The Ministry of Local Government and Lands recently inaugurated a newly constituted commission in Kuntaur in the Central River Region.
The commission, chaired by Dr Gumbo Touray, also includes Mustapha Njie, Seedy Bensouda, Nyamanding Jabbie and Fatou Janneh.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony held at the Kuntaur Area Council premises, Pa Ansu Darboe, chief executive officer of Kuntaur Area Council, said the commission’s duties include appointment, appraisal and disciplining of staff.
"The commission is an independent body in the execution of its functions and shall not take directives from any council staff," he added.
He however maintained that the council shall work hand in glove with the established council committee to ensure smooth running of the council's activities and functions.
The creation of the commission would complement the efforts of the local council, he observed, while reminding the commission's members that they should never see their commission as above the Ministry of Local Government and Lands in any respect.
For his part, the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Local Government and Lands, Saihou Sanyang, said: "The move is in line with the 2002 Local Government Act which calls for the creation of the commission. It is also in line with the decentralization process."
Amat Mbye, chairman of Kuntaur Area Council, said members of the commission have two years to serve, to help the council to achieve its desired goals.
While handing over the terms of reference to the commission members, Mr Mbye told them that they had been empowered to take their own decisions at the local level. "The council is having a strategic and organisational development plan," he said.
Speaking on behalf of the commission members, the chairman of the commission, Dr Touray, commended the ministry for the trust bestowed on them.
He says their work is a challenge but they will endeavour to live up to expectations.
Alhagie Ganyie Touray, governor of CRR, encouraged members of the commission to work hard to achieve the commission's aims and objective.
