Non-State Actors Engage Stakeholders In Bo

As part of efforts in ensuring people’s action to social accountability and good governance, Non-State Actors in the Southern Region, with grants from the Integrated Public Financial Management and Reform Project (IPFMRP) in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MOFED), have embarked on a massive awareness raising campaign on Social Accountability and Good Governance in fifteen selected chiefdoms in Bo and Pujehun Districts respectively.

Headed by Action for Community Development and Good Governance (ACODE-SL), the IPFMRP/MoFED funded project is being implemented in nine selected chiefdoms in Pujehun and six in Bo Districts respectively, all geared towards people’s contributions to nation building.

Speaking to the ACODE-SL Chief Executive Director, Claude Mustapha Sheriff on their return from Valunia and other chiefdoms in the two provincial Districts, he described the awareness raising campaign and stakeholders’ meeting as very important and timely.

According to Mr. Sheriff, in 2013 fifteen National Local Non-Governmental Organizations from across the country received grants from the Government of Sierra Leone, the World Bank, the European Union, DFID and the African Development Bank to train community representatives including Councilors and Ward Development Committee Members on Economic Literacy and Budget Accountability in Governance (ELBAG) Projects titled; ‘People’s Action for Social Accountability in Governance’ aimed at ensuring the creation of a just and democratic local governance system with greater citizens’ participation at all levels.

Speaking on success stories during the awareness raising sessions at every location, ACODE-SL Chief Executive Director disclosed of large public turnout and input adding that citizens viewed the outcome of the drama performances as the exact picture of their communities where they are disconnected, injustice, corruption and poor social services.

The Chief Executive Director further highlighted their successes stressing that the people now know that they can demand accountability and transparency from their duty bearers and should be involved in all development and decision-making processes at every level.

As a result of the awareness raising campaign, tax compliance has increased remarkably in some Chiefdoms, particularly Valunia in Bo District, as the Treasury Clerk, Gibril Mansaray announced that they have collected the sum of Le7, 270, 000, 00 (seven million, two hundred and seventy thousand Leones) with almost 98% of the tax booklets distributed to them, for a total population of 1, 454 (one thousand, four hundred and fifty-four).

The chiefdoms include Gallinas Perri, Sowa, Kpaka, Kpanga Kabonde, Kpanga Krim and Malen all in the Pujehun District, Kakua, Baoma, Selenga, Bumpe-Ngao, Jaiama Bongor, Nyawa Leinga, Gbo, Lugbu and Tikonko Chiefdoms in the Bo District respectively

By Abu Christo Mattia

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