The Government of The Gambia has announced that it will release the long-awaited report of the Local Government Commission of Inquiry, together with its official White Paper, before the end of August, according to the Minister for Local Government, Lands and Religious Affairs, Hon. Hamat N.K. Bah.
Minister Bah made the disclosure on Wednesday while appearing before members of the National Assembly, where he provided an update on the status of the Commission’s report, which examined the financial and administrative management of all seven local government councils across the country.
Addressing lawmakers, the minister confirmed that the executive has formally received the Commission’s final report and is currently undertaking a comprehensive review of its findings and recommendations before publication.
“The White Paper process involves a careful review of the Commission’s findings across all seven councils,” Minister Bah told the Assembly.
He explained that the review process includes detailed legal scrutiny to ensure that the Commission’s conclusions and accountability measures are consistent with existing legislation, including the Local Government Act 2002, the Local Government Finance and Audit Act 2004, and the Public Finance Act 2014.
According to the minister, the government is preparing a White Paper that will outline its official position on the Commission’s findings and recommendations.
“The government is currently preparing a White Paper setting out its considered response to the findings and recommendations of the Commission,” he said.
Under Gambian law, reports produced by Commissions of Inquiry are submitted directly to the President, who has the authority to determine when and how such reports are made public.
Providing lawmakers with a clear timeline, Minister Bah stated that both documents would be tabled before the National Assembly and made available to the public before the end of August.
“It is the government’s intention to lay both the Commission’s report and the government White Paper before this august assembly on or before the end of August. Both the White Paper and the report itself will be published for public consumption,” he said.
The minister’s statement prompted concerns from some lawmakers regarding the implementation of recommendations from previous commissions of inquiry.
The National Assembly Member for Bakau, in a supplementary question, noted that while several commissions have been established over the years to investigate governance and accountability issues, many of their recommendations have not been fully implemented.
The Local Government Commission of Inquiry was established amid growing public demand for greater transparency, accountability, and improved governance within local authorities. The commission was tasked with investigating the administrative and financial management of all seven local government councils and recommending measures to strengthen oversight and public trust in local governance institutions.
The anticipated publication of the report and White Paper is expected to generate significant public interest, as citizens and stakeholders await the government’s response to the Commission’s findings and recommendations concerning the management of local councils nationwide.
