Local Government Launches Chiefdom & Traditional Policy
The Ministry of Local Government on Tuesday August 14th officially launched the Chiefdom and Traditional Administrative Policy at the Young Women’s Christian Association Hall (YWCA), Rasmussen Street, Freetown.
The launching ceremony featured a host of dignitaries from state functionaries and other reputable stakeholders of the nation, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government, Mr. A.O. Bah chaired the occasion and in his opening remarks he noted that the launching of this policy is to cement the cries of our tribal and traditional heads over the challenges they have encountered whilst discharging their duties.
Talking on the development of the policy, Director of Local Government, Mr. A.B Lebbie said he was part of the committee that developed the policy, maintaining that the policy was chronicled after a series of consultations and recommendations by various tribal heads and people of this country before it was then heralded as a policy.
The director maintained that the policy captured some the existing problems that have long been the burning issues; he stated notably that the policy seeks to address two paramount issues which are the role of the administrative powers of our Tribal Heads in the provincial areas and the Western Area tribal Head Man, he said also that the policy provides the character of liaison between local council and traditional heads which had often been the problem posed by many tribal heads.
The director noted further that the appointment and termination of traditional heads is the exclusive power of the President, he said amongst the many issues the ministry decided to develop this policy to help protect our culture which seems to be dying a natural death from the invasion of foreign culture; he said promoting a harmonious society at our various community levels also forms the theme of the policy.
Also talking on the policy, Deputy Minister, Allieu Ibrahim Kalakoh at the official launching of the policy said his cabinet critically looked into the policy and gave it their blessing, he noted further that the conception of what we call modern day traditional power reflects the statutory laws we inherited from our colonial masters which perhaps may not be accepted by the evergreen global practice.
The Minister said when the Local Government Act of 2004 was enacted its provision for decentralization was not sufficiently articulated between the local Council and Chiefdom Authorities, especially in certain key areas, but he stressed that his Ministry will fast track this policy to be enacted in to law as quickly as possible.
Chairman of the Rural District Council, Alhassan Cole thanked the Ministry over what he called a giant stride to strike the balance of power between local authorities and local government, noting that this policy will spell out the dichotomy between authorities.
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