Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The Local Government Commission of Inquiry has uncovered a fraudulent scheme involving forged contracts, manipulated documents, and misappropriated funds in a borehole drilling project in The Gambia’s North Bank Region. The project, intended for the Darusalam community, has exposed deep-rooted corruption involving government officials and contractors.

At the center of the controversy is Nyakasi Kassama, the regional officer for the Department of Water Resources, who allegedly colluded with contractors to secure and profit from a contract awarded by the Kerewan Area Council. The commission presented evidence that Kassama misrepresented a contractor’s credentials, diverted public funds for personal gain, and approved substandard work.

Fraudulent Contracts and Misused Funds, Money Transfers, and Kickbacks

The borehole project, valued at 850,000 Dalasi ($12,500), was awarded under fraudulent circumstances. Testimony before the commission revealed that Kassama unlawfully used the business documents of contractor Momodou Sanneh—without his consent—to secure the contract. He then subcontracted Yusupha Sambou at a much lower rate, pocketing a significant portion of the funds.

Sanneh, the legitimate owner of Sanneh’s Enterprise General Merchandise, denied any involvement. “My company did not drill the Darusalam borehole, and the invoice submitted in my name is a forgery,” he told the inquiry.

Further evidence showed that after securing the contract under Sanneh’s name, Kassama hired Sambou for 450,000 Dalasi ($6,600)—barely half the original contract price. Of the remaining funds, 200,000 Dalasi ($3,000) was allegedly transferred to the bank account of former Kerewan Area Council CEO Seedou Touray as a kickback.

Kassama admitted to making the payment but insisted he was following orders. “The director of planning told me that the project was worth 850,000 Dalasi, but that 200,000 must be paid to the CEO,” he said. He also acknowledged taking 35,000 Dalasi ($500) for himself.

During cross-examination, the commission’s legal counsel, Gomez, challenged Kassama’s role in the scheme. “You are a civil servant. You do not have clearance to conduct business, yet you were using other people’s companies to secure contracts and facilitate kickbacks,” Gomez said.

Unraveling the Scheme

The fraudulent nature of the deal became clear when Sanneh, after learning that his company’s name had been used, reviewed the submitted documents and found discrepancies. He presented authentic samples of his invoices, which did not match those used by the council.

Sanneh further testified that, after he began cooperating with investigators, an associate of Sambou’s contacted him, urging him to confirm the forged documents as his own.

For his part, Sambou claimed he had been misled. “I was contacted by Nyakasi, who told me he had secured a contract and needed a registered company,” he testified. “I was working with Sanneh at the time, so I provided his business registration details—but I didn’t know they were being used fraudulently.”

Sambou initially invoiced 650,000 Dalasi ($9,500) for the borehole, but Kassama later informed him that the contract was only worth 450,000 Dalasi, forcing him to reduce his fee. “I was never given any clear specifications on what kind of borehole was needed,” Sambou added.

The commission has indicated that former Kerewan CEO Seedou Touray will be summoned for questioning as investigations continue into broader corruption within the Kerewan Area Council and the Ministry of Water Resources.

This case is one of several currently under scrutiny as the commission probes financial misconduct in local councils across the country.