“This facility is very important to the community because the barray now serves as a study center for pupils because of the electricity it provides. This benefit is enormous! Also, the educative contents played on the TV will help the students, reduce gossips and foster togetherness”, said Leslie Tucker Thomas, Regent Chief for Imperi Chiefdom, Bonthe District.
This feedback from the Regent Chief of Imperi Chiefdom is amongst several of similar reactions received during the monitoring of a Sierra Leone Government funded National Solar-Powered Television Project in all one hundred and ninety (190) chiefdoms across the country.
The initiative was conveyed by the National Council for Civic Education and Development (NaCCED) as part of a national civic education and mass sensitization drive that aims at cultivating an informed citizenry that is committed to peace, well-being and development of the country.
According to the Chairman for the National Council for Civic Education and Development Mr. Kalilu Totangi, the initial idea for the project was borne out of the need to educate and inform citizens on government development agenda, citizens’ rights, responsibilities and obligations to the State, and other local and national developmental and social trajectories.
“What we really want to achieve as a Council and also as a nation is Citizenship education so that people are aware about what government is doing, they are able to know what new laws are been implemented, and they are also able to learn about what new farming technics are available, how to prevent some epidemic or disease outbreak and how to take care of their environment and several other things citizens could be able to learn from,” he said.
Three different teams from the Council set out last week to monitor the items that have been installed in every Chiefdom Headquarters town in the South, East and South-East Regions, while installation in the North and North-West Region is in progress. The package includes 3 solar panels, 4 batteries, 1 inverter, a 55 inches’ plasma television, wall stand and remotes, a DVD player, and an outdoor socket.
Ibrahim Sesay- Chiefdom Youth Leader for Sembehun Bagruwa Chiefdom said that “the use of this facility will update us on the work of the government in relation to young people, development of the community and the country at large. It serves as catalyst for full participation of young people in community development projects, as well as promoting peace and community cohesion.”
John Abu- Chief of Motuo Town- Kpanda Kemoh Chiefdom in Bonthe District viewed this “as a needed development which will serve as a source for getting credible information.” He is also of the view that “it will help mitigate the consumption of fake news.”
“Firstly, I would like to thank the government for this wonderful project that will ensure the people get closer to government. Social media is being used to misinform people, a situation responsible for people exerting undue pressure on government. This facility will help bring us together because whenever we meet here, we will make more friends and talk about development. So I will advise my fellow youth and elders to visit the Barray to get correct information from the government so that we can relay the information to our relatives in the villages,” said Alusine Koroma- Deputy Youth Leader, Bradford Town, Ribbi Chiefdom.
Although installation is not 100% completed in all Chiefdom headquarter towns that received the facility or benefited from the project, NaCCED Chairman Mr. Kalilu Totangi said that the project design fosters sustainability. “That was the main reason we insisted on having the 55 inches TVs being solar-powered with three solar panels, four batteries, inverter, a DVD player and an outdoor socket. Even without electricity they could be able to play these TVs for eight hours or more depending on the usage”, he added.
Some of the feedbacks from community stakeholders during the monitoring process called for NaCCED to send information to the chiefdoms in real time. They also suggested that the message package the Council puts together should include international news and civic education messages. Some of the feedbacks also suggested that the Council facilitates internet connectivity to the television so that they will access international news.
“If we have internet connection, we will be able to have firsthand information on situations in other parts of the world. For instance, the Russia-Ukraine situation, if the people see what is happening, they will know that these are countries we get our oil and gas from, which is responsible for the high cost of living and inflation,” said P C Samuel Bengeh II, Fakunya Chiefdom, Moyamba District.
Most of the others suggested that the contents should be sent via whatapp which (for them) is the fastest means to receive the information. The service providers (contractors) conducted crash training for those operating the equipment, in fulfillment of one of the aspects of the service contract.
Another concern noted during the monitoring was the security situation of some court Barrays where the facilities are installed. Some Chiefdom disclosed that they have the TVs and DVDs kept in separate location because of security concern. This means the two items are always moved to the barray when they want to use it, and back to where they are kept afterwards. The communities pledged to ensure the items are kept safe even when not in use. Some chiefdom informed NaCCED that a special security has been hired to strengthen the safety and security of the structure.
NaCCED will coordinate with every government Ministry, Department and Agency (MDAs) to ensure that contents of development projects undertaken are shared for dissemination to all the chiefdoms.
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