The Gambia Ports Authority (GPA) has issued a statement in response to a recent article published in the Standard Newspaper. The article, titled “Audit Reveals GPA Spent D1.9 million to buy mobile phones,” highlighted findings from the 2020 audit report on the GPA, revealing what it described as “serious procurement issues.”

According to the Standard, the audit report disclosed that the GPA spent D1.9 million on mobile phones for management, a procurement method that was deemed unjustified and in violation of Gambia Public Procurement Authority rules.

In their statement, the GPA clarified that the provision of mobile phones to staff was accounted for in the budget under the donations line item. The phones were reportedly distributed to Managers, Directors, Senior Management staff, and Dockworkers Union Executive members across various ports and facilities.

The statement also addressed other issues mentioned in the article, including D5 million in discounts granted to customers without specified names and D129 million granted as a waiver on various shore handling charges. The GPA explained that the discounts were provided to shipping lines as rebates for volumes achieved, as per the tariff regulations.

Regarding the waiver on shore handling charges, the GPA stated that it was a board-approved concession to shipping lines for storage charges on empty containers. This concession was granted due to acute congestion in the container terminals, which hindered the Port’s ability to evacuate containers for loading on a first-in, first-out basis.

The GPA concluded by reaffirming its commitment to transparency and accountability in its operations. It emphasized that all actions were taken within the framework of the law and regulations governing its operations, and that it would continue to cooperate with relevant authorities to address any concerns raised.

The GPA’s response comes amidst growing scrutiny of public enterprises in The Gambia, as the government seeks to improve accountability and transparency in its public institutions.