Chief Administrator of the PortLoko District Council, Raman Tom Farma in giving an overview the District Level Development and Accountability Forum on the theme “Accountability in Local Councils Matters for Sustainable Local Governance” said the Local Government Act section 85 subsection 1 mandate the local councils to prepare a development plan that should guide the development of the locality.
He said the Act further mandate the councils to publicly display the development plan or make available to the public throughout the period to which it relates.
The CA said the legal framework of local governance in the country further that development plan should form the basis for the preparation of the budget for administration and development of the Council.
Farma noted that the reviewed Development Plan of PortLoko District Council for the period 2019 – 2021, noting was crucial to the operation of the Council as it is expected to focus and address the direction of the overall development aspirations of each ward in the district.
The Chief Administrator thanked the European Union for supporting development plan as was financed through their project titled “Promoting Community Development and Effective Local Governance System in PortLoko District.”
CA Farma said the plan was a product of hundreds of consultations and interactions with the people of Portloko at village, ward constituency, and district levels.
He said the Council’s has undertaken 27 broad projects ranging from education, health, Agriculture , waste management among others, pointing that 13 of the projects have completed and 12 in progress.
Chairman of the Portloko district Council Ibrahim Santige Bangura said before the Government of Sierra Leone de-amalgation policy, the district occupies a total area of 5,719 km2 ( 2,208 sq. miles ) and comprise eleven chiefdoms and thirty four wards .
He said after the implementation of de-amalgation of chiefdoms, the district is now divided into city and district councils and instead of eleven chiefdoms and thirty –four wards, the district now divided into smaller administrations comprising thirteen chiefdoms and twenty –eight wards.
The chairman said the new arrangement poses additional challenges in transforming the Port Loko District Council to meet the expectations and aspirations of the people with respect to basic services in the district and to meet the Sustainable Development Goals.
Former Chairman of the Portloko District Council, Ahmed Munirr Fofanah commended staff of the district council for their good work, noting that there are evidences of their stewardship after a year in office.
He urged other Councils to emulate the good work of the PortLoko District Council, stressing that it was not a mistake when he recommended to the Local Government Ministry that CA should have an accounting and economics background to administer the day-to-day activity of Council.
Deputy Mayor of the Portloko City Council Zackirra Bangura, said the city Council would be knocking at the doors of the district council to tap on their knowledge on administration and implementation as the City Council is a new born baby.
Chief Administrator of the Kenema City Council Vivian Sally Senesie, commended the chairman and other staff of the Council for the CA an open hand to execute the functions of the council work.
She noted that politics and development do not work; adding that politics has dented the fabric of the Country, adding if such trend continues would affect development in the country.
