Audit Uncovers Millions in Overpayments and Irregularities in Office of President Banquet Hall Project
By Fatou Sillah
The 2023 National Audit Office report has uncovered significant financial irregularities and overpayments in the construction of the Banquet Hall at the Office of the President. The audit flagged issues including unjustified single-source procurement, inflated contract sums, duplicate payments, missing approvals, and non-compliance with the Gambia Public Procurement Authority (GPPA) Act.
According to the report, the original contract for the project was valued at D23,965,835. Subsequent variations and additional works raised the approved contract sum to D42,687,288. However, actual payments processed through the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) totaled D52,489,520.80 — resulting in overpayments of D9,802,232.80.
In response, project management defended the use of single-source procurement, citing provisions that allow extensions of existing contracts to ensure continuity and timely project delivery. They further explained that the overpayments related to air-conditioning units reflected the inclusion of additional 12,000 BTU units in the revised Bill of Quantities (BOQ), and that payments for cassette ceiling AC units covered separate items such as pipes and fittings.
Management also stated that contract variations and price adjustments were necessary to upgrade the project in line with the specifications and preferences of the new administration.
The audit revealed that D42,687,288 was expended on the construction of the Banquet Hall, with the original contract of D23,965,835.30 awarded to Alfa Media. An additional twelve works, valued at D18,721,452.70, were incorporated into the contract, but only six had documented approval from the GPPA. The auditors noted that they were unable to verify whether the remaining six additional works — worth D7,426,148.20 — received proper approval.
The report warns that these irregularities present risks of financial loss, non-compliance with procurement regulations, weak payment controls, and potential fraud. It further highlights that some concerns may remain unresolved due to insufficient documentary evidence.