By Prince J Musa in Kenema
The National Commission for Social Action with funds from Islamic Development Bank has launched phase II of the Sierra Leone Community Driven Development (SLCDD) Project dubbed Gie trenk (strengthen) at Lower Bambara Chiefdom in Kenema district.
Addressing the beneficiaries of the project, the Chairman of the Kenema District Council Mohamed Amadu Sesay described NaCSA as one of the strongest development entities for local councils in the country when it comes to the rehabilitation of schools and construction and other infrastructure that enhance development in rural communities. He said as a local government entity they were impressed with the development projects NaCSA has been implementing in the district.
He spoke about the neglect Kenema faced in the last dispensation and expressed satisfaction that projects such as schools that were abandoned are now being completed under the present administration.
The project manager NaCSA Momoh Juana disclosed that the objective of SLCDD is to remove abject poverty from people in rural communities saying he was pleased to see thirty seven communities in five districts get SLCDD project support that has led to the construction or rehabilitation of feeder roads, building of modern markets and increasing agricultural productivity through commercialization using machinery.
Juana maintained that the project also has solar energy component for smaller communities within the project implementing chiefdoms including lower Bambara. Construction of eight community health posts with some already completed, provision of three ambulances and construction of three junior secondary schools and disbursement of micro-enterprises to 352 women groups among others, are also key components of the project.
The Resident Minister East, Andrew Ansu Fatorma described the SLCDD project as timely saying “the people of Lower Bambara voted for president Bio so they can benefit and now some of those benefits are reaching to them”. He maintained that lower Bambara had been the bread basket of Kenema district but much has not been done in terms of development with diamond mining having made no impact in the lives of the people.
Fatorma encouraged the chiefdom people to make use of the opportunity and pointed out that the success of the project itself lies in the hands of the chiefdom authorities who should embrace and supervise the work properly.
He noted that the collective efforts and support of this government will ensure that the president will succeed in transforming this country and therefore any development initiative shouldn’t be treated with levity.
On behalf of his constituency 015 Kenema district, the Member of Parliament Mohamed Lansana commended NACSA for facilitating such development programs in his constituency saying that in the area of agriculture NaCSA needs to pay attention to storage facilities including drying floors for harvested rice.
Lansana reiterated that, NaCSA should look into expanding the gravity of the water system in the pipes used and assured the commission that as member of parliament he will always stand by the community and support NaCSA in ensuring that the project changes the lives of the people of lower Bambara and constituency 015.
In her Keynote address the NaCSA commissioner Dr Sao Kpato Hannah Max-Kyne expressed gratitude to the chiefdom people for their support and patience with the commission over the years. Dr. Max–Kyne said Lower Bambara is benefiting greatly from the SLCDD project with a lot of facilities lined up to ensure service delivery, adding that “all NaCSA’s previous development programs that were halted will have to continue”.
The NACSA Commissioner affirmed that all components of the project captured for the chiefdom will be implemented and said her Commission was working hard with their partners Islamic Development Bank for the extension of the project to 2023. She encouraged the stakeholders in Lower Bambara to take ownership of the projects by motivating the workers in order to ensure that quality work is done for the people that will impact their lives.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online (24/03/21)
