Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – Mustapha A.B. Sarr, a revenue collector at the Banjul City Council (BCC), admitted before the Local Government Commission of Inquiry on 29 July 2025 that he diverted D324,000 in council funds for personal use—most of which remains unpaid. He also revealed that he received his full salary throughout 2023 despite being on a year-long leave of absence to contest the local government elections.
Sarr appeared before the Commission alongside former BCC Chief Executive Officer Mustapha Batchilly.
During the hearing, he disclosed that although he applied for leave in March 2023 to contest the Box Bar Ward seat under the United Democratic Party (UDP) banner, which he eventually lost, he continued receiving his full salary from January to December 2023.
“I received my full salary from January to December 2023,” Sarr said.
Batchilly, who approved the leave, admitted it was a mistake. “He should not have been paid,” the former CEO conceded, although he said he could not recall why the leave was granted with pay.
Sarr first confessed to diverting council funds during his earlier testimony before the Commission in March 2025. He admitted using money collected from trade license payments to address personal problems.
So far, he has repaid only D25,000—D20,000 on 11 October 2024 and D5,000 on 24 October 2024—both deposited into the BCC’s Trust Bank account. The deposit slips were tendered into evidence.
When asked at the time by Lead Counsel Sunkary Camara why he suppressed the funds, Sarr responded, “I used the money… to solve my problems.” He confirmed that he acted alone, without any authorization, and acknowledged that he knew it was wrong.
The National Audit Office (NAO), in its 2021–2022 audit report, flagged the suppression of D324,000 by Sarr.
During his latest appearance, Sarr also admitted failing to maintain complete records of his cash collection activities from 2018 to 2023. He produced only two cash books—for 2021 and 2022—and could not explain the whereabouts of the others.
The 2021 cash book, which began in March, omitted entries from February, a month usually marked by high revenue collection. He claimed the missing books might be at the main office and said that cash books “rotate” among offices.
Sarr revealed he was hired in January 2019 through encouragement from someone within BCC, although he could not remember who. He was later transferred from the license unit by the Director of Finance but did not move after Makumba Sanneh, an adviser to the Mayor, assured him he would intervene.
Batchilly acknowledged being aware that Sarr had diverted the funds but admitted failing to take any disciplinary action.
“You were aware of the suppression. Why didn’t you act?” Lead Counsel Patrick Gomez asked.
“I was aware,” Batchilly responded. “But I did not make any follow-ups and did not ensure due process was followed to take disciplinary actions.”
The revelations are the latest in the Commission’s ongoing probe into financial mismanagement and administrative lapses at local government councils.
