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[QUOTE="Munyaradzi Mafaro, post: 52502, member: 636"]
Former Banjul City Council executives acknowledged years of financial mismanagement during testimony before the Local Government Commission of Inquiry on July 16, 2025. Mustapha Batchilly and Momodou Camara disclosed widespread recruitment violations that bypassed legal requirements. The council hired over 30 contract employees without performance evaluations or proper authorization from the Local Government Service Commission. These appointments violated the Local Government Act and significantly drained municipal resources.

Camara confirmed that recruitment practices since 2018 lacked due process and failed to add operational value. Lead Counsel Patrick Gomez questioned Batchilly about unauthorized salary increases of 50 percent and 25 percent, respectively, without supporting documentation. The former chief executive approved questionable travel allowances and payments to external organizations without ministry approval. A 2018 task force recommended removing Batchilly for inadequate oversight, yet only the finance director faced dismissal.

Both witnesses admitted that personal and political considerations influenced council decisions throughout the 2018-2023 period under investigation.
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