By :Fatou Krubally
The Government of The Gambia has strongly denied allegations that ministers attempted to interfere with the Auditor General’s reports, describing the claims as “completely false and without merit.”
The clarification follows recent statements by the Edward Francis Small Centre for Rights and Justice (EFSCRJ) and other civil society groups, which alleged that government officials were seeking to discredit the National Audit Office (NAO) and undermine its findings.
In its response, the government maintained that it had obtained proper authorization to publish audit reports ahead of their scheduled debate before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and the Public Enterprises Committee (PEC) of the National Assembly.
“We fully respect the independence of the National Audit Office and the due process established under the 1997 Constitution and the NAO Act of 2015,” the government stated.
“Once audit reports are submitted, they undergo scrutiny by PAC and PEC through open hearings, and we will continue to cooperate fully, providing management responses and documentation as required.”
The government further emphasized that responding publicly to misinformation should not be mistaken for interference. According to the statement, ministers and senior officials have a responsibility to clarify inaccuracies and provide context, especially when audit findings are misinterpreted or presented out of context.
“Debunking misinformation does not halt, influence, or impede the parliamentary process or the statutory functions of the Auditor General,” it noted. “Public clarifications supplement parliamentary review by ensuring citizens are accurately informed while the oversight process runs its course.”
The government also outlined forthcoming actions, including submitting management responses to PAC and PEC, implementing corrective measures where audit observations are validated, recovering confirmed losses, and pursuing prosecutions where legally required.
Additionally, the executive commended the National Audit Office for its work and reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening audit readiness across all ministries, departments, and agencies. Ongoing measures include enhanced staff training, improved record-keeping, and timely submission of accounts in accordance with national and international auditing standards.
The statement concluded with a call for civil society, media, and other stakeholders to allow the parliamentary scrutiny process to proceed without prejudice, stressing that accountability and transparency remain top government priorities.
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By :Fatou Krubally The Government of The Gambia has strongly denied allegations that ministers attempted to interfere with the Auditor…
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