Jaiteh laid bare a system where procurement decisions were routinely made behind closed doors, bypassing due process and legal safeguards.
The witness navigated the council’s procurement for over six years. However, despite her position, she revealed that key decisions were often made without her input. Instead, top officials including the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Finance Director conducted procurement activities independently, sidelining her except when compliance with Gambia Public Procurement Authority (GPPA) regulations became unavoidable.
“I am the only one in the procurement unit,” Jaiteh testified. “I am not involved in most of the procurement activities they carry out. Sometimes they involve me.”
Her revelations painted a picture of systemic violations, including instances where the former CEOs Samba Leigh and Seedy K. Touray ordered her to retroactively fabricate paperwork to create the illusion of compliance. Pressed by Lead Counsel Patrick Gomez on why she followed these instructions, Jaiteh responded candidly: “It was an instruction from the CEO.”
Jaiteh also provided the commission with minutes from the council’s contracts committee, documenting her exclusion from critical decisions.
She also cited the awarding of borehole drilling contracts, which she claimed were handled entirely by management without her involvement.
But Jaiteh did not remain silent. She explained that In November 2021, she formally warned the CEO in writing, demanding adherence to procurement laws,
She set a deadline for compliance and threatened to halt processing documents for improperly executed procurements. Yet, her warnings went unanswered, and the violations persisted.
Jaiteh backed her statement by providing the commission with the said letter as evidence.
“Did they reply?” Gomez asked.
“No,” Jaiteh replied.
“Did they comply?” Gomez followed up.
“No,” she answered.
Gomez commended Jaiteh for her courage in speaking out; noting that if more public servants took a stance, governance and accountability could see much needed improvement.
Jaiteh also exposed chronic delays in procurement reporting, particularly from sub-treasuries in Farafenni and Barra, making it nearly impossible to meet legal reporting requirements to the Gambia Public Procurement Authority (GPPA).
