How an £8,515 Donor-Funded Borehole Project for Fayunku Women Garden Unravelled
- Gunjuronline.com
- 1 hour ago
- 6 min read
INVESTIGATION DOSSIER: How an £8,515 Donor-Funded Borehole Project for Fayunku Women Garden Unravelled
By Gunjur Online Investigations Desk
Background: A Project Meant to Empower
In February 2025, Gunjur Online reported on the commissioning of a new borehole and water supply system at the Fayunku Women’s Garden in Gunjur.
You can read that story here >> Linking Without Borders Commissions Borehole at Fayunku Women’s Garden in Gunjur
The project was being funded by the Marlborough Brandt Group (MBG) who raised the funds and the project is being implemented by Linking Without Borders (LWB), the project was presented as a major intervention to improve water access for women gardeners whose livelihoods depend on reliable irrigation for their vegetable gardens at Fayunku Women Garden.
The project was publicly described as being worth “thousands of dalasi.” However, Gunjur Online investigations have now established that Linking Without Borders received a staggering £8,515 from Marlborough Brandt Group, equivalent to D723,672 at the exchange rate prevailing at the time. According to information obtained by Gunjur Online, the funds were intended to support an enhanced water supply system and toilet facilities at the Fayunku Women’s Garden.
Early Red Flags: Warnings Raised at Commissioning
Shortly after Gunjur Online’s initial report, a concerned individual familiar with the fundraising and intended scope of the project contacted this medium. The source questioned whether the quality and scale of work being delivered aligned with the level of funds mobilised in the name of the women gardeners.
At the time, these concerns could not be independently verified. Subsequent developments, official correspondence, and evidence on the ground now lend significant weight to those early warnings.
Physical Evidence: A New System Already Failing
On 9th December 2025, Gunjur Online received video footage showing the overhead water tank of the Fayunku Women’s Garden borehole system leaking continuously. The leak rendered at least one garden allotment - located directly beneath the tank unusable, preventing the affected woman from cultivating vegetables on her plot.
For a borehole project less than a year old, funded to the tune of over D700,000 - such deterioration raises serious questions about workmanship, system design, and value for money.
Ward Councillor Raises Alarm to Donors
As part of this investigation, Gunjur Online reviewed a letter dated 6th November 2025 written by Hon. Momodou Charreh Gibba, Councillor for Gunjur Ward, to Mr. Alex Davies of Marlborough Brandt Group.
In the letter, the councillor outlines how attempts to establish joint supervision and transparency during the project implementation were rejected by Linking Without Borders, which insisted on sole control over the funds and implementation, citing that a contractor had already been engaged.
He further stated that his request to participate in the procurement process for accountability purposes was refused by Linking Without Borders and Contractor. Despite these reservations, he allowed the project to proceed to avoid delaying support to the women gardeners.
Declared Complete - But Not Functional
According to the councillor, when the contractor later declared the project completed and approved by LWB, the women discovered that the borehole system did not function as intended. The system failed to supply water to the outlying reservoirs and taps the project intended to serve.
Repeated complaints to the contractor and Linking Without Borders went unresolved. Eventually, the women requested that the new borehole system be disconnected after it failed to deliver water to the reservoirs or taps in the garden.
Women Gardeners Break Their Silence
The leadership of the Fayunku Women’s Garden has since provided its official account to Gunjur Online, confirming disputes over implementation and lack of transparency.
“When we were informed by Linking Without Borders that funds had been received from MBG to improve watering facilities at the Fayunku women’s garden, we were excited and hopeful that our water challenges would finally be addressed,” one of the women leaders told Gunjur Online.
However, disagreements quickly arose.
“We disagreed with LWB on how the water system should be implemented, how much money was actually received for the project, and who the contractor should be.”
According to the women leaders, LWB declined to engage a contractor who had previously installed a similar and functional system at the garden, instead bringing in their own contractor.
“They dug a borehole and erected two overhead tanks. The borehole was supposed to be connected to the existing mains in the garden for wider coverage. This was not done.”
As a result, the system has simply not worked since the borehole was dug and connected to the overhead water tanks.
“Water was pumped into the tank, but because there was no pipe connection into the existing mains, the tank overflowed and later developed a hole, leaking forcefully onto the ground.”
Livelihoods and Social Harmony at Risk
The women confirmed that the leak has had serious social and economic consequences.
“The woman whose allotment is directly under the tank cannot manage her vegetables. To cope, she dug a channel to divert the water into another woman’s allotment, which has caused friction among the women and could escalate into serious conflict if not resolved.”
What Exists vs What Works
At present:
• A borehole has been drilled.
• Two overhead water tanks stand.
• Water is pumped but not distributed.
There is no effective connection between the new borehole and the existing garden water mains, rendering the system largely non-functional despite the significant funds received for the project.
Questions to Linking Without Borders Remain Unanswered
Considering the findings - including the confirmation that £8,515 / D723,672 was received for water and sanitation improvements - Gunjur Online formally requested Linking Without Borders to provide:
• A detailed breakdown of how the funds were spent.
• Clarification on how much was allocated specifically to the borehole, distribution system, and toilet facilities.
• Details of any warranty or guarantee provided by the contractor.
Although the LWB project coordinator acknowledged Gunjur Online’s request and promised to provide full details, no financial or technical breakdown had been supplied to Gunjur at the time of publication, despite repeated requests and reminders.
Donor Position Still Unknown
Gunjur Online has also contacted Mr Alex Davies of the Marlborough Brandt Group to establish:
• when they became aware of the project’s failure.
• whether implementation reports were submitted.
• and what remedial action, if any, is being considered.
As of publication, no official response had been received from MBG, although Alex Davies confirmed through a third party that a sum of £8,515 / D723,762 was wired to Linking Without Borders for the Fayunku Women Garden water and sanitation enhancement project in December 2024. Mr Davies further acknowledged that he is aware of concerns over the money spent on the project or lack of and what it would take to get the project finished to the original specifications, citing concerns over current fundraising difficulties in the UK and fear that it will now be very hard for donors to support projects in Gunjur again with “unfinished projects, through poor management”
Unresolved Questions
Despite detailed accounts from community leaders and women gardeners, critical questions remain unanswered:
• How was over D723,000 spent on a system that does not work?
• Why was community and ward councillor oversight resisted?
• Why was a proven system design abandoned?
• Who approved the final work?
• And ultimately, were the Fayunku women Gardeners shortchanged?
Conclusion: A Test of Accountability
This investigation exposes troubling gaps in transparency and accountability in a donor-funded community project meant to uplift women.
For the Fayunku women gardeners, this is not merely a technical failure, lack of transparency - it is a threat to livelihoods, unity, and trust.
Gunjur Online will continue to update this investigative dossier as responses are received and corrective actions, if any- is taken.
EDITOR’S NOTE
All individuals and organisations named in this report were given the right of reply. Responses received have been published fairly and accurately. Further responses will be published as they are received.