Hamat Bah Says Local Government Inquiry Was Not Meant to Target Mayor Talib Bensouda

• Minister Hamat N.K. Bah denied claims that a local government inquiry was established to target Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda.
• Bah serves as the Minister of Regional Government, Lands and Religious Affairs.
• The Local Government Commission of Inquiry investigated the financial and administrative activities of all area and municipal councils.
• Talib Ahmed Bensouda is the current Mayor of the Kanifing Municipal Council.

Minister Hamat N.K. Bah, who holds the portfolio for Regional Government, Lands and Religious Affairs, has publicly refuted assertions suggesting that a recently established commission of inquiry was specifically constituted with the intention of singling out Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda.

Minister Hamat N.K. Bah, who holds the portfolio for Regional Government, Lands and Religious Affairs, has publicly refuted assertions suggesting that a recently established commission of inquiry was specifically constituted with the intention of singling out Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda. These claims, which implied a targeted investigation, have been firmly dismissed by the minister, underscoring his position on the impartiality and broader purpose of the investigative body. The allegations had circulated regarding the true motivations behind the formation of the commission, prompting the minister's direct response to clarify the government's stance.

The subject of these allegations, Talib Ahmed Bensouda, currently serves as the Mayor for the Kanifing Municipal Council, a significant local government entity. The minister's rejection of the claims directly addresses concerns that the inquiry might have been politically motivated or designed to undermine the mayor's administration. Bah's statement aims to dispel any notions that the investigative process was anything other than a standard, comprehensive review, rather than an effort to specifically "target" an individual or a particular council. This clarification is crucial for maintaining public trust in the integrity of governmental oversight mechanisms.

The commission in question, officially known as the Local Government Commission of Inquiry, was established with a broad mandate to scrutinize the operational and fiscal health of local governance structures. Its investigative purview extended to a wide array of activities, encompassing both the financial management and the administrative practices across various local government bodies. This comprehensive approach indicates a systemic review rather than a focused examination of a single entity or individual.

Specifically, the inquiry was tasked with delving into the financial and administrative activities of all area councils and municipal councils throughout the region. This expansive scope is a key element in the minister's argument against the claims of targeting. By examining every relevant council, the commission's work inherently suggests a general assessment of local government performance and compliance, rather than a punitive action directed at the Kanifing Municipal Council or its mayor. The intention, as articulated by Minister Bah, was to conduct a thorough and impartial review of the entire local government landscape.

Minister Hamat N.K. Bah, in his capacity as the head of Regional Government, Lands and Religious Affairs, has taken a definitive stance against the narrative that the inquiry was a personal or political attack. His rejection of these claims serves to reinforce the government's commitment to transparent and fair administrative processes. The minister's statement is a direct counter to any speculation that the investigative body was formed with ulterior motives beyond its stated objective of reviewing local government operations.

The ongoing scrutiny of local government bodies through such commissions is a standard practice designed to ensure accountability and good governance. By emphasizing that the Local Government Commission of Inquiry's mandate covered all area councils and municipal councils, Minister Bah sought to underscore the universal application of the investigation. This broad application is central to his argument that the inquiry was not, as alleged, a specific effort to "target" Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda or his administration at the Kanifing Municipal Council, but rather a routine and necessary oversight function.

Source: Original reporting via Ndey Sowe.