Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The government has announced that the report of the Local Government Commission of Inquiry, together with its White Paper response, will be made public before the end of August.
Minister for Lands, Regional Government and Religious Affairs, Hon. Hamat N.K. Bah, disclosed this while responding to questions from lawmakers in the National Assembly on when the commission’s findings would be published and when implementation of its recommendations would begin.
Bah explained that the commission, established under Section 200 of the Constitution and the Commission of Inquiry Act, investigated the conduct and operations of all eight local government councils during the period from May 2018 to January 2023.
He said the commission has already submitted its report to President Adama Barrow and that the government is currently preparing a white paper outlining its official position on the findings and recommendations.
“The government has taken receipt of the commission’s report and is currently preparing a white paper setting out its considered response to the findings and recommendations of the commission,” Bah told lawmakers.
According to the minister, the process includes a detailed review of the commission’s findings, legal analysis of accountability issues, and consideration of the policy implications arising from its recommendations.
Bah informed the Assembly that both the commission’s report and the White Paper are expected to be tabled before the National Assembly and released to the public before the end of August.
“The government intends to place both the commission’s report and the government White Paper before this August Assembly on or before the end of August, and both documents will be published for the public,” he said.
On the implementation of the commission’s recommendations, Bah said it would be premature to provide a timeline before the white paper process is completed. However, he assured lawmakers that the government remains committed to implementing recommendations accepted through the process, in accordance with the law.
The Local Government Commission of Inquiry was tasked with examining the management and operations of local councils, with a particular focus on governance, financial management, and accountability.
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