Having served as CEO in other Councils before, Ceesay took over from former CEO Sainabou Martin-Sonko.
He testified that the KMC has 13 committees: Contracts Committee, Planning and Development Committee, Finance Committee, Establishment Committee, Education Committee, Agric Committee, Environment, Budget and Accounts Committee, Sports Committee, Revenue Committee, Arts and Culture Committee, ‘Mbalit’ Committee and All Chairpersons Committee.
He said the committees were all active and there are files for each of them. Ceesay also explained that the Council’s finance department has license unit, rates unit and market unit. He explained that the rates unit is responsible for properties, licence unit for businesses and the market unit for collection from various markets.
Pa Sait Ceesay said he found that personnel in rates unit were not using cash books. Instead, they were using demand notes. He stated that collectors in three licence units were using cash books.
“When they collect, they take the cash to the Council. They don't take it to the bank; they take it to the receiving cashiers” he said.
The witness admitted that the Financial Manual for Local Government Councils provides for the collectors to bank their collections. He testified that KMC operated a different system in which collectors bring cash to the Council and give it to cashiers.
In a separate testimony, the Kanifing Municipal Council’s CEO, Pa Sait Ceesay, Tuesday testified over revenue assessment reports and a series of other issues.
Ceesay said there were no assessments done at the time he assumed office. He requested time to find out the last time KMC did revenue assessment.
He was asked about the revenue baseline and the budgets for 2022 and 2023. He requested to provide the information. It was granted.
Pa Sait said the CEO is the approving authority, and he can approve payments up D500,000. He added if the payment us beyond D500,000, the Council would discuss it and pass a resolution approving the payment.
He is the chairperson of the Contracts Committee and the other members are the procurement manager, two experts, two councillors, director of planning and director of administration.
The KMC CEO testified that he found an outdated strategic plan of KMC. He told commissioners he does not know whether KMC has a loan policy or not, but stated that the council also gives out salary advance to staff.
He said KMC established two companies called KMT and KMM. He said that he is a member of the board of both companies. He was asked about the other board members but he said a resolution was passed for the mayor to select and appoint the board members. The Commission requested for the resolution. The witness was further requested to produce the memorandum and articles of association of both companies.
