Banjul City Council allowed the Gambia Public Procurement Authority to buy trucks without proper competition. Auditors found that the city council had used restricted bidding instead of open bidding for certain expensive purchases. Quantum Net received a contract worth over 11 million dalasi to supply trucks to the government. The contract amount exceeded one million dalasi, which requires open bidding under procurement rules. City officials failed to provide tender documents to auditors who requested proof of proper procedures.
Auditors discovered another problem with a coconut seedling purchase contract worth over 1.3 million dalasi. Officials awarded this contract to Dem's Trading, which normally sells office supplies and stationery. The company has no experience growing or selling coconut trees to farmers. This mismatch between supplier skills and contract requirements creates risks for the project. Poor supplier selection can lead to delayed deliveries and low-quality goods, resulting in wasted taxpayer money.
Procurement experts urge city officials to adhere to proper bidding rules for all expensive contracts. Open bidding enables more companies to compete and ensures fair prices for government purchases. Officials should choose suppliers who have experience and knowledge about the goods they will provide. Proper supplier evaluation prevents waste and ensures projects succeed as planned. City managers must develop more effective systems to verify supplier qualifications before awarding contracts.
Auditors discovered another problem with a coconut seedling purchase contract worth over 1.3 million dalasi. Officials awarded this contract to Dem's Trading, which normally sells office supplies and stationery. The company has no experience growing or selling coconut trees to farmers. This mismatch between supplier skills and contract requirements creates risks for the project. Poor supplier selection can lead to delayed deliveries and low-quality goods, resulting in wasted taxpayer money.
Procurement experts urge city officials to adhere to proper bidding rules for all expensive contracts. Open bidding enables more companies to compete and ensures fair prices for government purchases. Officials should choose suppliers who have experience and knowledge about the goods they will provide. Proper supplier evaluation prevents waste and ensures projects succeed as planned. City managers must develop more effective systems to verify supplier qualifications before awarding contracts.
