It was not just an ordinary gathering of the cremè-de-la-cremè of society. It was not certainly a meeting to display knowledge. It was a deliberate convergence of the mix of the highly placed and the ordinary man, who normally marvel at names and titles.
The Ministry of Information and Civic Education created a platform for the ordinary people to walk alongside their Ministers and Agency heads seamlessly and in a relaxed atmosphere. It was devoid of the usual security barriers that often shield the hoi poloi from the privileged.
The Moyamba Civic Day series opened the eyes of the people of Moyamba to the fact that there is a thin divide between them and the government and that if anything, they are the government. Information and Civic Education Minister the effulgent Chernor Bah with his convovial niceness, deliberately crafted the series to bring government to the door steps of the people and possibly into their rooms.
The first day, Monday May 26 was for the people especially the pupils to take center stage. After all, the event is intended to inform and educate them about governance and to prick their civic responsibilities. The pupils did not disappoint. The quiz and debate gave them an oppprtunity to show mastery of their knowledge on issues of governance and the world. And they did their best. The girls particularly defined President Bio’s aspirations of women’s empowerment. They challenged the boys valiantly and bettered them in some areas.
On the second day May 27, the people from all corners of Moyamba converged at the Moyamba District Council Hall to hear from the horse’s mouth what they have gotten from the government they voted for, what the plans are for development and the challenges. From the Community Development Funds from mining activities, to Njala bolstering Feed Salone, to the renovation of the Mano Dasse Community Health Center, to plans to provide potable water for the district, the people heard first hand and asked very probing questions.
The moderator, the efficient Chernor Bah handled every aspect of the program with aplomb. From the radio and television to civil society, last mile communication was on display. The Minister of Information and Civic Education Chernor Bah has shown that information flow from top to bottom and vice versa is a priority of his ministry.
