By: Haruna Kuyateh
The first ever community interface between duty bearers and right holders was champion by Action Aid International The Gambia to advocate for the judicious use of public services and fund to improve lives and livelihood of tax payers.
The forum was unique for the first time that tax payers were able to task Kerewan Area Council to bring more development projects.
The dialogue was well attended by Finance Director of Kerewan Area Council, Department of Agriculture, Forestry and National Disaster Management Agency and ward councilors of Pakau and Prince Wards of Upper Nuimi.
The forum organized on Theme: Transparency in Public Service Delivery is a Right. The synergy was held at Kunta Kinteh Camp in Albreda, Upper Nuimi North Bank Region.
Bakary Fadera Program Manager Action Aid Local Right Program 9 Juffureh Office underscored the importance the agency attached to promoting social accountability through advocacy on effective use of public service fund.
He noted that there a need to provide space for stakeholders to discuss and map out strategy to enhance effective and efficient use of public resources.
He said the outcome of the Interface is to build and strengthen confidence on timely delivery of public services.
Fadera reiterated that his office will continue to support this kind of initiative.
Sana Colly Regional Ombudsman commended organizers and applauded them for bridging information gap to enable duty bearer and right holders to critically discuss, noting that it will enable Council to intensify vigorous community consultation of providing them with projects.
He pointed out that the approach is in conformity with local government act and it makes community ownership of their development.
He noted that interaction would build trust and confidence on public service and help to promote social accountability and by extension reduce corruption.
Abdoulie Khan Director of Finance at Kerewan Area Council commended Action Aid International The Gambia for the foresight in bridging the gaps between service providers and stakeholders on how to effectively use public fund.
He said council is in charge of tax payer’s monies and therefore creating a synergy will obviously help to respond and also trigger tax payers to pay tax on time.
Director Khan informed tax payers on council source of funding locally, citing license on shops, rate and tax, transfer of occupancy, lumo’s and canteens, market duty, development permit, court fines and demand notes to name a few.
Council staff has expressed dismay on some of their traditional source of funding that were taken from them in the past regime e.g. cattle taxes were taken by GLMA.
“The timely payment of tax by people’s and institutions will help to provide priority development needs of wards to bring about sustainable development,” he said and also expressed concerned on late payment of tax by communities.
Alpha Khan Vic chairman of Kerewan Area Council applauded Action Aid International for the foresight and noted that it provide platform for taxpayers to interact and share with officials on how taxpayers monies are spent.
He noted that council actual revenue has increase from D12million from 2017 to D15million and assured of the council commitment to provide basic social services, citing sound financial management.
Vice chairman informed the peoples on some of the project that council soley funded e.g. borehole for the communities of Sinchu Pallen of Sabach Sanjal and Daru Salam of Lower Baddibou. Kerewan Area Council has paid counterpart contribution of 10bore holes to GAMWORKS and work is in advance stage, replacement of street light bulbs in major towns and communities, provide solar street light to border villages in Jokadou and construction of sub treasury at Ndungu Kebbeh and Story building for guest house and office complex are among host of things the council is doing.
Vice chairman Khan noted that the council will collaborate and strengthen partnership with institutions and NGOs to improve wellbeing of taxpayers. He disclosed that over D100, 000 are owed by peoples and institutions and yet to be settle by tax payers and whilst council is still struggling pay NAWEC on accumulative debt that they inherited.
Bakary Nano Njie chairman of Jimbana Eco Zone committee and Lang Jammeh of Sittanunku commended the council for the giant strife and said revenue collected by council cannot bring more projects and whilst call for more support from government and diaspora community.
Fatou Njie expressed concerned on issuing of tickets by Revenue Collectors at Barra Market and call for action, and whilst Fatou Jatta of Juffureh call on council to construct inter road within village.
On agriculture, farmer’s call on department of agriculture to decentralize distribution of seed and fertilizer including equipment to enable them has easy access to services.
The late availability of farm inputs affect food production and productivity and whilst other stressed the need for capacity development of farmers on compost making to create market opportunity for farm produce.
Forestry farmers have call on forestry officials to be steadfast to control issuance of permit and license by chainsaw operators to protect the forest from over exploitation.
