By Prince J Musa in Kenema
The Local Councils in the districts of Kailahun, Kenema, Port Loko and Western Rural are to benefit from a 3.7 EURO funding by the EU. This is to help strengthen local governance, decentralization and sustainable development through territorial approach to local economic development in Sierra Leone. The launching of the project which took place in Kailahun on the 26th November this year will focus on improving institutional financial and administrative capacities of councils, strengthening dialogue on urban policies, and challenges, improve equitable service delivery and promote green low carbon and climate resilient, urban development.
The Executive Secretary Local Government Service Commission, Brima S J Kebbie, said the project will complement government’s efforts in deeping the decentralization process, adding that, despite efforts being made for some ministries to be devolved to local councils it is still a challenge due to lack of resources,
He added that, councils need a robust system to ensure full decentralization process and therefore urged the project sharing committees to understanding the project to help add value to it for the benefit of the people.
In his statement, EU official, Gerald Hatler expressed delight and commended the Port Loko council and other sister councils for developing a high quality project proposal that promotes development approach.
He said in 2013, EU committed to globally promote territorial approach to local development and that include empowering local authorities for enhanced governance and effective development outcomes.
Hatler affirmed EU’s continued support to strengthening the human, technical and financial capacity of the local councils, using the government Medium Term National Development Plan of 2019-2023
He said the project will help capacitate a responsive local council to citizen’s priorities and provide innovative solutions with greater contributions to inclusive social and economic development for the councils.
He said the project proposal was able to highlight particularly gender and environmentally sensitive issues and assured that the bEU will continue to support the devolution process which he described as a critical tool for increasing accountability and improving service delivery.
Hatler stated that the EU recognizes the challenges faced by local authorities in executing their mandates especially the level of decentralization, the insufficient and lack of capacity in running administration, adding that, the project will promote reforms toward an enabling environment for job creation and local economic growth and encourage public- private partnership at all levels..
In his statement, the Mayor of Kenema, Thomas Karim Baio, expressed delight to EU for the fund provided to councils but said it is high time change the narrative of donor dependent to creating avenues for self-financing.
‘’We can only convince EU for more project when the resources are used in transparent and accountable manner that reflect on the people,”he said.
Mayor Baio urged all citizens to be monitors of those projects at various councils as only proper monitoring and documentation will give credence to councils for the fund allocated to them.
The chairman Kailahun district council, Ahmed Sahr Kekeh Lamin said, the people of Kailahun district will continue to be grateful to the EU and as council will ensure the effective and efficient utilization of the funds allocated to them for the development of the people, especially so when the district borders with two neighboring countries.
“We want to affirm our commitment to all EU procedures set in the implementation of the project’’, he said.
In his Keynote address, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Ambassador Tamba John Sylvanus Lamina said they are pleased with the direction of councils toward ensuring tangible development, adding that, the leadership demonstrated by the local councils in competing for global projects and winning shows that with focus and patriotism, the country can forge ahead to attain development.
The local government minister said that, decentralization is one critical area in building the capacity of council staff. He added that, councils need to embark on revenue mobilization as that will help to push forward their development agendas and admonished the citizens to pay their property taxes that can be used to bring development to their areas.
He encouraged the councils to ensure inclusive participations of the chiefs, women and youths so that they can take ownership of the developments in their communities.
The minister commended local councils that are doing well in revenue mobilization to take the development to their people. He thanked EU for giving support to the local councils and assured of government’s commitment to all development projects from donors.
Copyright © Politico Online 29/11/21
