Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL) – In the wake of fraud allegations at Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH), an audit has been initiated to investigate claims of corruption and mismanagement. The decision for an audit follows a series of heated exchanges between the chairman of the hospital’s board, Dr. Adama Sallah, and the deputy chief medical director, Dr. Abubacarr Jagne.

Dr. Sallah, in an interview with Freedom Radio, alleged corruption at the hospital, citing unauthorized travels, improper procurement, and other corrupt practices amounting to hundreds of thousands of dalasis in per diem. He accused Dr. Jagne and other senior officials of orchestrating these activities.

In response, Dr. Jagne denied the allegations and countered with accusations against Dr. Sallah, claiming he attempted nepotism and misused his influence for personal gain in ways that conflicted with the hospital’s interests.

The Standard reached out to Dr. Mustapha Bittaye, the director of health services under the Ministry of Health and a member of the EFSTH board, for comments on the situation. Dr. Bittaye confirmed that the board had requested an audit from the Ministry of Health, which subsequently approached the Ministry of Finance to engage the National Audit Office for the task.

Dr. Bittaye stated that the audit team has already begun its investigation and assured that the findings will lead to appropriate actions without any bias or cover-up. “We expect that the investigation will not leave any stone unturned. And there will be no sacred cows, no cover-ups as far as implementation will be concerned,” he emphasized.

The Ministry of Health is awaiting the audit results before proceeding with further actions. The ongoing audit aims to scrutinize the hospital’s activities and management of funds thoroughly, ensuring accountability and transparency in the face of these serious allegations.

Source: Standard Newspaper