#National News

MKAC staff admits ‘undue spending’

Nov 16, 2023, 11:44 AM | Article By: Ali Jaw

A witness in the ongoing Local Government Commission of Inquiry has admitted that the Mansakonko Area Council (MKAC) has been carrying out ‘undue spending’.

 

Lamin Baldeh has been working at the Mansakonko Area Council since 2002 as a revenue collector and over the years rose through ranks to become a senior revenue collector and accounts clerk in 2007 and 2015 respectively.

However, he still serves the council and mainly collects revenue.

Appearing last Wednesday, Baldeh admitted spending revenues based on telephone instruction he received from the CEO or the director of finance.

He recalled that he used to purchase fuel for the tractor at Bureng based on the instruction of the finance director, while he also narrated another with respect to office expenditures.

“I sometimes give the director of finance money in case of emergencies but is not always.” he said.

The Local Government Commission is probing the financial and administration operations of local government authorities (area councils), covering May 2018 to May 2023.

Its establishment came against the backdrop of concerns raised by citizens concerning deep-rooted and systemic corruption in the local governance system. So far, mindboggling corrupt activities - that include fraud, nepotism, favoritism, negligence and abuse of office or authority - have been unveiled.