Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The Edward Francis Small Centre for Rights and Justice (EFSCRJ) has raised alarms over a recent decision by the Gambia Public Procurement Authority (GPPA) to exempt nine public institutions from needing prior GPPA approval to procure goods and services. The center warned that this exemption could undermine crucial checks and balances in government spending, paving the way for corruption and self-enrichment within public institutions.

On Friday, the GPPA authorized the nine institutions to conduct procurement activities autonomously, with heads of the respective institutions granting final approvals for expenditures. However, EFSCRJ’s statement cautioned that procurement and anti-corruption experts view unchecked government-spending processes as a common entry point for abuse and personal gain. “The Gambia is one example of such self-enrichment through procurement,” the group noted, referencing findings from a series of audits conducted by the National Audit Office (NAO) on various public institutions. The center highlighted that the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), recently scrutinized in an NAO audit for its spending practices, is among those now exempt from seeking prior GPPA clearance.

The EFSCRJ also questioned the legislative basis for the GPPA’s move, explaining that the exemption clauses being used were introduced in amendments to the GPPA Act in 2014 and maintained in 2022. These exemptions, which allow public institutions to sidestep standard procurement oversight, were not part of the GPPA’s original 2001 mandate.

In its statement, EFSCRJ urged the GPPA to disclose findings from capacity assessments conducted on the exempted institutions, which were intended to verify their readiness for autonomous procurement. The group further called on the Minister of Finance to review the GPPA Act and eliminate sections permitting these exemptions. “We note with concern the high incidence of bribery and corruption in Government procurement,” the statement continued, adding that sections 12(4) to (7) of the GPPA Act appear to “legitimize and legalize bribery and corruption,” an issue it said should alarm the government.

The EFSCRJ’s statement underscores the need for heightened oversight of government procurement in The Gambia, warning that unchecked procurement authority could open the door to deeper financial mismanagement and public distrust in national institutions.