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The Local Government Commission of Inquiry, conducting a full and impartial investigation into the financial and administrative activities of local government councils from May 2018 to January 2023, on Monday sent Banjul City Council (BCC) Audit Director Sanna Sawaneh back to retrieve audit reports he deliberately withheld from the commission.<\/p>\n
Lead Counsel Patrick Gomez questioned Sawaneh about the 2022 audit file he received from his predecessor, Abdoulie J. Corr. While Corr testified that he handed over eight audit findings, Sawaneh admitted bringing only three to the commission.<\/p>\n
When asked why he failed to submit all audit findings, Sawaneh claimed he was unaware of the file\u2019s full contents, stating, \u201cThe documents in that file were of no use to me.\u201d He argued that he focused only on recent records and dismissed older documents as outdated.<\/p>\n
However, Gomez rejected this explanation, making it clear that the commission was fully aware of the documents in Sawaneh\u2019s possession.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t come here and act like you don\u2019t know what you are doing,\u201d Gomez told him. \u201cYou know exactly what you are doing\u2014you just don\u2019t want to produce the documents.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sawaneh eventually admitted that he had access to the full file but had chosen not to review or submit certain documents.<\/p>\n
Frustrated by his refusal to produce the full records, Commission Chairperson Jainaba Bah ordered Sawaneh to leave the hearing and return with all withheld documents. He was specifically instructed to provide all 2022 audit findings, as well as four additional reports he had prepared since assuming office.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou cannot sit here and tell us you do not know what you received,\u201d Bah told him. \u201cGo back and bring the full documents.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sawaneh denied any attempt to conceal evidence but agreed to comply with the order.<\/p>\n
Earlier in the proceedings, Sawaneh admitted that he had not reviewed past audit reports, preferring to focus on recent financial matters.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am only interested in moving forward, not looking at the past,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Gomez strongly criticized this approach, arguing that it demonstrated incompetence.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou should be interested in how the institution was managed before your tenure,\u201d he said. \u201cIgnoring past reports means you are not doing your job properly.\u201d<\/p>\n
Commissioner Oreme J. Joiner also questioned Sawaneh\u2019s reluctance to examine previous audits, pointing out that unresolved financial issues had been carried over from past years.<\/p>\n
\u201cIssues from previous reports have not been corrected,\u201d Joiner said. \u201cTo understand what has happened, you should have reviewed those audit reports before taking any action.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sawaneh ultimately conceded that he had not used past reports as a reference.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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