By Ragan M. Conteh

Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have demanded for a parliamentary intervention on the ‘brouhaha’ in Moyamba District Council.

In a press release, the attention of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) operating in Moyamba District has been drawn to reports of disagreements and conflicts in Moyamba District Council.

The CSOs say this is evidenced by a resolution authored by the political leadership of the council recommending the withdrawal of the current Chief Administrator, Julia Amara Koroma.

The CSOs said they also have noted that this is not the first time there have been reported conflicts between the political and administrative wings of the council.

And this often had resulted to the removal (or transfer) of Chief Administrators of the council.

They said as representatives of the people and advocates for good governance, they are especially concerned that the above situation, if not addressed urgently, could derail the district’s development aspirations, thereby negatively affecting ordinary citizens.

The CSOs mentioned in their release that while maintaining an objective and neutral stance on the said subject, they have wished to recommend the following.

That a due regard be paid to laid down procedures and guidelines on staff recruitment and transfers as provided for by the Local Government Act (2022), a regard on the Human Resource Policy, and other relevant documents.

CSOs furthered that institutions with oversight functions including, inter alia, the Parliamentary Committee on Local Government and Community Affairs, the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, the Local Government Service Commission, and the Parliamentary Caucus for Moyamba District, should intervene in this matter to resolve the conflicts that are stagnating service delivery in the district.

They said, an investigation be conducted to look into the high turnover of core staff, especially the Chief Administrators of the Moyamba District Council over the years.

They underscore the fact that citizens voices should be represented by civil society during this truth-finding and dialogue process.

They revealed that it is their view that the development of Moyamba District should be a sustained, collaborative effort that eschews parochial sentiments, requiring the support of all stakeholders.

“We, therefore, wish to commend the Parliamentary Committee on Local Government for its leadership in summoning all sides to Parliament and encourage the committee to come on the ground to get independent views on the issues they are investigating and also not to restrain stakeholders who have been closely following the activities of the council,” CSOs concluded.