34 Half-die compounds go to GPA

Ismaila Sambou, secretary of state for Local Government, Lands and Religious Affairs has revealed that a total of 34 compounds in Half-die, Banjul have been acquired by the Gambia Ports Authority as part of the Banjul Ports Third Expansion Project for which compensation will be paid.

SoS Sambou made this remark, on Tuesday, during a question and answer session at the fourth meeting of the Assembly in the 2007 legislative year.

Responding to a question from Hon. Baboucarr S Nyang, NAM for Banjul South, on the amount collected from the outstanding debts owed to the Banjul City Council (BCC) by rate defaulters, the compulsory acquisition of landed properties and compensation package payment of the GPA expansion project and how soon the concerned authority will disburse payments due to the council, SoS Gaye said these compounds owe BCC a total of D126,675.00 in arrears. He added that BCC will continue to pursue the payment of these amounts.

On whether there were any audit exercises carried out at the various councils in the country before the dissolution of the councils, SoS Sambou noted that there has not been any audit exercise carried out in the various councils. He, however, revealed that the Auditor General has commenced the normal auditing exercise of councils.

Concerning the audit report of Kuntaur Area Council from 2006 to date, SoS Sambou said there has not been any audit exercise of the accounts of the council from 2006 to date and no audit report is therefore available.