By Makutu Manneh
An audit of the Gambian government’s 2024 accounts has found that a dismissed civil servant continued to draw nearly D100,000 in salary long after her termination, raising concerns about weaknesses in payroll oversight.
According to the National Audit Office, Sirreh Bojang—whose department was not identified in the report—was removed from government service in October 2023. Yet payroll records show she continued to receive wages totaling D99,526.78 following her dismissal.
Auditors said the lapse underscores a broader risk that unearned salaries could be paid to former or absent employees, potentially inflating the government’s reported payroll expenditures.
The report urged management to recover the overpaid funds “immediately” and to provide documentation confirming repayment.
In its response, management told auditors that Ms. Bojang had been “formally engaged to refund the overpaid amount.” The audit team said it received evidence that a recall of funds was initiated through Guaranty Trust Bank and the Central Bank of The Gambia, but noted that proof of actual recovery was not presented.
“Therefore, the issue remains unresolved up to the time of finalizing this management letter,” the auditors wrote.