National Assembly of the Gambia
By Fatou Dahaba
The National Assembly has issued a directive to the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Accountant General’s Department (AGD) to provide updates on outstanding imprests, totaling eighteen million, eight hundred twelve thousand, four hundred sixty-one and eighty dalasi (D18,812,461.80) by the end of September 2025. This follows a resolution passed by the lawmakers addressing unretired imprests as of October 31, 2022, with the Finance and Public Accounts Committee (FPAC) noting that the OVP has yet to comply with the request for an update.
According to the 2022 resolution, the total imprests retired by April 30, 2025, amounted to D11,015,883.50, with D4,820,468.00 recovered through payroll deductions. However, a significant portion remains outstanding, including D4,629,260.80 from imprest holders on payroll, D6,670,701.00 from those not on payroll, D1,695,000.00 from deceased holders, and D5,817,500.00 from public service employees not on payroll. Additionally, D417,614.00 is tied to incomplete imprest cycles, and D575,000.00 was flagged as erroneous due to non-existent imprests. The total outstanding imprest, including D13,965,701.00 from holders listed for publication, stands at D18,812,661.80.
The Assembly also called on the Auditor General to invoke Section 160(5) of the Constitution to address discrepancies of a criminal or fraudulent nature uncovered during audits. The FPAC clarified that the National Audit Office (NAO) already reports such cases to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), rendering further action unnecessary. The Gambia Police Force (GPF) has completed Phase I of its investigation into the procurement and distribution of food and medical items, with findings submitted to the Attorney General’s Chambers for legal advice. A copy of the report was also sent to the OVP, while Phase II investigations continue, with a progress report already submitted to the OVP.
In a separate resolution dated September 14, 2023, the Assembly ordered the Executive Director of the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) to account for a shortfall of D37,653,700.00 in oil delivery by International Commodity Insurance. The funds were to be deposited into the National Treasury by September 25, 2023, with notifications sent to the Accountant General, Auditor General, and FPAC. Failure to comply would trigger an immediate GPF investigation, with a report due within 90 days. The GPF has since included these findings in the Phase I Government Covid-19 Audit Report, which is now with the Attorney General’s Chambers for further action.
The FPAC has expressed concern over the OVP’s lack of updates and urged compliance by the end of September 2025. Lawmakers emphasized the need for transparency and accountability in managing public funds, warning that unresolved issues could lead to further scrutiny and potential legal consequences. The Assembly awaits the OVP and AGD’s response as the deadline approaches, signaling a renewed push to address financial irregularities in public institutions.
