Upon receiving the petition from concerned staff of the GT Board, the committee was tasked to investigate and report back to Parliament.
Hence, the chairman of the committee, Hon. Suwaibou Touray, announced yesterday that the committee unanimously agreed on the need to take appropriate measures to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in addressing the abuse of power.
“That the Select Committee on Tourism and the Ombudsman must monitor and ensure that all the senior staff deployed and wrongfully terminated/dismissed as a result of this petition, are recalled to the Head Office and reinstated to their former posts with immediate effect. The Select Committee and the Ombudsman must report back to the Assembly on the implementation of this resolution on or before 1 December, 2024,” he noted.
Hon. Touray emphasised that the Ministry of Tourism and Culture must ensure that all staff who had 50% of their salaries deducted per the Minister's directive are reimbursed the full amount owed to them by December 1, 2024, and must report to the Assembly by December 15, 2024.
The committee’s resolution orders the Auditor General to conduct a staff audit from January 2017 to December 2023 to examine the procedures for appointments and promotions at GTB and report back to the FPAC by February 1, 2025.
Hon. Suwaibou further emphasised that “the GT Board must ensure that all departments are led by qualified, experienced, and competent personnel as required by the Act. The Select Committee on Tourism is responsible for monitoring this and reporting back to the Assembly regularly.”
The Ministry of Tourism is also directed to immediately stop taking major decisions regarding the operation of the GT Board without first going through the Governing body.
