President Adama Barrow has received the report of the Commission of Inquiry into Local Government Councils and connected matters following a three-year investigation into the operations of councils across The Gambia.

The report was presented to the president at the State House.

Speaking during the presentation, Barrow said the inquiry was established to strengthen public institutions and ensure that public resources are managed lawfully and in the interest of citizens.

He stressed that decentralisation must go hand in hand with accountability, transparency and efficiency within local councils.

The chairperson of the commission, Jainaba Bah, said the inquiry examined financial management, procurement processes, staffing, governance systems, land administration and revenue collection practices within local government councils and related institutions.

According to her, the commission heard testimonies from 387 witnesses, including serving and former council officials, contractors, revenue collectors and oversight institutions.

Bah noted that many of the problems identified were linked not to the absence of regulations, but to what she described as the “normalisation of non-compliance.”

She warned that when procedures are ignored, public resources become vulnerable to abuse and accountability mechanisms weaken.

The commission further stated that the true value of the report lies in the implementation of its recommendations.

President Barrow commended the commissioners and witnesses for their contributions to the inquiry and assured that his administration would address the weaknesses identified in the report.

He also urged public institutions to embrace the findings and use them to strengthen accountability and protect public resources.