Barrow Receives Local Government Inquiry Report, Vows Stronger Accountability

President Adama Barrow has received the official report of the Commission of Inquiry into Local Government Councils and related matters, pledging to strengthen accountability and improve the management of public resources across local government institutions in The Gambia.

The report was formally presented to the President on Tuesday at the State House following a three-year investigation into the operations of local government councils and associated institutions.

Receiving the report, President Barrow said the inquiry was initiated to reinforce institutions and ensure that public officials manage state resources lawfully and in the interest of citizens.

The Gambian leader stressed that decentralisation must be accompanied by accountability, transparency and efficient governance in order to build stronger councils capable of effectively serving communities.

“Decentralization of local government authority must go hand in hand with accountability,” President Barrow stated, noting that the process was necessary to correct institutional weaknesses, curb systemic lapses and strengthen public trust.

The Chairperson of the Commission, Jainaba Bah, explained that the inquiry examined the financial, administrative, procurement, revenue collection, land management, staffing and governance practices of the country’s local councils and related institutions.

According to Bah, the Commission heard testimony from 387 witnesses, including officials from oversight institutions, current and former council staff, revenue collectors, contractors and other stakeholders linked to the operations of the eight area councils.

She observed that many of the problems uncovered during the inquiry stemmed not from a lack of regulations, but from what she described as the “normalisation of non-compliance.”

“When procedures are treated as optional, public resources become vulnerable, and when documentation fails, accountability weakens,” Bah warned.

The report, she noted, serves both as a record of findings and a warning to public institutions, stressing that public confidence deteriorates when resources collected in the name of citizens cannot be accounted for or linked to public benefit.

The Commission further emphasised that the real value of the inquiry lies in the implementation of its recommendations.

President Barrow commended the commissioners for their dedication and praised witnesses and institutions that contributed to the investigation. He assured Gambians that his administration would carefully address the weaknesses identified in the report.

The President also called on public institutions to fully embrace the findings of the inquiry and use them as a framework for safeguarding public resources and reinforcing accountability within local governance systems.