At the centre of the findings is the National Environment Management Council, the NEA’s top oversight body. Although the law requires the council to meet quarterly, auditors revealed it met only once during the year under review. The absence of regular meetings and recorded minutes, they cautioned, suggests the council has failed to fulfil its mandate—risking both strategic and operational paralysis.
The NAO recommended that the council convene every three months and properly document its proceedings.
The management letter highlighted long-outstanding cheque lodgements amounting to D52,200 in a Trust Bank account, urging management to ensure the funds are credited.
Security weaknesses were also flagged: the agency operates without CCTV cameras, leaving its premises vulnerable. Auditors advised installing surveillance systems to support existing security staff.
Fuel coupons worth D180,000 were issued to a minister and the vice president without justification, raising questions about accountability. Auditors stressed that fuel purchased for agency activities must be used strictly for that purpose.
Vehicle maintenance costs of D1.8 million were incurred without formal contracts with mechanics, while payments of honouraria totalling D636,350 were made in the absence of a guiding policy.
The NAO further noted that the agency failed to prepare an annual budget or present periodic management accounts to its council or finance committee. It called for annual budgets, regular management accounts and variance reports to strengthen financial discipline.
Governance Gaps
The NEA lacks a whistleblowing policy and a formal risk management framework. Auditors urged the introduction of clear procedures for reporting misconduct and identifying risks.
Concerns also extended to environmental impact assessment approvals, where required public notices and gazetting were not carried out. Misclassified transactions, inadequate ledger descriptions and D122,000 in unretired imprest advances were also uncovered.
Despite these governance failures, the agency reported surpluses: D1.08 million in 2021 from total income of D47.5 million against expenditure of D46.4 million, and D6.846 million in 2022 from income of D57.26 million.
Executive Director Dr Dawda Badjie acknowledged both achievements and challenges, reaffirming the NEA’s mandate to coordinate environmental protection in The Gambia. He appealed for continued National Assembly support to strengthen enforcement powers, secure sustainable financing and expand laboratory capacity.
