ActionAid holds TAC meeting for gov’t & NGOs in NBR

The event, held at the Governor’s office, accorded officials the opportunity to present their quarterly activity report.

At the event, Lamin Saidykhan, governor of North Bank Region, outlined the importance of the meeting, noting that it will help them know and understand the activities going on in each institution.

“My office cannot function without the Technical Advisory Committee, as you are the arm of the governor’s office. We rely on you to carry out our functions effectively. Your presentation helps me effectively report on the central level, thus, the reason this meeting’s importance can’t be overemphasized.” he said.

He reminded that it is important that all institutions report their achievements, challenges and way forward as that helps them relay recommendations to the higher level for possible solutions and better functioning institutions.

He thus urged all government institutions and NGOs to take these activities seriously and report accurate information and be present at every TAC meeting.

Saikou Darboe, program manager ActionAid International, explained that they organised the forum for government and non-governmental institutions to do presentations on their work.

He assured of ActionAid’s continuous funding of the TAC meeting, adding that it’s important for institutions to understand that these meetings are mandatory.

“It’s not by choice and we are all paid by taxpayers’ money and they deserve to know how monies are spent. We should report to the governor as to what we are doing, or have done and about to do. This should be mandatory on every institution to come and report here for accountability.”

He also called on institutions to ask critical questions and hold each other accountable for the effective operation of institutions.

Representing the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Kerewan Area Council, Mr. Alassana Keita, explained that TAC has been in existence since 2002 and that it was formed as a result of the Local Government Act and structured within the decentralised structures of the Local Government Act.

 He further stated that TAC is a development arm of the Act to support and advise all development activities of the region. “We all accept that council is the duty bearer of development in this region.”

Though reports will be presented to the higher levels, he nonetheless, underscored the importance of presenting those activities before the council.

He called on the TAC secretariat to closely work with council for national development.