The Minister of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED), Ms. Kenyeh Barlay on Thursday 14th March, 2024, revealed that the primary aim of the Ministry is to improve the lives of all citizens, maximize the country’s resources and underscored that the project would generate income for the Bombali District Council (BDC).
The 2.5 million Euro project will improve the lives of the people and as one speaker noted “this is a moment of excellence that will go a long way to provide accommodation for students at the University of Makeni (UNIMAK).”
She made the statement at the commissioning ceremony of the 36 months project entitled ‘Empowering Bombali District Council for Efficient Service Delivery to the Citizens’ funded by the European Union in partnership with the Government of Sierra Leone and the Bombali District Council.
The commissioning included a combined harvester and cattle paddock in Makarie Chiefdom, Bombali District and Students’ hostel in Yoni Village in the Bombali District.
Ms. Kenyeh Barlay enlightened that the government’s five game changers in the Mid-Term National Development Plan that has a team and strategy to transform the country are the flagship Feed Sierra Leone Project, large-scale commercial fishing, agriculture and animal husbandry, food self-sufficiency within seven years, the Youth Employment Scheme for 500 youths both in the public and private sectors, technology to fill in the Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) sector to ensure that the next generation is profitable as well as improving the public architecture to deliver better in all other areas.
According to the Minister, she is not the Minister of any particular District but Sierra Leone.
The Minister of Local Government and Community Affairs, Ambassador Tamba Lamina said this is not just a win for Bombali District but all Sierra Leoneans adding that young people coming from all corners of Sierra Leone to seek knowledge at the University of Makeni will need accommodation. “When they get education in a conducive environment, their expertise also benefits the rest of Sierra Leone. The meat from the cattle paddock will also be bought and sold all over Sierra Leone, contributing to the country’s food security drive,” he expressed optimism.
The Local Minister continued that with EU support, Local councils can administer their constituents judiciously, improve service delivery, and generate revenue, which is necessary for funding minor projects until they reach the point where major projects can be attempted.
He thanked the EU for their generous support over the years and encouraged guests to pay their local taxes, as these funds are required to implement projects.
“The hostels will provide a lasting solution to students’ accommodation issues at the UNIMAK Yoni campus, as most live far away,” he also pointed out furthering how the investment will also hugely reduce the risk of road traffic accidents, as most students use commercial motorbikes for commuting as well as boost productivity as they reside on campus, removing commute time.
Principal and Vice Chancellor of the University of Makeni, Rev. Fr. Prof Joseph Turay, says the hostels are a great initiative with the Government’s Medium Term National Development Plan and the President’s Big Five game changers. He says the hostel speaks to human capacity development, while the cattle paddock and combine harvesters speak to FEED Salone aspirations. “These investments are an eye-opener for the Council and our university, as we see the need to partner with the Council to enhance practical skills and value in addition to our students who study animal husbandry, veterinary care, general agriculture, and research.
He added that the cattle paddock and the combine harvesters will contribute to food security while generating revenue for the Council going on further to underscore how Bombali is known for its vast, rich savannah plains, which are very suitable for crop farming and animal husbandry.
Rev. Fr. Prof Joseph Turay expressed the view that the endeavor prioritizes human capacity development, enriching skills within the community and contributing to overall growth.
He concluded that notably, these projects positively impact service delivery, particularly in vital sectors such as agriculture and education, promising a brighter future for the region.
According to him, the local investments including the Student Hostel, Cattle Paddock, and Combine Harvester, will provide valuable services to the people of Bombali while mobilizing revenues that can support the District Council in implementing its mandate and ensuring local development.
The EU-funded Support to Civil Society and Local Authorities for Local Development in Sierra Leone project is a 6-year initiative that promotes service delivery, infrastructural development, and capacity development, and it is implemented by Local Authorities, Civil Societies and DAI Consulting. The project covers 6 District Councils (Bombali, Kenema, Falaba, Kambia, Karene, and Pujehun). The project aims at promoting Local Councils’ institutional and revenue generation capacity to enable efficient service delivery and sustainability in communities.
Earlier, Mr. Alex Bonapha, Director of the Decentralization Secretariat introduced dignitaries that included the Head of the Parliamentary Committee on Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Sahr Musa Fofanah, Hon. Peter Yamba Koroma, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Planning and Economic Development and Paramount Chiefs of Bombali and Tonkolili Districts and the Caucus of Members of Parliamentary from Bombali District.
The project will add value and increase the revenue base of the BDC as all the speakers underscored that BDC and other councils would use donor funds for their intended purpose that would create the opportunity for such projects to be extended to other parts of the country.
The 50-bedroom hostel includes a block for VIPs, conference hall, kitchen and laundry.
The paddock has prospects for a hide/skin, meat processing facilities not only for the local market but for export.
The state-of-the-art paddock will host between 2,000-3,000 cattle and has facilities like the slaughter house, administrative building, veterinary and pharmacy, a security post and a cold room.
A conducted tour of the facilities and decoration of some dignitaries in local attires climaxed the well-attended event.
