Rohey Malick, The Mayor of Banjul City Council
By Fatou Sillah
Rohey Malick Lowe, the Mayor of Banjul City Council, provided testimony on Tuesday before the Local Government Commission of Inquiry, revealing that mayors in The Gambia do not hold significant authority in the administration of local councils.
During her testimony, Mayor Lowe was asked by lead counsel about who holds the power to authorize expenditures within the council. She clarified that it is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) who holds that responsibility, as the accounting officer, while the mayor can offer advice but has no legal power to authorize spending.
When asked whether the CEO is required to seek her approval for expenditures, the mayor replied, “I think he should be able to let me know.”The lead counsel asked, “Should the CEO, in some circumstance, take permission or approval from you in relation to expenditure?”
“I think he should be able to let me know,” the mayor responded.
When asked whether the CEO is required to seek her approval for expenditures, the mayor replied, “I think he should be able to let me know.”
In response to further questioning on whether the CEO has an obligation to request her approval, she explained, “When he comes to me and I give him advice, even if I ask him to do or not do it, he is the accounting officer; I cannot do anything.”Lead counsel Patrick Gomez, however, suggested that the mayor does have some legal powers, pointing out that the CEO is answerable to the council and, by extension, to the mayor. He emphasized that the mayor represents the council within the administrative structure, implying that the mayor should have some form of authority.
Mayor Lowe disagreed, stating, “With all honesty, I don’t think mayors in The Gambia have powers. Because of the way you say it, the mayor cannot discipline anybody. She cannot promote or demote anybody and mayors cannot employ anybody, then where is the powers of the mayor? The mayor cannot spend anything, and I have evidence where the ministry will write to you and say anything that has to do with discipline, or the permanent secretary will ask you not to write to them and, will say, ask the CEO to write to me,” she said.
Reflecting on her tenure since taking office in 2018, the mayor shared that the council consisted of 13 members—nine elected and four nominated—consistent through 2021. She also mentioned that the council meets monthly, unless urgent matters require additional meetings. The council operates with five committees: Finance, Contracts, Employment, Youth, and Sports, though she could not recall the name of the fifth committee.
In her testimony, Mayor Lowe emphasized that she relied heavily on the Local Government Act and the established practices of previous mayors, which included budget allocations for religious donations, scholarships, and community support. These programs have continued under her leadership, following the established guidelines.