Audit queries at Gambia electoral commission under police probe --[Reported by Umva mag]

The Gambia Police Force say it is opening an investigation into startling queries raised in the so-called Special Audit Report by the Auditor General fingering the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). In a statement recently the GPF promised to carry out an impartial report of alleged financial improprieties at the IEC whih some alleged runs into [...]

Oct 18, 2024 - 14:09

Audit queries at Gambia electoral commission under police probe --[Reported by Umva mag]

The Gambia Police Force say it is opening an investigation into startling queries raised in the so-called Special Audit Report by the Auditor General fingering the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).

In a statement recently the GPF promised to carry out an impartial report of alleged financial improprieties at the IEC whih some alleged runs into hundreds of millions of dalasi.

According to details of the Auditir General’s report the National Audit Office had uncovered discrepancies at the IEC which had collected D8.3 million from party registrations, nomination deposits, and the replacement of voter ID cards, but these funds ”were not transferred to the consolidated revenue fund”.

The report also suggests that receipts for up to D4.5 million as revenues had not been accounted while a D534,000 grant from ECOWAS for the 2021 presidential election was also missing.

The report also indicates that the IEC flouted financial regulations by not following due procedures with the finance ministry when opening accounts with Zenith Bank, GT Bank, and Trust Bank for which the ministry should have been the approving authority.

The NAO also found that the IEC had benefitted from fuel coupons worth D2.1 million from the African Union during the presidential election of 202, but D302,400 worth of these coupons ”were diverted for unrelated purposes”.

Other alleged improprieties are related to election expenses totaling D199 million which were paid using cash vouchers frm which an alleged kickback of USD 85,789 was received while purchasing voter registration gears.

Although the IEC alo claimed 12,544 security personnel had been for election duties between 2020 and 2023, it could provide the posting lists to NAO auditors while none of the 14 temporary workers to vet nomination literatures had received any official letters appointing them.

The NAO report also points out that the sum of D301 million earmarked as election expenses had been transferred to private bank accounts belonging to returning officers, in violation of national financial regulations.

WN/as/APA

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Audit queries at Gambia electoral commission under police probe --[Reported by Umva mag]

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