By Prince J Musa in Kenema
Sierra Leone’s Chief Minister, Jacob Jusu Saffa has on the 26th June 2021, commissioned a newly constructed bridge and two culverts in Small Bo chiefdom, Kenema district.
The road work was facilitated by the Kenema district council.
Speaking at the event, the Paramount Chief of Small Bo chiefdom, Mohamed Dhaffe Benya applauded the central government for the support and used the opportunity to call on the authorities concerned to help them refurbish their only community center which is used for social activities.
In his statement, the Chairman Kenema District Council, Mohamed Amodu Sesay said the construction of the bridge that links Blama community and schools including the erecting of culverts to other areas, was not a mistake because pupils have been challenged to access the school especially in the rainy season, since its collapse years ago.
He called on the attention of the Chief Minister to the lack of an efficient health center at the Katayama community in Kandu Leppiama which he said has led to the death of many pregnant women due to delay in locating health centers
‘’Five pregnant women have died on their way to the hospital, so it is urgently needed,’’ he said.
The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Tamba Lamina, thanked the Kenema district council for working in line with the ministry’s mandate to foster development, saying that the councils were over the years branded to be corrupt but that the Kenema district council has been an exception in terms of performance, and collaboration with other stakeholders in facilitating development initiatives.
He encouraged the Kenema council to share their ideas with other councils across the country noting that some councils were weak in terms of delivery. He called on the people to pay their revenue to council as government alone cannot bring development.
In his Keynote address, the Chief Minister, Jacob Jusu Saffa, said the cost of the entire project is Le1.5 billion and that it is 100% financed by the government. He promised the people of Blama that the community center that has collapsed through the cause of natural disaster will be reconstructed within the shortest possible time.
He said as government they are currently working on the Kenema to Zimmi road project and the Mano junction to Tongo and then to Kono roads, connecting the two eastern districts of Kono and Kenema.
Saffa stated that one of the roles of members of parliament is to lobby and advocate to Ministries, Departments and Agencies and other development partners in developing their constituencies.
He said the local councils under the current government are referred to as vehicles for development, and therefore said there should be a good relationship between members of Parliament and local councils to ensure development, as parliamentarians are the ones that approve budgets and also do provide oversight functions.
“We want to see MP’s working with their councils and that party politics should not deprive the people of development,” he said.
Saffa disclosed that the World Bank has approved another $40 million grant designated for building the capacity of councils.
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