The Mayor of Kenema City Council Brima Kargbo has expressed frustration and dismay over the newly constructed council building because since the structure was handed over to the council mid this year it has been porously leaking and damaging the inner roofing.
The Mayor said the deplorable state of the council building has created an unnecessary embarrassment to both council management and visitors to the council stating “it is very shameful for us working at the council.”
“How can HARRIS Construction company hand over an incomplete project for use, there is a need for thorough investigations as to the manner in which funds meant for the project was utilized, because the people of Kenema and council authorities are not happy with the project,” he queried.
The Mayor also said that, though there is a retention fee for the project, it is necessary for the contractors to complete all necessary areas before handing over the building for use adding that “even the councilors are complaining about the leaking council.”
Mayor Kargbo also said that several official complaints have been forwarded to the contractor and the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development through DEC-SEC to expedite the repairs before other damages can occur on the council building.
The new Kenema Town Council Project funded by the World Bank through the Decentralization Secretariat (DEC-SEC) has faced serious set back because the completed structure started leaking since the beginning of the rains.
According to our investigations the council project was handed over to the Mayor of the Kenema city for the smooth running of his administration as the district council offices are not adequate for all the Local Council Staff.
The Mayor encouraged the contractor to ensure the speedy completion of the project and strictly warned that any other leaking on the council structure will not be tolerated as council management will recommend the withholding of retention fees.
This Press can authoritatively state that, after a brief interview with the Mayor last week at the council building, work men were seen with ladder, iron sheets, nails and hammer climbing the roof of the council building to repair the leaking on the orders of the contractor.
On the question of what the council is doing to address the deplorable road networks within the Kenema Township the Mayor said bad roads within Kenema Township have impeded both government and NGO development drive as major streets within the township are terrible to the annoyance of motorist and pedestrians.
He also said that, some of the roads are deplorable to a point that, motorist and pedestrians are finding it extremely difficult to ply the routes – even motorbikes are refusing to take passengers to areas like Nyandeyama and other surroundings.
The Mayor disclosed that, SLRA has promised to rehabilitate a 30 kilometer road within the township to ease transportation constraints facing Kenema and its surroundings. Additionally the Mayor said council has been rehabilitating some feeder roads, bridges and expansion of drainages.
He commended NASSIT for their timely intervention in undertaking meaningful developmental programs that will directly benefit the people by increasing their revenue base and MDA’s who had already devolved their functions to the council
Concluding the mayor implored residents to always pay their taxes on time and appealed to the Government, NGO’s and the private sector to support the council for the rapid development of Kenema in to a modern city that is economically viable and also help the council to complete the protracted Town Hall project which he said has been long over due.
By Saidu Bah & Solomon Rogers