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In line with President Julius Maada Bioโs vision for infrastructure transformation, the Road Maintenance Fund Administration (RMFA) yesterday officially handed over a total of twenty brand new motorbikes to each Local Council.
The purpose of the motorbikes is to supervise, monitor and evaluate roads construction work activities especially in far to reach terrains for effective and judicious use, and for successful implementation.
In his statement, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, RMFA, Mr. Bashirr Sheriff said they saw the need to invest in capacity building of the Local Councils Engineers and mobility for the supervision and monitoring of all RMFA’s funded feeder road maintenance works under the auspices of Local Councils.
Based on lessons learnt over the past two years in the implementation of activities on road maintenance programmes,ย Mr. Bashirr Sheriff said RMFA has carved out an effective implementation cycle with detailed plan for all the councils.
In 2019, Sheriff said RMFA supported the Local Councils with a total of Le22,948,567.715.32 for feeder roads maintenance activities and supervision in their respective areas.
RMFA monitored the utilization of the funds to ensure the following feeder roads maintenance activities done includes maintenance of 638.03KM of feeder roads, construction of 291 single box culverts, construction of 106 pipe culverts, construction of 20 double box culverts, construction of 15 bridges and 57 other road related activities.
Incrementally, the deputy CEO furthered that in 2020, RMFA supported the Local Councils with a total of Le31,087,079,283 for the feeder road maintenance activities and supervision in their respective areas.
Maintenance of 183.9km of feeder roads, construction of 162 single box culverts, construction of 5 pipe culverts, construction of 20 double box culverts, construction of 13 bridge and 5 other road related activities.
Additionally, in 2021 Sheriff said RMFA made an allocation of Le23,005,924,869.59 to local councils. These funds he stated were fully utilized to accomplish roads maintenance activities.
The Keynote Speaker, Minister of Local Government, Ambassador Tamba Lamina, expressed appreciation to RMFA for following their mandates, and for really doing their work in helping the New Direction Government of President Bio in achieving its vision, in making Sierra Leone a better place.
He emphasized that feeder roads are very important in rural communities in improving their livelihood. The Minister of Local Government Ambassador Lamina said he has done a lot in decentralization policy and reviewing the 2004 Act.
He recognised the role of Local Council in giving more strength to government activities. Despite government resource challenges caused by COVID-19 and the Ukraine/Russian war, the transfer of funds to Local Councils has not stopped.
The Minister called on Local Councils to push and become more reliant without government intervention. He admonished beneficiaries to monitor contractors to deliver worthwhile projects.
Representatives from partners, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) commended and lauded RMFA intervention in roads maintenance activities.
Reverend Joe Bob Amara RMFA Board Member chaired the handing over ceremony at the Maritime Headquarters Office Building on Government Wharf in Freetown.
