David Gomez, the director of governance and desensitization, at the Ministry of Lands, Local Government and Religious Affairs, has said the recent local government commission of inquiry laid bare serious weaknesses, poor compliance with financial rules, weak internal controls, limited record-keeping and gap in leadership and professionalism.
Mr. Gomez made these remarks at the opening ceremony of a 5-day training on Administrative, Financial, and Governance for councilors across the country.
According to him, these are not minor oversights, they are systematic problems that if ignored, erode service delivery and lead to mismanagement.
He stressed that the government of The Gambia will not allow these weaknesses to persist.
He indicated that through the directorate of local governance, his office has a clear mandate to build strong councils that manage public resources responsibly, keep accurate accounts, and be answerable to the people they serve.
He added that the training is a result of close collaboration between the ministry and GFS business development services.
“Together we have designed a program that gives council leaders and finance officers the practical tools to tighten financial management, strengthen administrative systems and embed ethical standards,” he said.
Mr. Gomez said the training is one element of a broader effort that includes tighten policy enforcement, regular audits, and stronger oversight committees
“These are practical tools designed to move each council from compliance on paper to accountability in practice, “ he noted.
Gomez urge every participant to see this training not as formality but as a turning point and also take the lessons back to their municipalities, tighten their internal controls, and insist on proper record-keeping, and mentor their staff
He added that citizens must feel the difference in cleaner streets, better revenue collection and transparent use of their tax.
