LGCI chair flags governance failures as final report submitted to Barrow
The inquiry reviewed testimony from 387 witnesses, including current and former council staff, finance and procurement officers, contractors, beneficiaries, and officials from oversight bodies. It was also supported by financial statements, audit reports, procurement files, payment vouchers, bank records, payroll data and land allocation documents. “The failures identified were not isolated incidents,” Bah said. “The Commission found recurring weaknesses in governance structures, accountability systems, and administrative controls across the councils examined.” She pointed to breakdowns in financial controls, procurement processes, revenue collection, banking procedures, payroll management, land administration and institutional oversight. “Persistent disregard for established procedures and weak oversight mechanisms have significantly eroded accountability within local government administration,” she said. “This report is submitted not only as an account of findings but also as a warning and a call to action. Institutions weaken when rules are ignored, public trust erodes when resources cannot be accounted for, and governance loses legitimacy when authority is exercised without accountability.” Bah called for urgent reforms to strengthen financial discipline, improve oversight, enforce procurement regulations and increase transparency in council operations. She stressed that the credibility of local democracy depends on proper record-keeping, effective internal controls and the consistent enforcement of audit recommendations. The LGCI Chair added that the impact of the Commission’s work will depend on how authorities implement its recommendations. She thanked commissioners, legal counsel, investigators, accountants, researchers, IT staff, security officers, witnesses and the media, particularly GRTS, for supporting the inquiry and ensuring public access. The report has now been submitted to President Barrow for consideration and further action in line with the law and public interest.
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The inquiry reviewed testimony from 387 witnesses, including current and former council staff, finance and procurement officers, contractors, beneficiaries, and officials from oversight bodies. It was also supported by financial statements, audit reports, procurement files, payment vouchers, bank records, payroll data and land allocation documents.
“The failures identified were not isolated incidents,” Bah said. “The Commission found recurring weaknesses in governance structures, accountability systems, and administrative controls across the councils examined.”
She pointed to breakdowns in financial controls, procurement processes, revenue collection, banking procedures, payroll management, land administration and institutional oversight.
“Persistent disregard for established procedures and weak oversight mechanisms have significantly eroded accountability within local government administration,” she said.
“This report is submitted not only as an account of findings but also as a warning and a call to action. Institutions weaken when rules are ignored, public trust erodes when resources cannot be accounted for, and governance loses legitimacy when authority is exercised without accountability.”
Bah called for urgent reforms to strengthen financial discipline, improve oversight, enforce procurement regulations and increase transparency in council operations. She stressed that the credibility of local democracy depends on proper record-keeping, effective internal controls and the consistent enforcement of audit recommendations.
The LGCI Chair added that the impact of the Commission’s work will depend on how authorities implement its recommendations.
She thanked commissioners, legal counsel, investigators, accountants, researchers, IT staff, security officers, witnesses and the media, particularly GRTS, for supporting the inquiry and ensuring public access.
The report has now been submitted to President Barrow for consideration and further action in line with the law and public interest.
