Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – Heated exchanges unfolded at the National Assembly as members of the Finance and Public Accounts Committee (FPAC) questioned the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) over its financial management practices covering the period from January 2020 to December 2023.
The session, centered on the IEC’s Special Audit Reports, examined how the electoral body managed funds allocated by the government and whether it complied with public finance laws. The discussions highlighted the delicate balance between institutional independence and the obligation to ensure transparency and accountability.
IEC’s Chief Electoral Officer Sambujang Njie defended the Commission’s autonomy, stressing that no external authority, including the government, has control over its operations.
“Control or direction, the government or any entity cannot direct or control us,” CEO Njie stated, arguing that independence is essential to guarantee fair and impartial elections.
However, FPAC Chair Hon. Alhagie S. Darboe countered that institutional independence does not mean exemption from accountability.
“All institutions act on behalf of the government, and the IEC is not an exception,” Darboe said. “Being independent does not remove the obligation to account for public resources.”
Committee members further questioned whether the IEC had properly recorded and reported all funds, including internally generated revenue, in accordance with the Public Finance Act and the 1997 Constitution.
IEC Vice Chairman Cherno M. Jallow assured the Committee that the Commission was implementing audit recommendations to strengthen compliance and financial management.
“Our responses are not meant to challenge oversight,” Jallow said. “We are taking steps to ensure our operations meet all legal standards.”
Representing the National Audit Office (NAO), Baba S. Drammeh, Deputy Auditor General for Administration and Finance, reiterated that even independent institutions are bound by financial laws.
“Any law that contradicts the Constitution or the Public Finance Act becomes void,” Drammeh noted. “The Election Act guides the IEC’s functions but cannot override financial accountability requirements.”
In its concluding remarks, FPAC urged the IEC to maintain close cooperation with both the Audit Office and the Ministry of Finance to ensure that all financial procedures are transparent and properly documented.
“Independence must coexist with accountability,” Hon. Darboe affirmed.
The Committee is expected to continue its review of the IEC’s financial records in upcoming sessions before submitting its final report to the full National Assembly.
