Our ‘cities’ still struggling to become real cities

I was in the northern headquarter town of Makeni in the recent past week and I must state that the township of Makeni, like all other towns, including Bo, Kenema and Kono is still, in my opinion struggling to become a city. Â And I want to believe it all came about following the reintroduction of the decentralization process.I have often marveled at the reintroduction of the local councils, after they were abolished by the then APC government of President Siaka Stevens in the late 1970s. My dissertation in the university was based on the process of decentralization in Sierra Leone and I tried to investigate what the role of the media should be in the successful implementation of the process.Â It became evident that the process was/is making progress and that the media has an outstanding role in ensuring an effective decentralization process in the country.

I am of the view that the introduction of the decentralization process in Sierra Leone in 2004 was a decision taken by government to ensure, the governance of the state is felt all over the country, especially in the headquarter towns of Makeni, Bo and Kenema and the remote areas of our country . Decentralization is a good governance issue and I think also that from a practical perspective, the process has gained momentum over the years.

It is true today that the decision making process by government is not only limited here in Freetown but cuts across to the local levels, with community people now seeing themselves as part of the governance of the state; no wonder that every year, the government will give to the local councils development grants which should be used by the councils for development purposes of their localities.

If one is to travel the length and breath of the country, one could realize that even when community projects are about to be undertaken by the councils, the people are practically being involved, as each and every councilor is excepted to go consult with his people to learn from them what project they expectÂ from the councils.

Irrespective of the numerous challenges faced by the councils, I think they have made tremendous efforts to meet the dictates of the Local Government Act 2004, and this is something encouraging, saying the least.

Here are some instances; some few months back, I was in Bonthe, then working with Search for Common Grounds. I witnessed a situation wherein, the Bonthe Municipal Council had undertaken a community project that was not appreciated by the locals. Despite the fact that it was meant for them, people raised the issue up with the councils, and the then Mayor, Michael Garrick and his deputy, one Joe Sandi had to accept the concerns of the people and they were literally coerced to get the services of radio Bontico to talk to the people on the issue. And that was real democracy at play.

There was also the Pujehun issue where money meant for the Rapid Result Initiative was allegedly chopped by the then council, and people raised the issue with the then government; the council in the Western Area Rural District also being a case study.

These are all indications that the decentralization process is making success, and I hold the view that credit must be given to the political class for exhibiting their willingness to ensure the process keeps going; and to this end, I think, both Ex President Kabbah and current President Ernest Koroma must take the praise for that.

However, I am still wondering why all of the district headquarter towns like Bo, Kenema and Makeni are being referred to as cities when in actual fact they are still struggling to meet the status of a city. I was in Makeni in the recent past week on a family visit and I must inform that I am still not impressed with the decision to refer to Makeni and other towns as cities. And I think we need to revisit that decision and see what could be done in that direction.

To what extent can we justify that Makeni, Bo Kenema and even Kono are ready to attain the status of a city when they can’t even boast of constant electricity supply, not even to talk of pipe borne water, or universities, except Bo and Makeni where we have the Njala and Fatima Universities respectively?

We also even need to look at the road networks within these cities and try to be practical in our assessment. Two years ago, I was in Kenema to interview an official at the Kenema District Council, whose name I can’t recall now. He was also even concern over the decision to rank Kenema as city.

Yes, I need not deny the point that efforts are being undertaken to ensure, these places attain the status of a city but I think, the decision was taken in a hasty manner and it won’t be bad to have a rethink over. Let us take a general look at Freetown and see the features it has, which led to it being referred to as a city. Can we talk of good recreational facilities like a stadium in Makeni? The answer s NO!!

The Internal Affairs Ministries could play a pivotal role, being in charge of the internal setup of our country, and especially the decentralization process and the local councils. Why the name ‘Makeni City Council’, rather than it first ‘Makeni Town Council’ name? Of what significant is it to refer to Kono as Kono City when even in some corners of Kono, children literally would rejoice at the appearance of a vehicle, or even Bo, where Dr Wusu Sannoh is now trying to ensure, the township gets a facelift, since today it can boast of a mortuary home through the efforts of the Council?

When Madame Mary Musa was Mayor for the Kono City Council, I recall interviewing her in her offices in Kono and she was very enthusiastic in ensuring that Kono actually attains the status of a real city, but few years down the lane, even after the election of another Mayor for the city, much has not happened in Kono. Â Yes, these ‘cities’ are struggling to be real cities, and let us have a rethink.

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