By: Kebba AF Touray
The Activity report of the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) that was present to Deputies of the Finance and Public Accounts Committee (FPAC) of the National Assembly, showed that KMC spent a total of thirteen million, four hundred and seventy nine thousand, three hundred and thirty four dalasi and fifty one butut (D13, 479, 34.51), on social services for the fiscal year 2021.
The above information was disclosed in the KMC’s report that was submitted to FPAC for scrutiny and consideration on Monday 13th February 2023.
“Council spent over D13, 479,334.51 on support to youth and sport activities; women empowerment; religion and culture; education; Charles Jow Memorial Academy; community outreach and WDC support; agriculture and on the physically challenged,” KMC’s activity report on social services for fiscal year 2021, indicated.
The report further indicated that under the Sustainable Urban Development Program 2020-2040, KMC benefited from the Africa Development Bank funded project called the GBA Digital Master Plan for an amount of US$3 million. The Project as explained in the report, supported Council in capacity building, procurement of GIS equipment and the formulation of a master plan for urban development using digital technology, intended for the improvement of the operational efficiency of BAC, BCC and KMC. That an amount of D4 million as counterpart contribution was contributed by Council to the BMZ project, a flagship project by the German government which aims to reduce child rights violations.
The challenges facing the council as highlighted by the report includes but is not limited to the continuous exploitation of council’s revenue sources such as car park fees, hotels, livestock, trade license and billboard, by the central government. It also adds that the challenges include government’s failure to give the annual subventions as stipulated in the Local Government Finance and Audit Act 2004 and Local Government Act 2002; limited land space for development purposes and lack of management for the Bakoteh Dump site and its transformation to a standard sanitary land fill area.
“Government should restore Council’s revenue sources that they have eroded by reviewing and updating the Local Government Act 2002, and by decentralising the appointment of staff of local government authorities, and to further decentralise the valuation of properties,” KMC’s report recommended.
According to the 2020 activity report of the KMC, the KMC spent over D3.7 million to establish offices for Ward Development Committee in its nineteen wards, with a view to bringing service delivery closer to the people.
“The KMC spent over D800,000 to train staff in various areas relevant to their jobs such as human resources management; leadership and change management; revenue mobilisation, collection and management and records management,” the 2020 activity report of the KMC indicated. The committee has scheduled to continue with the KMC for subsequent scrutiny and consideration of Council’s activity reports and financial statement for the years ended 2020 and 2021 respectively.
