Gamtel made huge revenue using outdated equipments

In 2011, the Gambia Telecommunication Company Limited (Gamtel) made total revenue of D1.450 billion, but despite this, the company continues to operate on outdated equipments which threatens its ability to compete in the telecoms industry.  The company also made financial loses of D63 million.           

Gamtel, one time second best telecoms services provider in Africa, is currently faced with many challenges, some of which are blamed on an aging network infrastructure and the use of obsolete equipments.

As Gamtel presented its annual activity report and financial statement of 2011 to the National Assembly, in Banjul, for scrutiny on Tuesday, the Lawmakers raised eyebrow, expressing disappointment that a whole national telecoms company is operating on obsolete equipments, when its competitors in the highly competitive market are largely operating on modern and cost effective equipments.

However, the Managing Director of Gamtel, Mr. Baboucarr Sanyang, told the National Assembly Members that the company is embarking on some capital intensive projects aimed at upgrading, expanding and introducing new telecoms services in response to the growing challenges.

One of Gamtel’s main challenges is the threat posed by its competitors and an increasing demand of customers’ requirements for more efficient service delivery.

NRA asked to account for D85 million meant for road maintenance

The National Roads Authority (NRA) must explain how or where it spent some D85 million which was meant to be spent on road maintenance.

The NRA, on October 4, 2012, appeared before the National Assembly select committees responsible for scrutinizing the performance and financial status of government institution, the Public Accounts and Public Enterprise Committees (PAC/PEC).

The Committees doubts the credibility and feasibility of the reports submitted to it by the NRA, which they said contains numerous unanswered questions.

“I don't think it is feasible for us to adopt the reports because more than 53 questions directed by the honorable members were not substantially answered satisfactorily,” stressed Hon. Abdoulie Bojang, the Speaker of the National Assembly.

Bojang exhorted the management and board of NRA to rework on the report to provide answers to the questions raised by the select committees.

According to Hon. Lamin K Jammeh, member for Illiasa constituency, D100 million was requested for road maintenance for the year (2011) but the report indicates only D15 million was spent.

“So where is the remaining D85 million? That is a question that needs to be answered by the NRA,” Hon Jammeh said.

NYSS says government subvention not encouraging

The National Youth Service Scheme (NYSS), a government-established skills training center, which depends entirely on monthly government subvention, has said the way that the government is paying these subventions is least encouraging.

This was disclosed by NYSS’s Accountant, Mr. Edward B. Wright, in his financial report to the Public Account and Public Enterprise Committees (PAC/PEC) of the National Assembly on October 8, 2012.

“Most of the time NYSS financed its operations through bank overdrafts and this make it impossible to remit the tax deduction from staff to Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) because banks always refuse to honor such payments,” Mr Wright said on Monday.

According to him, when NYSS subvention is suppressed or underpaid it reflects directly on the budgeted activities and this resulted in the significant variances.

“NYSS will liaise with Ministry of Youth and Sports, and Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs forthwith to remit the arrears outstanding to GRA with immediate effect,” he said.

Gambia Competition Commission decries ‘insufficient funding’ from government

The executive secretary of the Gambia Competition Commission (GCC), has lamented the insufficient funding given to his institution by the government for the year 2011.

Mr. Amadou Ceesay said the budget submitted by the Commission to The Gambia government to enable it operate efficiently and effectively in the year 2011 was D25 million. “But only a paltry D7.9 million was given,” he lamented.

“This amount was only able to cover the Commission’s administrative expenses while the Commission had to seek financial and material support from international organizations, which were disposed to supporting newly-established, fledgling and under-funded institutions like ours (the GCC) to realize our planned activities,” he revealed.

However, he acknowledged the GCC has received financial support from various institutions like the European Union through its TradeCom project, the Small States Network for Enterprise Development (SSNED), the African Competition Forum (ACF), and International Development Research Centre (IDRC).

Mr. Ceesay was presenting the 2011 financial report of the GCC to the joint session of the Public Accounts and Public Enterprises Committees (PAC/PEC) of the National Assembly on October 3, 2012.   

The PAC/PEC adopted the reports of the GCC and commended Commission for its “stable annual activity and audited financial reports.” They noted that the reports are “binding and brilliant.” 

The primary responsibility of the GCC is to ensure that anti-competitive practices in the Gambia economy do not exist or are minimized. This, it does through the investigation of possible anti-competitive behaviour by enterprises.