The Gunjur Ward Councillor, Hon. Momodou Charreh Gibba has on Wednesday, 28th February 2024 received a Cheque of D500,000 from the Brikama Area Council for Gunjur Ward Development as the Council disburses a whopping D14 million to 28 Wards under its jurisdiction for development projects.
The Cheque was received from the Brikama Area Council Hatab Jobe on behalf of Gunjur Ward and witnessed by Hon. Councillor of Gunjur Ward.
"What impact will the BAC Ward Development Fund have on Gunjur Ward community development?"
Reacting to the D500K disbursement to his Ward, Hon. Momodou Charreh Gibba told Gunjur Online that the funds received will be judiciously utilised for priority projects within his ward, saying:
"Gunjur Ward Development Committee is another delightful recipient of D500,000 Ward Allocation disbursed yesterday at Brikama Area Council in a colourful ceremony graced by several dignitaries including the UDP National & Regional Executives, the West Coast National Assembly members and the general public. This is not new thing to me personally, as it is not the first time Gunjur Ward benefitted from this package. The first package disbursed to Gunjur Ward in 2019 was spent in Santangba and Misira where their boreholes were rehabilitated. This year too, under the dynamic leadership of Hon. Yankuba Darboe, allocation of D500,000 was made to all the 28 Ward Development Committees. This was done on a single day in a single transaction to credit all the Ward Development Accounts."
On the areas in his Ward where the D500 thousand would be spent, Hon. Gibba told Gunjur Online: "Gunjur Ward Development Committee is meeting on Sunday to finalize how and where to spend this fund. We will keep the public informed when finalize our programs. Currently we have a sum of 1 million in our account which are try to execute a borehole project at Kajabang and a market shade at Kachumeh respectively. This D500K will be discussed this Sunday inshallah."
Gunjur Ward Development Committee is apolitical, and it comprises of two representatives from each VDC within Gunjur Ward as well as two /one rep from the Area development committees in the cases of Misira, Santangba , Freetown & Senghaa (behind Jujuba). Some technicians such as Lamin E Manneh, Hatab Jobe, Ebrima K. Touray, Aunti Kaddy Janneh, Ebrima Jingal Tamba, Nuba S. Barrow etc have been Co-opted to become members. Hatab Jobe as our Project Coordinator, Ebrima K. Touray Assy. Project Coordinator and Kumba Ngum represented the Ward to receive the Cheque.
Hon. Kebba K. Barrow was among the Special invitees of the Chairman and BAC. He joined Gunjur Ward Development Committee members to celebrate receipt of the Cheque as well joining Sanyang and Kartong Wards respectively.
Speaking after the D14 million was disbursed to all the 28 Wards under his watch, BAC Chairman Yankuba Darboe admonishes the Ward Councilors on proper utilization of the funds, saying:
"So, a ward of admonishment to the WDC's receiving the funds today. Please be warned that these monies came from the fire, because of what we, your council had to go through to get these funds. So please utilize them as proposed, otherwise the fire that had given birth to them will definitely consume your WDCs."
The disbursement of D14 million to Wards under his watch barely seven months into his Chairmanship is unprecedented. BAC accounts were in deficit of D10 million when Chairman Darboe assumed the mantle of leadership of this resource rich, but poorly financially managed Council. The Council now sits on a D25 million cash balance which makes it possible to disburse D14 million to 28 Wards for their development needs.
Having being elected as Chairman of BAC with a landslide, Yankuba Darboe pledged to preside over a Council that will be "people centered" and a Council for the people and by the people.