By Prince J Musa in Kenema
The Kenema District Council with support from Fiscal Decentralization Division under the Ministry of Finance has led discussions on the Local Council’s bilateral budget for the Fiscal Year 2022-2023.
They also proposed development plans for the 2023 financial year during the deliberations at the Council Hall, Nyandeyama Road in Kenema.
According to the Deputy Director of the decentralization division, Ibrahim Bureh the essence of the local council bilateral budget discussions was to help the Kenema council also in outlining tangible development projects for funds received for the 2022 financial year.
He further said that, since monies received by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) from government for service delivery are tax- payers monies, transparency in the budget deliberations should be of top priority.
‘’This is to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of public funds allocated to council’’ he said.
Bureh called on the people of the district to be inclusive by asking council questions about the development projects being undertaken in the district, from the time funds are allocated to them.
The Chairman of Civil Society East, Augustine Sannoh described the engagement as important and timely as he said, it deals with the development of the district. He said from some observations, the council is doing its own part in terms of development for the district and promised continued monitoring of its activities.
But he pointed out that ‘’late transfers of funds to local councils by central government affect the implementation process of council’’.
He stated that as civil society, they have been part of the monitoring wing of council’s service delivery and will continue to be part of it since it deals with the development of the district as it is directly responsible for community development.
The Finance Officer of Kenema District Council, Kemoh Sattie stated that bilateral budget hearing is a normal requirement which council observes every year. He said council should tell the people how the funds are utilized for their benefit.
‘’It is incumbent on us as council to tell people how we use their taxes and the funds sent to us by the central government,” he said.
He also said that the budget presentation helps people to know the plans for the next tranche of funds that will be allocated to them.
Sattie commended the participants at this year’s budget discussions and assured them that the Kenema council will continue to provide the services due residents.
Copyright © 2022 Politico Online (26/10/22)
