The 10th General Meeting of the Port Loko District Council concluded with the distribution of tools for the maintenance of feeder roads, accompanied by a strong call for teamwork in advancing the district’s development goals. The provision of these tools and the emphasis on collaboration came in response to persistent requests by councillors and as a proactive measure to mitigate some of the adverse effects of climate change in the district. The meeting also aimed to address key action points from the previous session, notably the continued absence of sector heads from council meetings.
Chief Administrator Arthur Allieu expressed concern over sector heads’ reluctance to attend council sessions, noting that this issue has drawn the attention of high-ranking government officials, including those from the Audit and Parliamentary Public Accounts Committees. He urged all participants to attend regularly, sign the attendance register, and contribute to the council’s deliberations.
Paramount Chiefs Bai Kompa Bomboli of Koya and Bai Inga Marray of Burreh, who serve as paramount council members, attended the meeting. The session also featured a presentation by Richard F. Marah from the Africa Conservation Initiative (ACI), an organization dedicated to biodiversity conservation in over 20 countries. ACI has already established operations in six districts in Sierra Leone, including Port Loko, and plans to expand further.
Throughout the meeting, councillors raised several concerns, particularly regarding the district’s deteriorating road network, which has worsened due to hefty rainfall. Councillors also reiterated the need for the office buildings, constructed several years ago for use, to be finally assigned for their operations. Additionally, a unique appeal was made to the council chairman to address the alleged extortion by Power Leone, whose performance in providing electricity to rural areas was widely criticized.
In his address, Council Chairman Sheku Tejan Saccoh highlighted the severe damage caused by the persistent rains, particularly to Burreh Chiefdom, where homes, farms, and even the sole health facility have been flooded. Although Saccoh personally visited the affected area with relief supplies and sent a team to assess the extent of the damage, he stressed that much more assistance is needed to alleviate the situation. He urged council members not only to pray for those affected but to use this disaster as a reminder of the increasing threat posed by climate change.
“What has happened in Burreh Chiefdom is a clear example of the negative effects of climate change, and it could happen in any community,” Chairman Saccoh remarked, adding that all councillors should return to their communities and raise awareness to prevent similar disasters. “The issue of climate change is real, and it is becoming more pronounced in our country.”
Paramount Chief Bai Kompa Bomboli of Koya echoed the call for teamwork and urged council members to remain vigilant against unscrupulous companies that may not have genuine intentions in their dealings. The council unanimously endorsed a proposal to hold rotational council meetings across different chiefdoms, starting with Burreh.
The 10th General Meeting of the Port Loko District Council concluded with the distribution of tools for feeder road maintenance in various communities.
Correspondent: Hassan Bruz
