By Bampia James Bundu
Concern for Public Accountability & Transparency, COPAT, has engagedlocal council ward committees and youth groups in a 2-day capacity building training on tax promotion and revenue generation in Rotifunk, in the southern district of Moyamba.
In his address, the group’s executive coordinator, Joseph Kaindoh, MP,said they, in partnership with Network Support for Public Accountability & Development (NeSPAD) and Campaign for Child and Youth Empowerment (CCYE), were targeting about 120 participants, 5 from each of the 24 wards across the district.
Added to that, he said, were the interest groups and youth organizations within each of the wards. He explained that the objective of the training was “to bring about inclusiveness, openness, rule of compliance and oversight of citizens on the payment of tax to the local councils and revenue generation”.
He said at the end of the training, participants were expected to be part of the tax mobilization team in each of the 24 wards and in their chiefdoms generally.
“They should also be able to advocate for revenue and tax mobilization and to perform oversight role in ensuring that tax collected was accounted for and that all developmental activities for their communities are traced and monitored”, he said, adding that a similar training would be held in Mokayeagbeh, Mopaileh, Sembehun, Taiama, Moyamba and other towns in the district.
Paramount Chief of Bumpeh Chiefdom, Charles Caulker, welcomed the initiative and commended COPAT for holding the meeting in his chiefdom as “there is more to be done in ensuring that ward committee members hold their councils accountable”.
Councilor Abubakarr Mansaray of ward 292 also lauded the training and noted that they had been longing for such an opportunity because “we have several questions that we want to be answered and we seek clarifications”.
For far too long, he recalled, they had faced with challenges regarding the effective monitoring of funds from their councils. He said with the knowledge they hoped to be able to monitor revenue generation from councils and to perform their oversight role in ensuring that tax collected was accounted for.
(C) Politico 02/07/14
