Barely a month after their dissolution by the President of the Republic, the Banjul City Council, Kanifing Municipal Council and other local authorities around the country are currently undergoing an audit exercise.

This was revealed by the Secretary of State for Local government, Lands and Religious Affairs, Ismaila Sambou, while responding to a question by Hon. Pa Jallow, the National Assembly Member for Jarra Central, on whether there has been any audit of the accounts of the various councils prior to their dissolution. The Local Government, Lands and Religious Affairs Secy. responded in the negative.

He was however quick to add that the Auditor-General had already commenced the normal auditing exercise of some local councils, noting that the exercise would hopefully cover all councils in due course.

On the question of Hon. Lamin Ceesay, member for Sami Constituency, as to whether there was any audit report for Kuntaur Area Council from 2006 to date, the Local Government and Lands Secy informed National Assembly members that no audit exercise had been done on the accounts of the Kuntaur Area Council in the period specified, adding that there was therefore no audit report to furnish the august Assembly. “However, as mentioned in my answer to the Honourable member for Jarra Central, the Auditor General has commenced a normal auditing exercise of councils now, and in due course, Kuntaur Area Council will be covered,” Secy Sambou assured.