By Joseph Sevalie
The Bonthe District Council last week held what has been described as their first meeting on transparency and accountability.
Chairman of the council, Rita Ngardie Savage described the day “a memorable” one and promised that her council would always take decisions that were in the best interest of the people.
Chief Administrator, Mustapha Edison Koroma said the forum was a requirement set by the Local Government Act of 2004 which he said made it imperative for local councils to hold open sessions and sensitise their people about its activities.
Koroma noted that the goal of the council was "to maximise service delivery through an effective and efficient resource mobilization, management and utilization, and sustainable community development within the macro-economic framework."
He added that the objectives of the council included the promotion of good governance, to “harness and distribute resources equitably, provide essential services to the localities, foster active support and participation at all levels, and to pursue and consolidate environmental friendly policies."
He added that the meeting was to unveil to the public the council's development activities already implemented in the district and to spot challenges that would help to explore further development opportunities.
Chiefdom speaker of Jong Chiefdom, Francis Kpanabom on behalf of all the chiefs
in the district described the session as "timely and a step in the right direction". He urged the Bonthe District Council to make a request for the installation of solar street lights on the island and in Mattru town.
The Bonthe District Coordinator of the Anti-Corruption Commission, Joseph Hazeley said transparency helped to reduce wrong perception and therefore strengthened trust between the people and duty-bearers. He said that the lack of transparency and accountability by the leaders was the major factor responsible for poverty in the country. He therefore commended the Bonthe District Council for the move which he described as "laudable".
The local MP, Brima Conteh appealed to local government stakeholders to always partner with their parliamentarians on matters concerning the district.
The chairman of the occasion and civil society activist, Rev. Joseph Gbando expressed happiness over the move taken by the Bonthe District Council describing it as a "bold step" for the council to openly engage the people and donor funds on in “an accountable manner”.
Climaxing the ceremony was the presentation of scholarships to the best three pupils in the district mainland in the recent National Primary School Examinations, and two university students at Njala University and IPAM. Football and other sporting gears were also donated to the district youth council and a new XL motor bike to the district social development officer. An MOU was signed between the Bonthe District Council and Radio Voice of Women with a donation of a cheque of Le 10 Million for the radio station.
(C) Politico 24/09/13
