By Amin Kef (Ranger)
Mohamed Gento Kamara, the outstanding SLPP contender for the Mayoral position in the Freetown City Council, commendably on the 4th April, 2023, single handedly facilitated the electrification of the Madina Community (Back of Cockerill) in the West End of Freetown and at the same time refunded the initial costs that residents incurred to ensure that the electrification project is actualized.
From what this medium learnt, the renowned Civil Engineer decided to bear the cost or foot the bill for the implementation of the project which is said to worth NLe74, 000.
The reaction of residents was one that could be best described as the expression of profound and sincere gratitude for coming to their aid, heaving sighs of relief as they optimistically welcome the availability of electricity supply. A moving episode that emanated during the celebration was when an ardent APC supporter commented that there is every need to vote for Gento in the coming elections as the Mayor of the Freetown City Council and passionately called on other residents to vote for him. As a matter of fact majority of the residents of that community endorsed the candidacy of Mohamed Gento Kamara.
Prior to his good gesture in facilitating the electrification of a whole settlement, Gento, in his ubiquitous and humanitarian tailored interactions paid working visits to the Moa Wharf and Kanikay Communities in a bid to inspect work-in-progress in respect to the implementation of a project geared towards the construction of a drainage system at the Moa Wharf Community and as well to view the current status of the two communities after a recent heavy downpour of rain in the Municipality of Freetown in order to identify areas or communities that are prone to natural disasters with a view of proffering and implementing recommendations as to how to mitigate flooding and other related disasters during the rainy season.
Moa Wharf and Kanikay Communities, two disaster prone communities, have benefited somehow in the past from his humanitarian gestures.
At Moa Wharf, he thoroughly inspected the building materials procured so far which include bags of cements, tons of iron rod, trips of stones and many more, for the construction of a drainage system with the view of swiftly curbing the disastrous flooding that has affected that community.
When he visited the Kolbot Community at Kanikay in the East End of Freetown he surveyed the community and engaged the residents during which he assured them of swift response to their need as that will help in protecting lives and properties.
Gento disclosed that the move to rescue those communities emanated from the need to cater for the protection of his fellow Freetonians because he understands how painful they feel during the rainy season.
The leading SLPP Mayoral aspirant lamented that despite the huge funding from the Central Government and international organizations, including the World Bank, plus the huge funds that the Council mobilizes on a daily, monthly and yearly basis Freetown continues to be one of the most deprived cities in the West African sub-region.
He underscored, while addressing residents of the communities that his visit was not politically motivated but rather purely humanitarian, intimating how it has been part of his normal activities even prior to the manifestation of his political aspiration.
He optimistically informed residents that with their maximum cooperation, support and blessing he will endeavour to the best of his ability to positively transform their communities and by extension the Freetown Municipality.
Gento also promised how he will proactively work with the central Government, Non –Government Organizations, other international organizations to ensure that the majority of residents of Freetown safely, easily and conveniently access clean and safe drinking water for all.
Gento also stated that the regular cleaning exercises will be restored and as well create green spaces in order to improve air quality and the environment.
He also told residents that he will provide unity and political stability furthering how he will also maximize SLPP votes in the West if elected while concluding that such a strategy is very key to an SLPP breakthrough and control of APC heartlands if elected.
A development Consultant, in his estimation and assessment remarked that: “Gento has proven delivery records in road construction in Sierra Leone. I am not in any way doubtful that ‘Freetownians’ will massively vote for him as the Mayor of the Freetown Municipality maintaining that he is the best choice with realistic plans to develop Freetown”.
Stakeholders of the communities spoke in glowing terms and commendably about the various development interventions he has facilitated and clearly stated that, had it not been for his swift intervention over the past years the communities would have recorded more loss of lives and properties.
The highpoint of his visit and engagement with residents of the Moa Wharf community was when he requested the community to provide Thirty-Six (36) youths who are resident in the Moa Wharf Community that would be placed on a monthly payroll for the community drainage to be cleaned regularly expressing the conviction that such will aid efficient garbage management in that community.
A Political Commentator intimated The Calabash that one thing which is consistently apparent about Gento is the undiluted fact that he has, on various countless occasions manifested his innate affection for Freetonians even prior to his Mayoral aspiration, noting that his tangible and impactful developmental strides in Freetown do not only exhibit his love for residents of the Municipality but speaks volumes of his innate desire to see that majority of the residents of the Freetown Metropolis live in improved standards of living.
