Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – National Assembly Member for Kiang West Lamin Ceesay has questioned the government’s commitment to fiscal discipline, alleging that D75 million had been spent on President Adama Barrow’s Meet the People Tour by July 2026, despite an approved allocation of D50 million.
Ceesay made the claim on Monday while seconding the motion on the 2027 Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure at the National Assembly, arguing that public spending must be subjected to effective controls to prevent government institutions from exceeding approved budget allocations without adequate oversight.
“Where is fiscal discipline? Where is the example? Where is control?” Ceesay asked, referring to the reported expenditure on the President’s tour.
He said public finance legislation and regulations were intended to ensure the effective and efficient management of public resources, warning that parliamentary budget debates risk losing their significance if approved allocations can subsequently be exceeded without adequate checks.
Questions over budget controls
Ceesay also questioned whether the existing legal framework provides sufficient safeguards against the transfer of funds between ministries and budget lines, commonly known as virements.
Referring to audit findings, he said transfers had been made without the consent of budget entities or the approval of the relevant minister. Such practices, he argued, weaken parliamentary oversight and highlight the need for amendments to close gaps in the public finance framework.
The lawmaker said the reported expenditure on the President’s tour was particularly concerning at a time when essential public services continue to face significant challenges.
He contrasted the alleged spending with conditions in public health facilities, citing reports of patients lying on floors at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital because of a shortage of beds.
Ceesay also referred to maternity patients allegedly sharing beds at a facility he identified as the Germany Foundation, arguing that public resources should be directed towards urgent needs in healthcare and other essential services.
D75m claim requires clarification
The D50 million allocation for the President’s 2026 Meet the People Tour was approved by lawmakers during the 2026 budget process. However, Ceesay’s claim that expenditure had reached D75 million by July has not been independently verified from official expenditure records.
If confirmed, the figures would raise questions about whether spending exceeded the approved allocation, what the additional expenditure covered, and whether the necessary authorizations were obtained.
The Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs and the Office of the President would need to clarify the reported expenditure and explain how it was accounted for under the country’s public finance framework.
Ceesay warned that the credibility of the budget process ultimately depends not only on parliamentary approval but also on how public funds are managed after allocations are made.
He stressed that budgetary approval must be accompanied by effective controls to ensure that government institutions remain within approved spending limits and that any deviations are properly authorized and accounted for.
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