Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – Auditors at the National Audit Office (NAO) have raised red flags over requests made by project personnel of the National Roads Authority (NRA) for personal items from a road construction contractor, warning that the practice creates an appearance of impropriety and risks undermining transparency and public confidence.
In findings presented yesterday, the auditors said that during an audit of nationwide road projects, they discovered that NRA project staff had formally requested items such as high-end mobile phones, laptops, a printer, and staff accommodation from Gai Construction Ltd., a contractor engaged in road works.
According to the NAO, the requests were uncovered through three correspondences from the NRA to Gai Construction Ltd, in which project personnel justified the items as necessary for effective supervision of works and to support working relationships within the Project Implementation Unit (PIU).
The auditors detailed that on August 19, 2025, requests were made on behalf of several NRA officials, including Falou G. Ndow, Project Coordinator (iPhone 16 Pro); Omar S. Bah, Project Manager (iPhone 14 Pro); Omar Saidy Khan, Project Manager (iPhone 14 Pro); Ebrima Kuyateh, Lead Engineer (Samsung Galaxy S24); Joseph Demba, Lead Engineer (Samsung Galaxy S24); Musa Jallow, Site Inspector (Samsung Galaxy A56); and Bakary Ceesay, Lab Technician (Samsung Galaxy A56).
They further noted that another unnamed project staff member was also provided accommodation on site by Gai Construction.
The NAO warned that such requests, if fulfilled by the contractor, could amount to unauthorized benefits or inducements, in contravention of the Public Procurement Act and established ethical standards.
Even where requests are not fulfilled, the auditors stressed that the act itself creates a perception of conflict of interest between the employer’s representatives and the contractor, compromising transparency and independence in project supervision.
“These practices could undermine public confidence in the integrity of the project,” the auditors cautioned, adding that weak enforcement of ethical and procurement controls increases the risk of undue influence, loss of objectivity, and potential corruption, with attendant reputational and fiduciary damage to the NRA.
NRA Pushes Back
In its response, the National Roads Authority disputed the inclusion of the findings, arguing that the audit period under review covered the year ended December 31, 2024, while the correspondences cited by auditors were dated August 19, 2025, and September 3, 2025.
“This timing difference is important because any actions, communications, or administrative issues occurring in 2025 were not part of the operational, financial, or governance activities of the Authority for the 2024 financial year, and therefore should not form part of the audit findings for that period,” the NRA stated.
The Authority also maintained that the items referenced were not personal benefits or inducements but standard project supervision tools intended solely to facilitate effective oversight of works.
NAO Stands Firm
Rejecting the NRA’s objections, the NAO said the core concern goes beyond dates to the significant value of the items requested, including high-end smartphones, laptops, and printers.
The auditors explained that the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract was signed in July 2023 and that the audit examined the contract holistically, covering all budgeted provisional sums within scope, regardless of financial year, to assess compliance with procurement regulations.
On that basis, the NAO maintained that the findings remain valid and relevant to evaluating ethical conduct and procurement compliance in the management of national road projects.
