By Makutu Manneh
An audit of The Gambia government’s financial statements for the year ending 31 December 2022 has uncovered the omission of 187 bank accounts held in commercial banks, none of which were disclosed in the official records.
Auditors warned that the omission materially misstates the financial statements, raising serious concerns about the accuracy and reliability of the government’s financial reporting.
The issue was flagged as a high-priority finding, with auditors recommending that management conduct a thorough investigation and ensure that all 187 bank accounts are properly disclosed.
In response, government management indicated that it had re-engaged with commercial banks to secure an updated list of all government bank accounts and their balances, with the aim of incorporating them into the revised financial statements.
Despite this assurance, auditors reported in a follow-up review that certain government accounts—particularly those held at AGIB Bank—were still not reflected in the financial statements and were absent from the confirmations received from the banks.