Brikama Area Council, BAC, has distributed a sum of 2.5 million dalasis to five wards to help implement priority projects stipulated in the current strategic plan within the wards.
The wards included Sibanor, Sinteh Banjulinding, Brufut and Jabang, and each of the ward received D500, 000.00.
The project seeks to improve access by communities to markets, social facilities facilitate the movement of good and service, promote the empowerment of women and youth also strengthen health service provision.
Speaking at the distribution ceremony, chairman of Brikama Area Council BAC, Sherifo Sonko highlighted the importance of tax payment and the need to plough back to the communities in the form of projects and programs.
“We are here for the taxpayers and their challenges or needs and aspiration are our concern,” he said.
He called on the need for people to pay their taxes obligation to enable the council to implement projects for them.
Chairman also used the opportunity to commends the staff and management of council for their commitment, hard work and diligent to ensure that the council support the identified wards to implement their priority projects within their respective wards.
“Whatever we are collecting 60% of the total sum should go back to the tax payers,” he added.
Modou Jonga, the council’s chief executive officer, said this is the second phase of allocation fund to wards to implement identified projects, adding the first allocation was in 2019 and the beneficiary wards where Gunjur, Kartong, Subs, Bullock, and Giboroh wards.
He said that the amounts disbursed are meant to support the implementation of identified grassroots development initiatives across the five wards.
“In order to ensure the successful implementation of these projects a development fund manual is developed in 2015. The manual is a document in progress that will be reviewed and updated, incorporating lessons from experiences manual established the basis, rules and procedures for the proper utilization,” he said.
He said the objectives are to improved access to basic social services and amenities, promote and enhance effective and efficient service delivery and improved the socio-economic status of the communities especially the youth and women.
He said “It is a fulfilment of our community to plough back that 60% of the total revenue towards community driven development initiatives. We wish to urge the beneficiary of the communities throughout the process of implementing these projects and beneficiary.”
He called on the wards that yet to complete their pending projects to expect the implementation process in order to realize the expected outcomes of these projects within the first quarter of 2021.
Sainey Ndong a representative from the ministry of Local Government and Lands thanks BAC for reaching out to the communities or tax payers through their able council.