Kenema District Council Chief Administrator, Ahmed Shekuba Koroma, has furiously reacted to what he referred to as the illegal demolition of the community centre in Blama by a politician popularly known as Jagaban. The Chief Administrator vented his anger during an engagement with the Paramount Chief and other stakeholders of Small Bo Chiefdom.
He informed stakeholders of Blama town that the Council, with support from central Government has always been responsive to the service delivery demands of the people of small Bo Chiefdom in Kenema district.
According to him, Council is in receipt of a video circulating on social media of an attempt by one Jagaban to demolish and reconstruct the community centre in Blama town without the prior notice and consent of the Kenema District Council administration.
He maintained that Council is not averse to anyone expressing interest in complementing its effort in terms of service delivery but said that must be done within the ambit of the law.
The Chief Administrator highlighted some of the strategic development interventions of Government in small Bo Chiefdom ranging from the maintenance of 93.2 km road, construction of 32 culverts,7 bridges, rehabilitation of six schools, construction of recreational Centre, modern market with WASH facilities and funeral home at Bandama .
He further informed P.C Darfie Benya and stakeholders that the Small Bo Chiefdom has through council benefitted immensely from the central Government because of the good collaboration between the stakeholders of Small Bo Chiefdom and Council.
Ahmed Shekuba Koroma reminded P.C Darfie Benya of the construction of a makeshift bridge linking St. Joseph Secondary school and central town that had claimed the lives of many especially school going kids.
He maintained that after regular engagement with the former Minister of Finance, Jacob Jusu Saffa, by the leadership of Kenema District Council and Hon. Musa Moigua, the Government provided funds for the construction of a bridge and two strategic twin culverts at the central of Blama town.
C.A Ahmed Shekuba Koroma reminded P.C Benya of the several engagements council and stakeholders of Blama have had regarding the reconstruction of the facility to which council is at an advanced stage to commence the tendering process in respect of same.
Ahmed Shekuba Koroma pointed out that the illegal attempt by Jagaban to demolish council’s facilities without prior notice or approval to do same is in breach of Sections 23 and 24 of the Local Government Act 2022 and urged Jagaban to liase with Council in a bid to review the structural design and bills of quantities for quality assurance.
He appealed to P.C Darfie Benya and other land owing families to commence the identification of land for the construction of Council’s administrative building and staff quarters in Blama town.
The Paramount Chief of Small Bo Chiefdom P.C Darfie Benya confirmed that attempts have been made by one Jagaban to reconstruct the community centre in question but assured the Chief Administrator that effective immediately, work on the community centre will be put on hold to ascertain the architectural design and quality of work.
P.C. Darfie Benya described the approach as laudable that will promote the local economy of the Chiefdom and create more jobs for the youths.
