When asked about his duties, Sanneh said he advised the mayor and CEO, but Gomez countered that his role was meant to support the entire council. Sanneh could not outline any specific advice or expertise he brought to the position, and admitted he had no experience in finance, project management, or public administration.
“You were only given the position because of your affiliation with the mayor,” Gomez said. “You don’t have the experience, yet you were appointed.”
Sanneh responded: “That’s not how I see it,” but offered no evidence of qualifications or relevant experience. He admitted to having no background in finance or project management key areas under his portfolio.
The Commission heard that Sanneh signed a consultancy agreement with a D20,000 monthly salary, though he denied being a consultant. “I thought it was just a continuation of my job,” he said, calling the contract a misunderstanding. He also confirmed that he did not attend council meetings at first and only advised the mayor and CEO informally.
Gomez pointed out that such an arrangement was ineffective. “The mayor has no unilateral power to make council decisions. If you’re not present in meetings, how do you advise the council?”
The inquiry also focused on suspicious financial activity. Sanneh’s bank statements revealed several substantial deposits including D300,000 in March 2022 which he claimed were repayments for a D2.1 million loans to his sister. He admitted he had no documentation to prove the loan, nor did he have a bank account at the time the money was allegedly lent.
“You can’t substantiate any of these transactions,” said Gomez, calling them suspicious and questioning Sanneh’s access to public funds.
Further scrutiny revealed Sanneh’s involvement in revenue and trade licence collection, despite having no formal role. His name appeared in official records, which he dismissed as a mistake. He also admitted to coordinating a D100,000 waste contract but failed to provide evidence of payment.
Despite holding large sums in his account, Sanneh took a D13,000 loan from an EU project. When asked why, he gave no clear answer and acknowledged lacking project management experience.
The Commission requested further documentation as it investigates allegations of politically motivated appointments and financial irregularities at BCC.
