Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The government has fully implemented just 17 of 30 recommendations issued by the National Audit Office between 2023 and 2025, leaving 13 either under implementation or only partially addressed.
Vice President Mohammed B.S. Jallow disclosed the figures before the National Assembly while responding to questions from the Member for Bakau.
According to Jallow, seven of the outstanding recommendations are currently being implemented, while six have been partially implemented.
The figures mean that more than two-fifths of the audit recommendations remain unresolved, raising questions about the government’s progress in addressing weaknesses identified in public financial management and accountability.
Lawmakers Press Government on Delays
Lawmakers questioned why some recommendations had not been fully implemented and pressed the Vice President on whether the government had set deadlines for resolving the outstanding issues.
Jallow said the timeframe depends on the nature of each recommendation. He cited the recovery of outstanding arrears from previous years as an example of an issue that may be difficult to resolve within a fixed period.
He also said some recommendations require institutional changes, while weaknesses in government record-keeping can further slow implementation.
Outstanding Issues
Asked to identify the recommendations that remain outstanding, Jallow said several are currently being addressed.
These include following up on outstanding arrears, clearing unreconciled transactions, taking stock of government arrears, reconciling differences between financial records and bank balances, and closing dormant or common bank accounts.
Several lawmakers called for greater transparency, urging the government to provide the National Assembly with the full list of recommendations showing which have been fully implemented, partially implemented, or remain under implementation.
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