By: IBRAHIM M. SESAY (GRAND CAPE MOUNT COUNTY)
The Catholic Justice and Peace Commission JPC has conducted a one day town hall meeting in Sinje Grand Cape Mount County.
The meeting was organized to discuss and promote equal opportunity in decision making on natural resources management in the County.
Speaking at the meeting, an executive of the JPC Pilate Johnson told the gathering that as part of its awareness and sensitization on natural resources, they have setup and trained Community Welfare Committees comprising one hundred and one persons in Medina, Gohn Zoduah, Falie, and Karnga in Garwula District. Other towns include Kpeneji, and Wangakor in Tewor District and Jawajeh Mavor as well as Kinjor in Gola Konneh District.
Pilate Johnson further said the initiative is aimed at increasing citizens’ access to information for transparency and accountability where natural resources are extracted and for citizens to know how royalties are paid and how concessions and social agreements are reached between the central government and the companies.
He disclosed that the town hall meeting and awareness activities in Grand Cape Mount County are being supported by the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) based in the United Kingdom.
The meeting brought together the county superintendent, the Cape Mount Legislative Caucus, the local chiefs, elders, the Ministry of Lands, Mines, and Energy and the Forestry Development Authority among others.