News & Media
Decentralisation Secretariat facilitates new office space for Bombali and Kono District Councils
Oct 27, 2009, 10:29

The Decentralisation Secretariat of the Institutional Reform and Capacity Building Project, is facilitating the building of offices for all nineteen local councils, in recognition of the fact that working in a congenial atmosphere would increase the service delivery potential of the councils.

 

Deputy Minister Raymond Kabia,(R), hands over bill of quantity to Kono District Council Chairman, John Yambasu

On October 25^th  and 26^th ,  the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Local Government and Rural Development, Raymond Kabia, presided over ceremonies for the handing over of sites for the construction of office complexes for Bombali and Kono District Councils respectively.

The sites were handed over to the Construction Firms, Estus Construction Company for Bombali District Council and Harris Construction Enterprises for Kono District Council. Construction work in both councils is expected to last for a period of about ten months.

The complexes will comprise fifteen offices, one meeting hall, a canteen, as well as a reception area and adequate toilet facilities.

Community members of Magbema village in Bombali District witness the handing over ceremony

 

At both ceremonies Raymond Kabia reiterated government’s determination and desire to maintain the bottom-up approach in its development agenda by ensuring that development activities commence mainly at the local level.

The Director of the Decentralisation Secretariat, Alhassan Kanu told the meeting that the activity marked a big achievement for the decentralisation programme. Already, Bo City, Makeni City, Kenema City, Port Loko District and Western Area Rural District Councils have all received new offices through the intervention of the Decentralisation Secretariat.

Ceremonies for the handing over of sites to Kenema District Council, Bo District Council and Freetown City Council will take place in the coming days.

In all the localities, the Bill of Quantities (BOQs) were presented to the local councils. The BOQs contain detailed information relating to the specification of the buildings, and should prove useful to councils for monitoring purposes.