By Prince J Musa in Kenema
In fulfillment of the Local Council Act of 2024, the Vice President of Sierra Leone, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh has officially inaugurated the newly elected Mayors, Chairpersons, and Councilors of Kono, Kailahun, and Kenema districts in the East of the country.
The inauguration was held at the Kenema City Hall, on the 11th of August 2023.
Paramount Chief Sidique Kapuwa on behalf of the traditional authorities in the Eastern Region congratulated the new council officials and assured them of their support.
Addressing the newly elected local councils representatives from the three districts, the Minister of Local Government and Community Affairs, Tamba James S. Lamina spoke about the Act that he says gives space to various sectors to come together to help enhance sustainable development through collaboration and coordination. He said councilors serve as the bridge between the council and the people, and who identify and report issues in their localities to the council for deliberations and recommendations.
“The key objective of local councils' existence is to enhance development to the people at the rural level,’’ he said.
He advised the councilors to see the Parliamentarians as part of governance not as rivals and that they should work closely for the development of their areas.
He also urged them to work with district and provincial teams, citing the resident minister as the centre of coordination and ensuring the council work is in line with established programmes.
In his Keynote Address, Vice President Jalloh congratulated all the elected mayors, chairpersons, and councilors of the six local councils on behalf of President Julius Maada Bio. He said the past multi-tier election under Proportional Representation has been classed as one of the best ever.
He stated that since the advent of democracy, this is the first time the country is recording forty-eight female councilors within the eastern regional districts of Kailahun, Kono, and Kenema.
In the area of food self-sufficiency, the Vice President told the local councils that government will invest huge resources in agriculture, saying the council has a vital role to play in that direction.
“If you want to succeed as mayor or chairperson, work with your councilors and administrators of the councils,’’ VP advised.
He went on to state that the government is set to provide 500,000 (five hundred thousand) jobs for young people in this country and councils will have a lot to do in that regard. He urged the councils to improve revenue collection by forging good relationships with traders and paramount chiefs.
Oath-taking by various councils and presentations of gifts and decorations of mayors climaxed the event.
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