By Nasratu Kargbo
Sierra Leone’s Vice President Dr.Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh whilst highlighting the challenges faced by local government said the level of trust in the sector has drastically declined due to the unfulfilled promises by those vying for positions.
VP Jalloh on the 26th of October 2023 at the launch of the Building Accountability Systems through Empowered Communities (BASE) Project explained that most of the councilors are not trusted because during their campaigns they promise a lot of things that even the central government cannot do.
He cited a certain councilor who promised to build a two-kilometer road, which he did not construct and lost the trust of the community people.
He said they have been struggling to solve the challenges of the local council and explained how the BASE project is very important in helping government monitor delivery to have a better understanding of citizens’ appreciation of those delivery systems at the local level.
The Vice President said government accountability systems do not only affect local councils but also the central government, especially big service delivery ministries.
Highlighting other problems faced in local government, he said decentralization tendency is a problem, explaining that it is the central government’s attitude to devolve certain functions and cleverly take them back. The VP added that they are trying to encourage Ministers to be magnanimous and ensure when they dissolve functions they should be accompanied by the required finances.
Jalloh said the capability of councils to generate revenue is a problem, he explained that since the outbreak of COVID-19 and the Ukraine-Russia war, the government has been subsidizing for many commodities which has led to government spending more, leading to revenue reduction.
United States Ambassador Bryan David Hunt explained that success in the country’s democratic journey fundamentally depends on the citizens’ ability to shape the country’s policies and programmes that impact the communities, build inclusive and responsive government institutions, and hold electoral representatives accountable for their actions and decisions.
Hunt said the project will help establish systems and institutions that will facilitate citizens’ participation in local government and political processes and provide them with knowledge and skills to do so effectively.
He explained that citizens’ participation in decision-making processes strengthens the social contract between the two parties and builds trust in government institutions and the political process, noting that trust is one of the things lacking in the country’s political system.
The Ambassador spoke of the recently signed agreement between the Government and the Main Opposition as a form of building peace and trust in the country.
The BASE agreement was signed between USAID and the Institute for Governance Reform (IGR), whilst a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with six local councils.
The BASE is a consortium of civil society groups charged with the responsibility to implement the project. The three-year project of 3.5 Million dollars is funded by the United States Government’s USAID.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (27/10/23)
