Kambia District Council Under Scrutiny for Financial Mismanagement

Hon. Quintin Salia Konneh, representing Kailahun District and chairing the Sub-Appropriation Committee Group in the Sixth Parliament, has described the handling of monthly top-up allowances by the Kambia District Council as a serious case of financial mismanagement.

During a parliamentary scrutiny session on Friday, December 6, 2024, it was revealed that the council has been spending approximately NLe30,000 monthly on top-up allowances for the Council Administrator, Madam Kumba Hawa Turma, and other staff members.

Hon. Konneh labeled this spending as reckless and highlighted that the council had failed to meet its government revenue targets for 2024. Despite this failure, expenditures, particularly on top-ups, exceeded the approved budget, raising questions about accountability.

When questioned, Madam Kumba Hawa Turma, the Council Administrator, claimed she had not authorized any top-up payments since assuming office. However, documents submitted to the committee revealed that NLe30,000 had been withdrawn from the council’s account for this purpose.

The council’s Accountant admitted that top-up allowances were not procured directly from telecommunication companies. Instead, staff members received cash to purchase their own top-ups. It was disclosed that the Accountant himself received NLe2,500 monthly, while the Procurement Officer, whose name was not revealed, received NLe2,000.

Hon. Sartie Banya, another committee member, criticized the council for its poor financial practices, stating:

“The committee has calculated that the monthly top-up allowance exceeds NLe30,000, indicating potential fraud. In most organizations, only key personnel, such as Marketing or Communication Officers, receive top-ups. Why should an individual sitting in an office 24/7 receive NLe2,500 monthly for top-ups?”

The investigation further revealed that 14 staff members benefited from top-ups over a three-month period. Hon. Salia Konneh concluded the session by stating:

“Something is fundamentally wrong with the top-up model in Kambia District Council. This is why the committee is thoroughly questioning the matter. The financial management of the council is in a very messy state.”

The committee vowed to continue its probe into the council’s financial practices to ensure transparency and accountability.