By Baba Sillah
Mariama Ndure-Njie, permanent secretary, Ministry of Works yesterday told the Janneh Commission that there was a cabinet conclusion on 19 September 2017 that all state aircraft should be sold off.
She said the ministry recommended setting up a taskforce to sell the aircraft and the members include Office of the President, Ministries of Finance and Justice, Gambia Civil Aviation Authority and Gambia International Airline.
Mrs Njie further revealed that they have a list of five aircraft from GCAA, noting that one of them, the C5 RTG, is currently due for heavy checks as there is already a potential buyer.
She however said they do not know the value of the aircraft.
The following are the aircraft: GAF Boeing 727 100, C5 GOG, Boeing B727 100, C5 AFT and Challenger CL 601 and air tractors such as C5 DOA and C5 KSE.
PS Njie further told the commission that she received an email from the director general of GCAA on 11 December 2017 regarding the status of the aircraft, saying she do not know whether an advertisement was made for the disposal of the aircraft.
According to her, the GCAA boss said Omega Company offered €100,000 to buy the jet fighter and the air tractors while West Africa Service changed from their initial offer of €100,000 to €240,000.
She said the ministry is now waiting for GCAA to come up with valuation of the aircraft.
Next to reappear was the managing director of GT Bank, Ayodele Bolaji, who gave evidence on the accounts of Jammeh Foundation for Peace. He said the account was opened on 5 February, 2006 and the signatories were Kebba Manneh, Cherno Camara, Mr Jassey, and Dr Alieu Gaye among others.
Mr Bolaji revealed that there were three dalasi accounts. The first account was funded from monthly subventions by government; the second was payments from patients while the third was a current account.
Mr Bolaji further revealed that there were two other dalasi and a dollar accounts for JFP and the first transaction on the dalasi was on 27 November 2015 which was frozen while the last transaction was 4 January 2016, leaving a balance of D1, 119.06. He said the balance for the dollar account was $8,340 and the first transaction on this account was on 30 October 2015 while the last transaction was on 5 January 2016.
According to him, there was a total deposit of $200,000 which was converted to dalasi, stating that the balance in the dalasi account was converted to dollar on 4 January 2016 and the sum of $40,000 was withdrawn by one Yamundow Njie.
He added that on 3 January 2017, the sum of $200,000 was transferred to CBG account in sequence and was converted to dalasi.
Mr Bolaji also disclosed that they got instruction to transfer D3,000,000 to JFP account on monthly basis.
According to him, two dalasi accounts were opened on 22 April 2009 and 1 July 2015, respectively, while a dollar account was also opened on 24 January 2015 with a deposit of D28, 869, 260.20.
He said the balance is D323, 274.78 and the last transaction was on 15 March, 2016.
The GT Bank boss told the Commission that on 8 February, 2017, the sum of D452,950 was transferred to Trust Bank and $9,000 was deposited into the dollar account of Staff Welfare Account. The hospital is now renamed Bundung Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital.
Sittings continue today.
