The Minister of Lands, Regional Government and Religious Affairs, Hamat NK Bah, has rejected claims that the presidential inquiry into local government councils was designed to target Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) Mayor Talib Bensouda.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Bah said the inquiry was established to investigate alleged corruption and financial mismanagement across local government councils, not to victimise any individual.
The Commission was established in February 2023 under Section 200 of the 1997 Constitution and Legal Notice No. 7 of 2023. It was mandated to examine the administration, governance, financial management and use of public resources by all eight local government councils. Its investigations covered the period from May 2018 to January 2023. Bah said Bensouda himself had previously called on the government to investigate alleged corruption at KMC, insisting that the government was responding to that call.
“He was the one who invited the government to come and investigate KMC. That there was corruption in KMC. Government then went on to investigate KMC,” he said.
The minister also defended the publication of the commission’s report and the accompanying government White Paper, which were released in the October 29, 2026 Gazette.
Bah said the law required the report and the government’s response to be published within six months, adding that individuals against whom adverse findings were made had been notified as required by law.
He questioned why those affected had not informed the public earlier that they had received the notifications.
Bah dismissed suggestions that the inquiry was politically motivated, saying the government had not sought to prevent anyone from contesting elections.
“The president will contest against anyone who is permitted by law and qualified to contest,” he said, adding that he is not responsible for IEC or its decision
The publication of the white paper has since generated controversy, particularly over its recommendations concerning Bensouda. The government accepted recommendations for further investigation into possible economic crimes, a forensic audit and action to review his fitness to hold public office. It also directed KMC to initiate proceedings for his removal under Section 20(1) of the Local Government Act 2002.
However, Bensouda’s legal team has challenged the government’s position, arguing that the White Paper is not a legal instrument but rather the government’s response to the commission’s findings. His camp has also questioned the basis of some of the findings against him.
