The ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs has reportedly closed down 473 bank accounts that were operated as part of a corruption scheme to siphon money from the public purse.

The accounts closure has saved the government 252 million dalasis that would have gone to corrupt officials for personal use. This corruption scheme has been operational for over a decade.

It involved a corrupt practice where former government employees or fictitious workers were added to government payrolls and received monthly salaries, travel allowances and other financial benefits. The money was then paid into the accounts of the people who created the identities. Ghost workers collect salaries and eventually qualify for pensions as well.

This shocking revelation was made at the Permanent Secretaries and Planners Retreat held over the weekend at the Tendaba Camp in Kiang, Lower River Region.

The government was being deprived of vital funds for social sector development. It is not clear whether the corrupt officials were arrested or asked to repay the stolen funds.

Corruption is blighting The Gambia’s development. Anti-corruption activist believe the corrupt practice of ghost workers is prevalent in most government departments.

Meanwhile, the secretary general and head of the Civil Service, Ebrima Camara, has emphasised the need for reform to the country’s debt management and government revenue raising strategy.  

Camara reminded the officials that government worked tirelessly to undo the mess that the public finances were in only a few years ago.

“However, this process is not over, and we cannot afford to lose sight of the real issues we have – the scale of the public sector debt and the need to raise revenue and compliance. ”