By Prince J Musa in Kenema
The National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA) under the Community Driven Development Project on the 20th November, 2021 handed over completed infrastructures to communities in Kenema district.
The facilities were a Recreational Centre at Bandama in Small Bo chiefdom, a Secondary School at Burma Section and a market structure at Lagor, Nongowa Chiefdom in Kenema district.
At the handling over ceremony held at Bandama, the chairman Kenema district council who served as chairperson for the event Mohamed Amodu Sesay disclosed that, the recreational centre has been one of the felt needs of the people of Bandama community and by extension residents of Kenema city as whole. He said upon assuming office as Council Chairman, recreational facility was the first project tabled to him by the chiefdom speaker. He said it was necessary at Bandama since it is the entering point to Kenema.
“I want to thank NaCSA for the good work but again to inform them that more community structures have collapse and need NaCSA intervention’’, Sesay said.
Giving an overview of the project, NaCSA Programme Manager, Patrick Lebbie, said, NaCSA does not dictate projects to communities as it is the communities that identify their felt needs through the council for NaCSA to support its implementation. He said as an institution it stands to support all government development priorities such as free quality education, access to food and health care.
He said the commission has completed and handed over to communities, schools, health centres and recreational facilities among others and said plans are under way to advertise bidding for other projects. He disclosed that the Bandama project was meant for six months but the contractor was able to complete it within a four month period.
He revealed plans for the construction of a health centre at Ngelehun that has been approved and will start soon.
The Member of Parliament for Constituency 11 Kenema district, Peter Musa Moigua said NaCSA has done a lot of developmental projects in his constituency and assured that the centre will serve its purpose.
He thanked the government through NaCSA for undertaking several developmental projects in his constituency and called on all to support the government’s development agenda.
On behalf of other Paramount Chiefs, PC Sidique M. Kapuwa of Nongowa Chiefdom, thanked government through NaCSA for bringing development to their chiefdoms, and spoke of how a market has been the cry of the people of Lagor for twelve years.
In his Keynote address, the Mayor of Kenema, Thomas Karim Baio, expressed delight over the activities of NaCSA.
‘’Our people were neglected with development for ten years and a country should not be like that since there is one Sierra Leone,’’ said Mayor Baio.
Mayor Baio emphasised the need for an improved maintenance culture, and for people not to destroy the new structures. He therefore urged the Kenema district council and the community to take good care of the facility provided as its taxes payer’s money.
He expressed appreciation to former NaCSA boss for the support accorded to the people of Kenema in creating this facility and thanked the current commissioner and her predecessor for their efforts toward the development of the country. He told the gathering that plans are under way for the two councils to build regional markets between Hangha and Kenema.They also plan to erect a regional park for vehicles between Kenema and Blama and establish a funeral home.
The Mayor used the opportunity to call on the people of Bandama to make available land for PAVI-Fort Construction Company to construct a secondary school for the community.
Copyright © Politico Online 24/11/21
