The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Petitions on Monday tabled a report containing their recommendations and observations relating to the delay by the GPA in releasing their internal reports about alleged corruption in the institution.
The committee report revealed that earlier this year, it was discovered that several staffers of the Gambia Ports Authority were involved in massive theft and fraud leading to the disappearance and loss of millions of dalasis.
“Employees at the Rating Unit were allegedly issuing fake receipts, undercutting fees, and collecting bribes and inducements,” the report, read out by Hon Suwaibou Touray, Chairman of the Committee, revealed.
The report stated further: “Between 2020 and 2022, the alleged fraudsters were stealing D4 million per week through these corrupt practices. When news of the corruption was leaked to the media, the GPA management hastily constituted an internal investigative panel to look into the matter in response to public outrage and concern.”
According to Hon Touray, the panel's report and recommendations were handed to the GPA management on 16 March 2022. “But the GPA management refused to release the findings in their entirety and the names of the investigative panel members,” the committee chairman said.
“As a result of the GPA's deliberate act to conceal this vital information from the public and further considering their blatant disregard for the Access to Information Act, 2021, we want the National Assembly's Public Petitions Committee to compel the GPA management to release the report. We trust you and your powers. The law has given you powers equate to that of the High Court in situations like this.”
The chairman reiterated that the report “alleges corruption” at the GPA, saying that such issues of “graft seriously cripple institutions and retard” economic growth and development.
During his submission, the Member for Brikama North Constituency and the Minority Leader, Hon. Alhagie S. Darboe, moved a motion for NAMs to adopt the report without debate and amendments.
The report was adopted on Monday directly without amendments.
