The Ministry of Health has taken issue with Africell’s apparent snub in the 12 million dalasi donations to frontline health workers fighting the coronavirus pandemic. 

It has ordered the telecommunications company from paying directly any bonuses to health workers until it seeks the ministry’s authorisation. 

Last week Africell made a 12 million dalasi donation to the Vice President as part of its contribution towards the Gambia’s coronavirus response and said the donations will be used as bonuses for frontline health workers. 

Africell’s CEO Alieu Badara Mbye told the VP: “Our donation to Gambia’s heroic frontline health workers is a token of our admiration and gratitude for the risks they take and the hard work they put into keeping the rest of us safe.”

He said the funds will be paid directly to health workers in the next three months through Afrimoney. 

Apparently this arrangement did not go down well with the Ministry of Health officials who reprimanded Africell for “undermining its authority”. 

In a strongly worded letter to the Africell General Manager, which was leaked to the press, the permanent secretary of the Health ministry, Muhammadou Lamin Jaiteh, said: 

“… while expecting to be formerly (sic) engaged by Africell management on the modalities of disbursing the funds, the Ministry of Health learnt with great concern and dismay, information that Africell has started engaging hospitals directly and is listing hospital staff it intends to pay through mobile money. 

“This development is worrying to the Ministry’s administration as until this time the office of the Permanent Secretary has neither received any formal letter of engagement nor has the administration been approached for its authorisation for the conduct of disbursements of funds to health workers. 

“It is the Ministry’s stern position that the uncoordinated approach taken by Africell has the potential of causing serious negative accountability and sector management implications which the Ministry is not prepared to condone. 

“On the basis of this concern, the Ministry hereby orders your good office to immediately stop whatever activity it is doing in this regard until Africell engages the Ministry’s administration in writing in accordance with the due process.”

Gambiana has contacted Africell for comment.