Since assuming office as the Chairman of Kerewan Area Council, Papa Tunkara, former Farafenni ward councilor, has yet to spearhead any visible major developments that justify the change in leadership within the council.
While Brikama Area Council has allocated hundreds of thousands to their elected councilors for ward development initiatives, and KMC has announced plans for the construction of major feeder roads in the municipality, little to no information is available regarding Kerewan Area Council and its plans for the current year.
According to impeccable sources, the General Council held its last meeting in early December, leaving councilors sitting for four months without knowledge of the council’s affairs.
“Since our last council meeting in December, we have yet to convene another meeting to date. If this trend continues, we will not be able to achieve anything for our electorates. The General council meetings provide councilors with information about the state of the council, including our financial situation and development plans to be executed by the authorities. How can we maintain transparency and accountability if there is no general council meeting happening for four months now?” the source asked.
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The source further informed this medium that after their swearing-in ceremony, they agreed in a meeting that General Council meetings would take place every last Thursday of the month.
“The said General Council meeting schedule has been smoothly going until December when we could not have the Chairman and CEO in the gathering. For the past months, the CEO and Chairman have not been available for council meetings, and we are told they are working on our budget for the year. Anyway, we are promised that this Thursday coming; there will be sittings, so we are waiting for that,” he charged.
Asked whether the councilors are benefiting from their sitting allowances ascribed to them as per the law, the source replied in the negative, saying, “Since we are not having our usual sittings, we are not getting any incentives, unlike the Chairman.” He argued that the situation is unfavorable and unfair to them (Councilors) since the Chairman is benefiting from his monthly salary.
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Council meetings are the linchpin of local government democracy. It is a place where key decisions are made on local governments, including policies, adopting corporate plans, approvals and adoption of budgets, and making of local laws in meetings.
Notwithstanding, Council meetings are the most visible activity of the work of local governments and their principal decision-making forum as they are the prime example of accountable and transparent decision-making by local governments.
As per the law, all local governments must meet at least once a month, so the actions of KAC are in conflict with the law.
Several calls were placed to the Chairman, but he was not reachable for comments, nor did he return any of our calls.