By John K. Marah
In a recent Parliamentary debate, Hon. Jewah Sesay, a Member of Parliament representing Tonkolili District in the Northern Region and a member of the All People’s Congress (APC), raised significant concerns about the district’s exclusion from essential national development projects outlined in the latest budget.
He focused on the district’s lack of rural infrastructure, inadequate healthcare facilities, and poor educational resources, despite its contributions to Sierra Leone’s economy through mining and electricity production.
Hon. Sesay expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s failure to allocate funds for Tonkolili’s development, particularly in areas such as road construction and revenue mobilization. He highlighted the alarming rise in the cost of basic commodities, noting that a bag of rice has reached 1.55 million Leones due to deteriorating road conditions.
He called for the inclusion of Tonkolili in supplementary budgets and urged the government to prioritize the district’s needs. Additionally, he addressed the challenges faced by underfunded local councils and the limited impact of mining revenues on community development. Despite reassurances from the Finance Minister, skepticism remains regarding whether the promised supplementary budget will effectively address these longstanding issues.
The debate emphasized the necessity for equitable distribution of national resources and tangible benefits from mining agreements, particularly through the effective implementation of the Community Development Agreement (CDA) and the proposed Mineral Wealth Fund.
