general council meetings. He said the excuse Sonko often gave was lack of an agenda for organising the monthly meetings.
He testified that a letter was sent to the clerk and copied to the chairperson, and a meeting was convened but could not proceed because there was no quorum, as 16 of them who signed the letter refused to attend the meeting.
He said the Vice Chairman also did not organise a meeting during this. They considered the Chairman was occupying office illegally. He nevertheless admitted that it was wrong to abstain from council meetings and activities, adding that the expulsion of Sheriffo Sonko from his party should not have stopped them from attending the meetings.
He also testified that they were paid their monthly allowances despite boycotting council meetings and activities. He added that he was attending committee meetings during this time but could not provide details. He was instructed to bring the meeting minutes.
