The reports were submitted on Wednesday February 1.
Giving the final verdict of the committee, Hon. Kebbalang Fofana, a nominated member, said the report could not be adopted because they were not able to obtain “sufficient appropriate audit evidence” to provide the basis for an opinion on the financial statements.
He added that non-adherence to the adopted accounting basis; material misstatements in the reports and the absence of reliable explanatory notes for financial statements of 2020 were some of the factors which “make the report scanty”.
He further noted that “it is the decision of the FPAC Committee to the Banjul City Council to redo their financial statements for the year 2019 and 2020 and make submission on or before 1st April 2023.
He reminded the council that financial statements should reflect the true and fair nature of the financial position of the institution. He warned that any repeated misrepresentation would result in contempt of the committee and by extension the National Assembly.
Mayoress Rohey Malick Lowe of BCC, while giving her remarks, said she was grateful that the session was held as she got to see revelation of issues she wasn’t aware of.
She, however, noted that when she took over as mayoress in 2018, she found D35,000 in the account with a debt of about D13 million and they were banking with all banks except Standard Chartered and the Sahel Bank.
“When I came with my team, we were able to clear all the debts and we added more valuable sectors and necessary needs in Banjul and the council,” she said.
