By Ramatoulie Jawo
The National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance and Public Accounts Committee (FPAC) has rejected the Banjul City Council (BCC) 2019-2020 Financial statements.
The financial statements are from 1st January 2019 to 31st December 2019, and 1st January 2020 to 31st December 2020.
Hon. Kebba Lang Fofona, who chaired the FPAC’s session, said the Finance and Public Account Committee (FPAC) have gone through the audited financial statements of the BCC for the year 2019-2020 with the executive of the Banjul City Council (BCC).
“The Finance and Public Account Committee (FPAC) after carefully scrutinizing the financial statements. We conclude that the financial statements for 2019-2020 cannot be adopted for the following reasons;
“1. the disclaimer of the National Auditors because of the significance of the matter describes the basis of the disclaimer accordingly. We have not been able to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence to provide the basis for an option. We do not express our option for the financial statement.
“2: No adherence to the adopted account basis for the Banjul City Council (BCC) as highlighted during the proceedings that happen today.
“3; the material statement in the Financial statements which were also highlighted during the parliamentary oversight function, and
4: the absence of reliable Explanatory notes in the financial statement of 2020″ Hon. Fofana said.
Hon. Fofana added that the FPAC has decided for Banjul City Council to redo their financial statement for the years 2019-2020 and make the submission on or before April 2023.
“The Council is hereby reminded that financial statements will reflect the true and fair nature of the financial position of the institution. And any repeated misrepresentation will result in the condemnation by FPAC and by extension the National Assembly,” Hon. Fofana concluded.