Batchilly, who served as BCC CEO during a period marked by persistent tension and allegations of mismanagement, claimed the Ministry failed to act impartially and often reinforced the mayor's directives, even in cases where they breached proper procedures.
“I am on oath. The Ministry used to side with the mayor,” Batchilly said, directly contradicting Mayor Lowe’s previous assertions that she was powerless and that the Ministry ignored her complaints and letters.
The claims were echoed by Momodou Camara, the former Finance Director of BCC from November 2020 to October 2024, who also testified during the hearing.
Camara accused the mayor of centralizing power and circumventing council procedures, particularly in matters of procurement, payments, and financial approvals.
Both Camara and Batchilly alleged that Mayor Lowe played a dominant role in awarding contracts, with Camara stating that in every 10 contracts, nine were influenced by her. Batchilly concord , estimating the number at seven out of ten.
Batchilly’s accusation against the Ministry comes amid broader revelations of systemic breakdowns at the BCC, including ignored audit findings, unauthorized contracts, and misuse of imprest funds.
Despite audit reports highlighting financial irregularities from 2018 to 2023, there is no evidence that meaningful corrective action was taken by either the council leadership or the Ministry.
Camara presented documents showing he had submitted audit recommendations and flagged breaches in financial regulations. While Batchilly admitted receiving those documents, he claimed that many of the violations occurred during Camara’s tenure.
Nonetheless, the former CEO conceded that internal financial controls were weak and that he had failed to follow up on the retirement of imprests, the absence of an imprest ledger, and other auditor-raised concerns. He accepted responsibility for failing to act, even though these issues had persisted over several years.
Testimonies also painted a picture of a mayor who routinely bypassed standard procedures to push her financial agenda. Both Batchilly and Camara accused Mayor Lowe of negotiating overdrafts with banks without going through the proper council channels.
Camara said that while it was his responsibility to advise on financial matters, the mayor frequently took over roles assigned to the finance director and the CEO.
“It is the mayor who goes to the banks and negotiates the overdrafts,” Camara testified. “We should live within our means.”
He further alleged that key internal checks were overridden, and the council was pushed into financial decisions without regard for budgeting or due process. He cited projects like the construction of public toilets and market infrastructure that were initiated without proper procurement procedures or council approval.
Camara also described a hostile and politically charged work environment at the BCC, stating that he was marginalized, undermined by internal factions, and psychologically distressed during his time in office.
“Going to work was like going to a war zone,” he told the inquiry, adding that he was targeted after refusing to sign certain cheques and because he was selected over a rival applicant for the finance director role.
He accused his predecessor and others within the council of forming a subgroup that sabotaged his work and resisted reforms.
