Lansana Dumbuya, counsel representing persons of interest at the former Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, has cross examined one of the witnesses in the Justice Thompson Commission of Enquiry.Several witnesses have been testifying over the last few days in relation to a contract involving the supply of huge quantity of fertilizer to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security (MAFFS).
It was discovered during the cross examination that one of the suppliers, Balsam Enterprises, had breached several procurement rules and procedures contained in the contract, including lateness in supplying the first lot of 60,000 bags of 50 Kg fertilizer NPK 2020 and supply of damaged and wrong specification of fertilizers.
It will be recalled that Balsam Enterprises had entered into a contract for the supply of the said quantity of the fertilizer in September, 2016 and received part payment in November, 2016.
The witness was able to establish, through an audit exercise they conducted, that the supplier, Balsam enterprises, had delayed for 17 weeks and six days to supply the fertilizers and this, according to him, had negatively impacted on the planting season.
Balsam has also been accused of supplying over 180 bags of damaged fertilizers. The witness told the Commission that he cannot ascertain the period when the said fertilizers were damaged, but could ascertain from the revelations of the storekeeper who have received the fertilizers on behalf of the Ministry.
The defense counsel asked for the delivery note to be presented to the Commission rather than relying on what he referred to as fabrication from the storekeeper.
Since the start of his testimony witnesses have revealed to the Commission wide ranging irregularities in the supply of thousands of bags of fertilizers.
Various Government officials, including civil servants and other specialist personnel at the MAFFS as well and the supplier, Balsam Enterprises, have been implicated on several issues, such as theft and damage of fertilizers, overpricing and supply of wrong specifications, amongst others.