KARENE DISTRICT COUNCIL LAMENTS TWO-YEAR DELAY IN GOVERNMENT DISBURSEMENTS
By Gibrilla Kamara
The Chairman of the Karene District Council, Abdul Kandeh Turay, has raised serious concerns over what he described as nearly two years of delays in government budget disbursements, warning that the situation is crippling development projects across the district.
Speaking in an interview with Liberty Online TV, Turay said the council has not received critical budgetary allocations from the Ministry of Finance, leaving several planned projects in education, agriculture and other key sectors at a standstill.
He questioned why Parliament continues to approve national budgets while local councils struggle to access the funds needed to implement development programmes.
“It is difficult to understand why Parliament approves these budgets and development projects are planned, yet the funds are not released to execute them,” he lamented.
Turay explained that the prolonged delay has negatively affected agricultural programmes, particularly the timely procurement and distribution of fertilizer and improved seeds to farmers. He noted that such support is crucial during the planting season, warning that any delay could undermine agricultural productivity and food security.
He also expressed concern over what he believes are inefficiencies in the management and release of public funds, calling for greater accountability and transparency in the government’s disbursement process.
According to the Council Chairman, the continued non-release of approved funds threatens the successful implementation of development initiatives designed to improve the welfare of residents across Karene District.
He therefore urged the Ministry of Finance to ensure the prompt and regular release of budgeted allocations to local councils, emphasizing that predictable funding is essential for effective service delivery and sustainable local development.