The suspended Lord Mayor of Banjul City Council, Pa Sallah Jeng, on Friday 22nd June 2007 concluded his testimony before Justice Monageng of the Banjul High Court in a criminal matter filed by the state against him.

During the subsequent cross-examination by the Director of Public Prosecution, Emmanuel Fagbenle, Mayor Jeng stated tat he was elected in 2002 as Mayor of Banjul City Council. He said according to the Local Government act the office of the Chief Executive is the executive power base of the council while the mayor is the political head of the council. He added that the mayor is neither below nor above the CEO.

He further responded that the Mayor presided over council meetings and also supervised the day to day running of the council. He said the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is the administrative head responsible for all staff and operational matters of the council. He added that based on the organisational structure of the council and the chain of command, the Mayor had no control over the CEO as the CEO is answerable to the council while all the other staff are under the CEO. Mayor Jeng further explained that the councillors are not part of the staff but that they attend meetings and formulate policies, adding that the operational matters of the council are vested in the CEO.

Jeng also stated that BCC is bound by the GPPA act, adding that he is aware of the contract agreement for the construction of the toilets and stores. He disclosed that he signed the contract documents. Responding to a question as to whether the said contract was tendered, he replied in the negative. He said he signed the contract agreement on behalf of the council and that it was witnessed by the councillors. He stated that there was no comparative quotation to that of Pap Fall. He admitted that he did not write to his line ministry before signing the contract.

Answering a question on the issue of the generator, he said he got the generator from his friend. On whether the procurement was tendered or there is an alternative quotation, he said it was not to his knowledge, adding that he was not clear about whether the purchase of the generator had been approved by the GPPA. He said the transaction of the generator was between the CEO, the Director of Finance and the seller.

Mayor Jeng also stated that he made many statements to the police. He acknowledged that he facilitated the procurement of the towing ambulance, adding that it was not to his knowledge whether there is a public tender or parallel quotation. He said he witnessed the signing for the towing ambulance, having been a co-signatory to the agreement.