Mahamadou Ceesay, Chairman of Basse Area Council
By Buba Gagigo
Councilors of the Basse Area Council have confirmed that they have gone four months without receiving their salaries. This revelation came during a council meeting chaired by Vice Chairman Bubacarr Danjo in the absence of Chairman Mahamadou Ceesay.
During the session, SutuKonding Ward Councilor Mawdo Sisawo voiced his frustration over the prolonged salary delay, attributing the situation to poor leadership.
“It is true that we inherited problems here, but this cannot continue. Other councils have faced challenges, yet they have never gone two months without paying salaries. We are now entering the fourth month without pay. As councilors, we should reflect on our roles. If we are honest, we should even consider resigning. I am particularly disappointed with the chairman’s leadership. A leader should work to alleviate people’s suffering, not exacerbate it. If one approach fails, alternatives should be explored. Insisting on a failing system means we do not understand our responsibilities,” Sisawo lamented.
Sisawo also criticized Chairman Ceesay’s absence from the meeting, despite commissioning it.
“He called for this meeting, yet we have received no clear explanation for his absence. The vice chairman was also not informed. Does this mean that if he is unavailable, the council cannot function? That should not be the case. The reason he has a deputy is to ensure continuity in his absence. The vice chairman attempted to reach him two days ago but received no response. This is unacceptable. The Chairman and the Finance Director are not treating us fairly, but we councilors are also to blame because we are not taking action. Sometimes, I contemplate resigning. People should receive what they are owed,” he stated.
Vice Chairman Bubacarr Danjo, who also serves as the Ward Councilor for Sare Ngai, reminded his colleagues of their authority within the council.
“The law states that if the chairman is absent for
“The law states that if the chairman is absent for a week, he must hand over responsibilities to me. But let me remind you, councilors hold more power than the chairman. We campaigned and voted for him, but he did not vote for us. The law stipulates that if councilors collectively agree on a decision, the chairman must comply. Is that happening here? No. He is supposed to preside over meetings and intervene when necessary, yet at Basse Area Council, he acts as the sole decision-maker. I have stated this in his presence, and I will repeat it again—what I am saying is based on the law. Our collective decisions should be implemented,” Danjo asserted.
He further stressed that councilors have the legal authority to prevent the chairman and finance director from accessing the council premises if they collectively decide so.
“We hold more power than both of them. We can compel the chairman to act, but unity is key, and unfortunately, that is lacking. Even when we conduct subcommittee meetings, information leaks to the chairman, sometimes inaccurately,” he added.
Danjo also accused the chairman of sidelining him by removing him from both the Establishment Committee and the Contract Committee, a move that, according to him, went unchallenged by fellow councilors.
“This is why I am no longer part of the Establishment and Contract Committees. I was removed without justification, yet no one among you questioned it. If this had happened to someone else, I would have stood up for them, but no one fought for me. I have had to fight for myself. For over a year and eight months, my office situation remained unresolved. I had to push to get an office, but it should not have come to that. You put me in this position, and if you do not stand up for me, you are failing yourselves,” Danjo emphasized.
The salary crisis at Basse Area Council highlights growing tensions among council members, with frustrations mounting over leadership decisions and financial management.