By: Mamajah Jalloh
Stakeholders in Falaba District have called on the Government and financial institutions to establish banking services in the district, citing difficulties faced by civil servants, teachers, businesses and other residents in accessing salaries and essential financial services.
The appeal was made on Friday, 23 October 2026, during a bilateral budget discussion, where stakeholders highlighted the financial and administrative challenges caused by the absence of banking facilities in the district.
They warned that the situation could undermine staff welfare, institutional efficiency and the delivery of essential public services, particularly in remote communities where access to financial institutions remains limited.
Speaking during the discussion, Falaba District Council Chairman Ibrahim Sorie Sesay said several devolved Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) had complained about difficulties in accessing funds allocated to them by the Government.
“I have received complaints from several devolved MDAs concerning the challenges they face in accessing funds allocated to them by the Government,” Sesay said, emphasizing the need for urgent action to address the problem.
He noted that improved access to banking services would enable public institutions to manage their resources more efficiently and carry out their responsibilities without unnecessary administrative difficulties.
The Council’s Administrator, Jonathan Komba, also acknowledged the challenges faced by government workers and other residents in receiving and withdrawing salaries and accessing disbursed funds.
Councillor Brima Fofanah, who is also a teacher, described the absence of banking facilities as a serious challenge for teachers and other members of the community.
“The absence of banking services in Falaba District is seriously affecting us as teachers. Businesspeople and other residents may also be experiencing similar difficulties in accessing financial services,” Fofanah said.
He called for practical measures to ease the burden on workers and residents who depend on accessible banking facilities for their daily financial transactions.
The Deputy Director of the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) in Falaba District, Philip Kanu, said the issue had repeatedly emerged during his engagements with teachers across the district.
“Since my transfer to Falaba as Deputy Director, several teachers have raised concerns about the difficulties they face in accessing banking services. At times, they have to travel to Kabala to withdraw their salaries or access funds intended to support school activities. Such journeys can create difficulties for teachers and affect the smooth running of schools,” Kanu stated.
He explained that travelling outside the district to access banking services consumes teachers’ time and money, potentially affecting their professional responsibilities and the effective management of school activities.
Stakeholders said civil servants and teachers often have to travel from Falaba to Kabala in neighbouring Koinadugu District to access their bank accounts. These journeys involve additional transportation costs and delays in completing essential financial transactions.
They added that such difficulties place further pressure on workers who must meet household expenses and other financial obligations. Public institutions that depend on timely access to allocated funds may also face challenges in implementing their activities.
Stakeholders further warned that the lack of convenient banking services could make Falaba less attractive to qualified professionals, potentially affecting efforts to recruit and retain skilled personnel in the district.
They therefore called for stronger collaboration among the Government, financial institutions, the District Council and relevant public sector agencies to identify sustainable solutions, including the establishment of banking facilities within the district.
They stressed that improving access to financial services would ease the burden on public sector workers, support local businesses and strengthen the delivery of essential services.
Stakeholders urged the relevant authorities to prioritize the issue as part of broader efforts to improve public service delivery and promote development in Falaba District.