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By Assan Sallah
The Gambia’s Health ministry has written to the country’s leading private GSM operator Africell to stop disbursement of the D12M donation made recently to doctors and nurses fighting against the COVID-19.
A leaked letter titled “Listing of Health Sector Staff without authorization,” signed by Muhammed Lamin Jaiteh, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Health stated that the ministry is being sidelined in the disbursement of funds donated by Africell and this is unacceptable.
The Health ministry claims Africell is listing its staff without authorization and therefore orders the GSM operator to stop with immediate effect.
“This development is worrying to the Ministry’s administration as until this time the office of the Permanent Secretary has neither received any formal letter of engagement nor has the administration been approached for its authorization for the conduct of disbursement of funds to health workers,” the letter reads.
According to PS Jaiteh, it is this Ministry’s stern position that the uncoordinated approach taken by Africell has the potential of causing serious negative accountability and sector management implications which the Ministry is not prepared to condone.
“On the basis of concern, the Ministry hereby orders your good office to immediately stop whatever activity it is doing in this regard until Africell engages the Ministry’s administration in writing in accordance with the due process,” he stated.