With support from Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Senegal/The Gambia, the activity falls under outcome 2.3 of the 2024 GALGA work plan that intends to increase taxpayers’ and other citizens' understanding of the operations of Councils and the importance of peace, security and social justice to establish trust between Local Councils and the people for sustainable growth.
Implemented in Basse, Janjanbureh, Kuntaur, Kerewan and Mansakonko Area Councils, the town hall meetings sensitised the participants on the understanding of the operations of local council including their decentralised structure- village and ward development committees. It also sensitised them on the importance of peace and security and on social justice in the context of sustainable local governance.
Participants in the meetings included chiefs and alkalolu, village and ward development committee members, youth, and persons with disability, security personnel, council staff and students. The meetings were held in Kulkulleh and Fatoto within the Basse Area Council, Janjanbureh and Bansang within the Janjanbureh Area Council, Sami Pachonki and Dingerai within the Kuntaur Area Council, Njawara and Kuntaya within the Kerewan Area Council and in Nema and Massembeh within the Mansakonko Area Council.
“We are satisfied with the participation and contribution of the participants in these meetings and we are happy that we have enhanced their understanding on the roles of local councils and those of people,” programme manager of GALGA, Amadou Jallow said.
He said the town hall meetings aim to encourage and create platforms of discussion between local council authorities and the tax payer community for improved understanding of their individual and collective roles and responsibility as enshrined in the Local Government Act 2002 and other laws. “It also aims to encourage just distribution of opportunities and services to taxpayers by Local Councils and the importance of peace and security for sustainable local governance.”
Addressing participants at Sami Pachonki and Dingerai meetings, chairman of Kuntaur Area Council, Saihou Jawara emphasised the need for people to seek for clearer understanding on the functions of local councils and their decentralised structure for improved community development.
He said his council will continue to provide services its tax payer community and encouraged them to be tax complaint by regularly and voluntarily paying their tax which will enable the councils to implement more programmes for them.
“Area Councils are tax collection and service delivery institutions and this cannot be done without the cooperation of the people,” Kerewan Area Council chairman, Papa Tunkara said at the Njawara and Kuntaya meetings.
Mr Tunkara said it is the intention of Kerewan Area Council to be organising such platforms of discussion with tax payers every year but they are usually constrained by funding and other overwhelming engagements and activities.
At Nema and Massembeh meetings, the vice chairman of Mansakonko Area Council, Almamo A.K. Ceesay said they are impressed with the participation of tax payers in the meetings and the level of their contributions which would help the council to improve on some of the recommended areas.
According to him, there is need for increased training and sensitisation of communities, particularly the village and ward development committee decentralised structures and other roles as dictated in the Local Government Act and other laws governing local governance in The Gambia.
