Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The Government of The Gambia disbursed more than D701 million to the Agency for Muslim and Arabic Needs (AMANA) between 2021 and 2025, but no formal audit report has been produced for the institution to date, the National Assembly has been told.
The disclosure was made during questions to the Minister for Basic and Secondary Education, Habibatou Drammeh, about government funding to AMANA and the mechanisms in place to account for the public funds it receives.
Minister Drammeh told lawmakers that AMANA receives monthly government subventions through the Ministry under a Memorandum of Understanding governing the partnership and the release of funds.
According to figures presented to the Assembly, AMANA received D108,241,980 in 2021; D111,135,623.76 in 2022; D119,268,007 in 2023; D159,951,309.48 in 2024; and D203,073,435.60 in 2025.
The total disbursement over the five-year period was D701,405,355.90.
No Formal Audit Report
Minister Drammeh said AMANA, as a recipient of public funds, is subject to statutory oversight by the National Audit Office.
However, she told the Assembly that, based on information provided by the Ministry’s technical team, no formal audit report has been produced for AMANA to date.
The disclosure prompted supplementary questions from lawmakers, with one member asking why the institution had not been formally audited despite receiving substantial government funding and operating under an MOU with the Ministry.
Minister Drammeh said she had engaged the Ministry’s internal auditor and instructed the team to conduct an audit of AMANA. She added that the Ministry was reviewing its arrangements with partners and working to address identified gaps.
She described AMANA as the only partner of the Ministry whose expenditure had not been audited in the same manner as schools under the Ministry’s oversight.
The Minister also said the National Audit Office has a role to play in facilitating an audit of AMANA’s accounts.
Annual Reports Do Not Replace Audit
Another lawmaker questioned the implications of AMANA operating without a formal audit report despite receiving more than D701 million in public funds over five years.
In response, Minister Drammeh said AMANA reports to the Ministry annually and that its books are reconciled with the Ministry.
She stressed, however, that annual reporting and reconciliation do not replace a formal audit.
According to the Minister, an official audit of AMANA’s books by a qualified auditor remains outstanding.
The issue was raised again by the Member for Josuwang, who pointed to the scale of government funding to AMANA and asked when the National Audit Office would be engaged to audit the funds.
Minister Drammeh maintained that the Ministry had already taken steps towards an internal audit, while the Speaker noted that the issue of auditing had been addressed during the earlier exchanges.
The Assembly was also told that AMANA does not receive the School Improvement Grant (SIG).
Efforts to Integrate Madrasa Education
Asked about the integration of AMANA teachers into the national education system, Minister Drammeh said the Ministry is working to upgrade teachers’ qualifications and integrate aspects of the Madrasa and conventional education systems.
She said the objective is to create greater opportunities for learners and teachers within the Madrasa system to participate in the mainstream education system.
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