The Minister for Local Government and Lands, Musa Drammeh urged the Kanifing Municipal Council to revoke its recommendation for the termination of services of its CEO and Finance Director, following their alleged involvement in the D12 million scandal.

According to a memo dated the 26th July 2021,the general council made a number of General Council recommendations including a “recommendation for the termination of the CEO and Director of  Finance with immediate effect” and for the CEO and co-conspirators and director of finance to “proceed on immediate indefinite leave and all non-mandatory allowances to be seized.

“The Ministry is concerned that the decisions taken do not accord with the law that governs the council,” Minister Alhagie Musa S. Drammeh wrote to Talib Ahmed Bensouda, Kanifing Municipality Mayor in a letter dated 2nd August obtained by Kerr Fatou.

Minister Drammeh informed Mayor Bensouda that his Council would be placed under inspection starting from 3rd August 2021. To him, this matter is urgent and the inspection will commence immediately. Appointed inspectors will arrive at the Council on Tuesday 3rd August to carry out the functions, he added.

The Minister asserted that the decision to place the council under inspection is because a petition was sent to his ministry by the CEO and other officials of the council alleging fraud against the (former) Deputy Mayor and cover up of the said fraud.

He elucidated that the accused (CEO Sainabou Matin and Director of Finance Dr Alieu Keita) also denied any wrongdoing in the said petition.

 

By: Sainabou Jasseh