District Council Hall, Kailahun, Eastern Region, 13th August, 2020–
The Minister of Planning and Economic and Economic Development (MoPED), Dr. Francis Kai-Kai has said in order for the implementation of the plan to be effective in Kailahun requires the people be placed in the forefront and fully participate by providing strategic direction and systematically track the outputs of every development initiatives to facilitate development transformation.
He made this statement, while delivering the keynote address at the 1-day event to decentralize ownership of the Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP 2019-2023) for effective implementation and results of the “New Direction” Development targets in Kailahun District. Also, the stakeholders representing every sector of development identified, in order of priority, — Roads, Health and Energy, as the key sectors for the attention of government to deliver on, during this implementation period.
Dr. Kai-Kai said government’s desire was to put the people at the centre of the development process of the country and transfer ownership of the plan to them. He said it was the responsibility of every stakeholder including Government, local council, Development Partners, among others to implement the MTNDP in the District.
Minister Kai-Kai noted the need for every district development structure to effectively coordinate and monitor the implementation of the Plan in Kailahun. He thanked every stakeholder present, on behalf of President Julius Maada Bio for their role in actualizing the ’ Education for Development Agenda’, which was the heart of President Bio’s New Direction manifesto.
The Deputy MoPED, Dr. Robert Chakanda, delivering an overview of the process, said the journey to prepare the plan started over a year ago with wide consultations across the 16 districts nationwide. He said the plan drew a lot of direction from the New Direction Agenda of President Bio’s Government, which was people-centred. The Director of Planning and Research, Dr. Sheka Bangura also explained the importance of the Plan, as government’s key development aspiration.
Presenting the District Priorities, PC Mohamed Sama Kailondo Banya IV said the people of Kailahun were clear on their views with the development priorities and that government should consider as the key development aspirations of the Kailahun people. He said the people would continue to support government in delivering on its development aspirations, during the implementation period.
On his part, the Kailahun District Council Chairman, Sahr A.K. Lamin, underscored the importance of the engagement in the District. He said such process demonstrated government’s seriousness about its development aspirations and their commitment to leaving no one behind in the actualization of the New Direction Agenda.
The Minister of Education, Dr. David Moinina Sengeh, re-echoed the government’s continued commitment to providing Free and Quality Education for all. He called on the stakeholders in the District to join government in eliminating makeshift schools in the District, commit to tackling exams malpractice and ending teenage pregnancy, especially against pupils.
In her statement, the Deputy Minister of Information and Communications, Mamadi Gobeh Kamara appreciated the District’s resilience in the COVID-19 fight. She reaffirmed President Bio’s commitment in improving the Information and Communication infrastructure in the country, noting the recent repeal of the 1965 Criminal Libel Law, which had eluded past governments. Madam Gobeh Kamara said the government was going to commence the 2nd phase of the fibre optic cable connection worth over 30 million dollars and that Kailahun would be one of the Districts to benefit from it.
The Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Melrose Kargbo, called on every stakeholder in Kailahun to support the Plan, saying that the authorities should take ownership of the Plan to ensure effective Service Delivery. She said the recent increase in the incentives and salaries for Mayors/Chairmen and Councilors and now Paramount Chiefs, across the country was a manifestation of government’s continued commitment to Human Capital Development.
The Resident Minister, East, Andrew Fatorma thanked MoPED for bringing the New Direction Agenda to the people, which according to him, was the expectation of government. While stating the achievements of the New Direction Government in Kailahun, the Resident Minister continued to call on the stakeholders to support the government in delivering its development aspirations.
The Parliamentary Caucus Chairman for Kailahun District, Hon. Mohamed Kanneh, commended the Ministry for leading such a collective process and putting the people at the centre of development, which according to him, was the step in the right direction for development in the country. He emphasized that they were all going to stand firmly united behind the MTNDP and the process of decentralizing the ownership of the Plan.
Other dignitaries present included, the Director-General of SLRA, Statistics SL, Women’s Representatives, Youth leaders among many others.
MoPED COMMS TEAM
+23279174027 / +23276743202 / +23279674402
