By Louise Jobe
The Brikama Area Council (BAC), recently disbursed the sums of D14,000,000 (Fourteen Million Dalasi) to 28 wards within the West Coast Region.
The disbursement was made on Wednesday, 28 February, 2024 at the Council’s premises and each Ward Councilor, received D500,000.00 as Ward Allocation Fund (WAF).
The fund is meant to finance projects identified by ward development committees (VDCs) in their respective ward.
The Chairman of Brikama Area Council, Mr Yankuba Darboe, during the presentation ceremony said: “The aim is not only to end corruption but also to become a responsive Council by making the people of the West Coast Region the center of our priorities.”
According to Darboe, his foresight team of Councilors and entire staff of the Brikama Area Council, made it possible to register meaningful development in the region.
In his concluding remarks, he called on the Ward Development Committees (WDC) who received D500,000.00 to use the funds for its purpose within the West Coast Region.
The Director of Good Governance at the Ministry of Local Government and Lands, David Gomez, advised the inclusion of community members for proper implementation of the projects.
He expreesed the Ministry’s commendation to the Brikama Area Council for development activities the council is embarking on.
“My Ministry commends you (BAC) for this disbursement, which is going back to taxpayers of the region. This is a young initiative, comprising of young people who are development oriented.The credit will go to the Council, and we should be prepared to take the credit and not the other way around,” Mr Gomez said.
He assured his Ministry’s commitment to supporting the Brikama Area Council in realising its development aspirations. Mr Gomez also added that his ministry will be watchful to ensure proper implementation of the projects.
“We are all in equation together, and as a ministry, we will continue supporting the Council in all aspects of development of the West Coast region.Therefore, as an oversight sector, we will be keeping an eagle’s eye on the execution of these projects from the commencement to the end of the road journey,” he expressed.
Mr Gomez added that the Local Government Act, section 6O3 (1) of the ACT, has mandated the Council to bring development at the level of the door steps of the people they represent.
“Therefore, in fulfilling that mandate or that part of the ACT. That is why we are gathered here today,” he explained.
He advised that the work should be given to the right contractors for faster implementation of these community projects, not to friends of the WDC’s who would not do the work rightly.
