By Politico staff writer
The Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh has inaugurated Mayors, Chairmen, and Councilors in the Southern Region who will now take up office in their respective City and District Councils.
The event was held at the Galliness Paradise Hall in Bo on Thursday 10th August 2023.
In his opening statement, the Vice President admonished elected officials who are all from the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) to work well with their core staff, development partners, Members of Parliament (MPs), and Paramount chiefs among others. He said they should count themselves lucky to be elected in such prominent positions to represent their people.
He recalled doing the same function five years ago at the Bo Stadium at a time there was no woman councilor, but noted that this time Pujehun district council can now boast of 10 women councilors, Bonthe with eight and the first woman Chair of the council.
VP Jalloh reiterated the importance of having more women in councils as he said President Julius Maada Bio has motivated women now more than ever as seen in them occupying different positions in government.
He told the elected officials that formal work starts now, assuring them that every time he visits a district, he will engage the Mayor, Chairman, and councilors to know how their council is run and the challenges they face. He said councilors are very important as they know the problems of their community and appealed to them not to let down their electorates.
On his part, the Minister of Local Government and Community Affairs, Tamba Lamina encouraged the elected officials to do their work, noting that as a supervisory ministry, they will be visiting the 22 councils to see what they are doing. He told the elected councilors that their job is not full-time and can take up other work, though they may have to spare some time for council activities.
He said that what is important in local governance is collaboration so that things needed by the councils will be provided.
"Those who have been elected as councilors should serve as the bridge between their communities, wards, districts, and the councils. Things which will happen at the community should be taken to the council for discussion," he said.
Minister Lamina urged the elected officials to be transparent and accountable. He concluded by encouraging them to work with everyone for development to take place in their localities.
Hundreds of family members and supporters of the officials witnessed the ceremony. However, four elected councilors for the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) to sit on the Bo City Council, two -from the Bo District Council, and four others from the Moyamba Council failed to attend the inauguration.
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