Gambia Audit Office Targets Recovery of Over D5 Million in Public Fund Allowances

The National Audit Office (NAO) of The Gambia has tasked the management of the Social Security and Housing Finance Corporation (SSHFC) to recover sitting allowance payments totaling D5,398,000.00 Dalasi , approximately $74,000 USD.

The NAO issued this directive in its special audit report on SSHFC for the period January 2022 to June 2024.

The report was presented to the members of the Public Enterprises Committee (PEC) of the Gambian legislature on Friday, 30th January 2026.

The report highlights issues such as governance lapses, duplication of sitting allowance payments, and the absence of board evaluations, among others.

Presenting the findings, Fatoumatta A. Njie noted a disparity in ineligible payments that were facilitated by the former Chair to members of the board. According to her, these payments, made between 2022 and 2024, amounted to D549,145.00 and covered costs including medical refunds, emergency sittings, and allowances for performing board duties.

She emphasized that the payments undermine transparency and accountability.  Njie also noted that the disparity reflects weaknesses in SSHFC’s internal control mechanisms for managing and reviewing board expenses.

She directed the SOE Commission (State-Owned Enterprise Commission) and the relevant line Ministry to recover all ineligible expenses from the former Chair and board members.

Njie further reported that a review of documentation and board meeting records revealed that no board evaluations were conducted during the audited period. She stated that this constitutes a violation of the SOE Code of Conduct on Good Corporate Governance 2023.

Regarding board evaluations, she said the NAO recommended that management conduct annual assessments of the board, including evaluations of individual directors and oversight of the former Chair’s commitment.

On the duplication of sitting payments, Njie explained that a review of payment records revealed that board members received both monthly and sitting allowances, mainly the Chair and Managing Director. “This amounted to D4,992,000.00 for monthly allowances and D406,000.00 for sitting allowances, totaling D5,398,000.00,” she said.

She added that the NAO recommended that “the Managing Director and Board must ensure that the full amount is recovered.”

 Bakary Touray Jr