The Deputy Minister of Information and Communications, Madam Mamadi Gobeh Kamara, has urged stakeholders in Kenema District to embrace the Medium-Term National Development Plan as a roadmap towards transforming the district.
She made this statement during a one-day stakeholders’ engagement on the Plan organised by the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MOPED) at Albsertson Hotel in Kenema on August 14, 2020.
It will be recalled that the Sierra Leone Medium Term National Development Plan 2019-2023 themed ‘Education for Development’ aims at charting a new path a by improving People’s Lives through Education, Inclusive Growth, and Building a Resilient Economy.
Madam GobehKamara said that the popularization of the Medium-Term National Development Plan is very important because it gives stakeholders the opportunity to choose the development priorities of Kenema district.
She said that development is people centred and therefore it’s imperative that the beneficiaries of development programs are incorporated in all processes. She encouraged the women of Kenema district to participate fully in the implementation, coordination and monitoring of the development plan for effective and efficient delivery of the projects.
Madam MamadiGobeh Kamara also highlighted some key successes of the Ministry of Information and Communications which includes:Engaging mobile companies to increase mobile penetration to underserved communities across the country; decentralization and roll out of the National Fibre Optic backbone project to increase access to ICT services; repeal of the Criminal Libel law which gave journalists the enabling environment to practice their profession without fear or favour; rebooting of the Sierra Leone News to provide journalism that helps Sierra Leoneansto better understand how their country is governed and take actions that challenge, unite, and inspire positive change; engaging communities through television, radio stations and stakeholder meetings to inform and engage Sierra Leoneans on government’s development strides; supply digital terrestrial multimedia broadcast platforms; and promotion e-governance, amongst others.
She pledged the Ministry’s support to the people of Kenema for the effective implementation of the development plan.
By Bampia James Bundu Strategic Communication Unit MIC