By: Mohamed Sahr
Upon adhering to the directives of the Ministry of Local Councils informing that all District Chairmen and Mayors are encouraged to exit office effective the 1st March 2023, Moyamba District Chairman accounted for 3,657,785 million Leones during his symbolic handing over on Wednesday 1st March 2023 at the Moyamba District Council Office.
Joseph Benedict Mbogba, Former Chairman of the Moyamba District Council said the Council wholeheartedly accepted the decision of the ministry; adding that regardless of his tenure being elapsed, he agreed to have a council meeting with his staff in order to discuss exit plans as well as relevant matters that surround the council before doing the official handing over to the Chief Administrator.
He stated that it would be incumbent upon them to pay for any council fees to the ministry if they fail to seat as members.
“As politicians, we have to go back and seek for a fresh mandate from the people”, Former Chairman Mbogba said.
He revealed that during his administration as a Chairman, the Council generated an on-source revenue which sums up to three million six hundred fifty-seven thousand seven hundred eighty-five Leones (Le3,657,785) which he deposited in the Moyamba District Council Account.
Mbogba stated that he is no longer entitled to sign any documents coming from the council onward from the time the proclamation was made; as he has handed over the keys and other classified documents to the Chief Administrator who would be in charge throughout the remaining months or so.
He furthered that during his tenure, Moyamba District Council had achieved a number of successful strides ranging from establishing a district farm with buoyant cultivation of rice for the very first time, building of four duplet staff quarters, procurement of motorbikes for the monitoring of His Excellency’s Free and Quality Education within the district, procurement of twenty-two motor bikes to Councilors for monitoring purpose and the enhancement of their movement, provision of four hundred free medical surgeries on people with underlining health conditions within fourteen chiefdoms in Moyamba District, building of two hundred cubages that connect other places within the entire district, provision of water facility for all chiefdoms, rehabilitation of several schools, waste management collections, awarding of scholarships to fifty students in order to capacitate their technical skills, revenue generation among others.
He mentioned that the Local Council agenda is the government agenda at local level; noting that President Bio’s manifesto that speaks about Human Capital Development where it focuses on education, health and agriculture, he had equally played tremendous parts for it to succeed.
Mbogba said he had been one of the foot-soldiers in propagating President Bio’s flagship programe across the entire fourteen chiefdoms in Moyamba District.
He disclosed that despite his successes during his dispensation, he faced loads of challenges ranging from lack of revenue mobilization, monitoring of government programs and activities across the district as according to him all of these drawbacks have brought shinning demands from the people of Moyamba which his leadership failed to address as a result of unavailability of funds.
Mbogba felt motivated and inspired of the astute leadership contest demonstrated by His Excellency President Julius Madaa Bio. He said he believes in the inroads the President has gained over the years and he is sure of making a comeback to accomplish the untouched tasks he left for the people of Moyamba District.
Philip Sama, Chief Administrator of the Moyamba District Council said being served as the Chairman in proxy, he is ready to work in line with the Annual Work Plan of the council as well as the budget allocated to the council. He revealed that his office is ready to accomplish the odds and end tasks of the former Chairman in order to make the council always enviable “Am ready to actively work and do the necessary needful things,” Chief Sama said.
He thanked the outgoing District Chairman for his cooperative works and the good relationship created during his stay even amidst the thick and thin of difficult moments.
