The Bombali District Council has launched a tax education campaign in Safroko Limba Chiefdom and Biriwa Limba Chiefdom following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with their respective Paramount Chiefs, aimed at strengthening revenue mobilization and local development.
Chief Administrator Abdul Koroma said the engagement is part of efforts to improve internally generated revenue to support service delivery across the district. He noted that the Council is mandated to provide essential infrastructure, including roads, schools, health facilities, and water systems, which require sustainable funding.
He explained that the Council will now implement lawful revenue measures, including the collection of property rates, business licenses, and other local taxes in chiefdom headquarters and major towns.
In Madiff, Section Chief Pa Sorie Balia Conteh welcomed the initiative, stating that the community had long anticipated the Council’s involvement. He, however, stressed the need for transparency and accountability, noting that despite the long-standing operation of the local Luma market since 1985, the community has seen limited benefits.
The Chiefdom Administrative Clerk of Safroko Limba also endorsed the move, describing it as a positive step toward structured revenue management. He appealed for increased security presence, citing the deployment of only one officer in the chiefdom.
In Biriwa Limba Chiefdom, Chiefdom Speaker Pa Lansana Keli Conteh expressed support for the revenue-sharing arrangement, noting that the chiefdom had previously struggled to access proceeds from the Luma market in Kamasikie.
Town Chief Pa Dura Show called on the Council to recruit local residents as revenue collectors, emphasizing their familiarity with the area. Similarly, Mammy Queen Marly Barrie expressed renewed confidence in the system, highlighting improved accountability through formal banking of collected revenues.
According to Sheriff Conteh, the chiefdom comprises nine sections and approximately 246 villages, with more than half expected to be covered during the initial phase of demand notice distribution.
Paramount Chief Alimamy Salifu Mannah Kalawa III urged section chiefs to support the initiative, noting that Bombali District stands to benefit from potential inclusion in a government-supported pilot programme.
Civil society actors have also pledged oversight. Harold H. Kamara encouraged compliance while assuring communities of monitoring mechanisms to ensure accountability. In Kamasikie and Kamabai, Agnes I. Conteh called on residents to cooperate fully with the Council.
From the Ministry of Finance Sierra Leone, Musukulah Sankoh said the government is backing the initiative in response to declining donor support. He emphasized that strengthening local revenue systems is essential for councils to sustain operations and deliver services effectively.
The tax education campaign is expected to expand to other chiefdoms across Bombali District in the coming days.
Ishmail Kamara
IEC Officer
Bombali District Council
