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Momodou
Denmark
11832 Posts |
 Posted - 11 Aug 2007 : 16:39:08
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Foroyaa Editorial
Where is the Local Government Reform?
A Step Towards Democracy or Monarchy?
People hardly hear about chairpersons of Area Councils. The governors are in control of major ceremonies and activities in the regions.
A short quiz will reveal that the mayor or mayoress of the Banjul City Council/the Kanifing Municipal council and the chairperson of the Brikama Area council are all appointed and can be removed with the stroke of a pen as had happened recently regarding the KMC.
After a national debate which lent credibility to the opinion that councils will be more inclined to serve their local government areas if the mayors, chairpersons are elected and subject to recall by the electorate for maladministration, the 1997 Constitution incorporated section 193 subsection (1) which reads:
"Local government administration in The Gambia shall be based on a system of democratically elected councils with a high degree of local authority."
Section 194 states among other things that "An Act of the National Assembly by or under which a local government authority is established shall include provisions for......
(c ) the direct election of the mayor or chairman/woman of the authority."
Before section 20 of the Local Government Act was amended, a chairperson including a mayor or mayoress could be removed from office for abuse of office, corruption, misconduct or affliction with physical or mental incapacity.
However, the documents were to be handed to the Chief Justice who was required to constitute a tribunal comprising judges of the high court to investigate into the allegations within seven days.
This has been amended to remove the role of the Chief Justice.
Now the documents are to be transmitted to the Secretary of State who replaces the chief Justice. The Secretary of State now has power to
(a) suspend the chairperson, deputy chairperson or other members of the Council concerned;
(b) in the case of-
(i) the chairperson, appoint an acting Chairperson, and
(ii) Deputy Chairperson, appoint an acting deputy chairperson,
from among the elected Councilors;
(c ) investigate the allegations contained in the notice;
Hence it is clear that the mayor, mayoress and chairperson of each council are under the complete dictate of the Secretary of State for Local Government and the president. They have decided to give more prominence to governors than the elected representatives of regions.
The decentralization and devolution of power promised in local government administration has failed. There is more centralization of power.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 93/2007, 10 - 12 August 2007
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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