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Parliament has resolved that the Mayor of Koidu New Sembehun City Council, Paul Mathew Komba, should appear before the House.
The decision came as a result of an allegation made against him by his Chief Administrator (CA), Francis M. Tiffa, who accused him of preventing the Council’s revenue department to collect city rates from certain property owners.
According to one of the recommendations made by the Parliamentary Committee on Supplies, chaired by Hon. Alusine Canneh, the Ministry of Finance should withhold the Council’s budget for the financial year 2023 treating the Committee with levity.
Hon. Alusine informed the House that preventing the Council to collect its most needed revenue should not be treated slightly by Parliament. He said he contacted Mayor Paul Mathew Komba via phone but that he sounded arrogant, which he considered unfair and disrespectful to him and Parliament.
The Speaker of the House, Dr. Abass Chernor Bundu, also highlighted the conduct of the Mayor and the consequences of withholding their budget whilst insisting that Mayor Paul Mathew Komba should appear before the House.
The Leader of the Coalition For Change (C4C), Hon. Saa Emerson Lamina noted the sufferings that the people in Koidu City would face if such a decision stood. He advocated for a time in the circumstance in an attempt to address the issue.
Hon. Emerson referred to the Kenema saga, a few years ago, which led to the stagnation of development in that part of the country.
He concluded that the reason for his intervention was for the poor residents of Kono and that pressure would also mount on him as their MP.
