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Civil and Human Rights Activist, Gerald A. Foday from Moyamba, has called on the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Local Government and Community Affairs to conduct its oversight meetings at the district level rather than at regional headquarters.
In an open letter addressed to the Committee Chairman, Hon. Kemoh Conteh, Foday commended the committee’s leadership for its efforts in probing council activities and ensuring accountability in the delivery of devolved functions. However, he expressed concern that holding meetings only at the regional level limits participation from local residents who live outside regional towns.
According to Foday, district-level meetings would provide greater opportunities for public participation and inclusivity, allowing civil society organisations, budget oversight committees, and ordinary citizens to contribute directly to discussions on local governance. He argued that many community members are unable to attend regional engagements due to distance and logistical constraints, which risks excluding valuable input from those most affected by council services.
Foday appealed to Hon. Conteh and other committee chairpersons to prioritise holding oversight sessions within districts. He noted that such an approach would ensure that parliamentarians capture the realities on the ground, rather than relying solely on documentation submitted by councils.
He maintained that decentralising the engagements would strengthen accountability, promote wider public involvement, and ensure that the voices of all citizens are heard in governance processes.
