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Local government

Brikama Area Council Officials Embroiled in Corruption Allegations

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Former Chief Executive Officer Modou Jonga of the Brikama Area Council (BAC) and former Chairman Sheriffo Sonko have testified before the Local Government Commission of Inquiry (LGCI), admitting to serious lapses in governance and accountability. According to their testimonies, they breached the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) governing the use of the Geology Fund, a public resource intended for community development projects. The fund was used for unauthorized ward projects, payments to the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), and procurement of specialized waste collection trucks without following due process.

Key Takeaways:

  • Modou Jonga, former CEO of BAC, admitted to breaching the MoU governing the Geology Fund, spending over D13 million without adhering to the agreement. He stated, "Yes, I knew I was deviating from the MoU. I have no justification for it."
  • Jonga claimed he made payments to NDMA without any authorization, initially stating that the funds came from the Geology Fund but later admitting that it was not the case.
  • Former Chairman Sheriffo Sonko testified that he was aware of some issues but failed to act decisively, stating he relied on the CEO and finance department to address audit reports and discrepancies.
  • Audit reports from 2020 and 2021 revealed alarming findings, including over D9 million in unexplained outstanding revenue, more than D1 million in undocumented payments, and allegations of fraud involving 12 revenue collectors.
  • The procurement of eight specialized waste collection trucks was undertaken without following due process, violating GPPA regulations.
  • The inquiry also scrutinized the auctioning of BAC assets, revealing that valuable components were reportedly removed prior to auction, with no evidence to support claims that only scrap remained.
  • Chairman Jainaba Bah raised concerns over a sharp drop in council revenue from car park fees, falling from D1.1 million in 2019 to under D900,000 in 2020 without explanation.

Statistics:

  • Over D13 million was spent from the Geology Fund without adhering to the MoU.
  • Audit reports from 2020 and 2021 revealed over D9 million in unexplained outstanding revenue.
  • More than D1 million was found in undocumented payments.
  • Twelve revenue collectors were implicated in allegations of fraud.

Sources:

  • Chairperson Jainaba Bah
  • Lead Counsel Patrick Gomez
  • Modou Jonga, former CEO of BAC
  • Sheriffo Sonko, former Chairman of BAC
  • Audit reports from 2020 and 2021
  • AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com)
  • The Point (2025)

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