The Mayor of Fundong Council, Denis Awoh Ndang has held the 2024 Budget Orientation Debate that brought together councillors and Village and Neighbourhood committee coordinators to deliberate on future projects for the Municipality.
The debate which took place Wednesday December 11, 2024 at the Fundong council Chambers, marked a significant milestone in the Municipality's budgetary process.
Mayor Ndang emphasized the importance of working closely with councillors and village development coordinators to identify priority projects in their communities.
Village and Neighbourhood committees, population during debate
According to Mayor Ndang, all villages are expected to participate in providing priority projects, ensuring that no community benefits more than others. This approach is part of a new budget programming initiative, which aims to promote transparency, accountability, and community involvement. "We held a budget orientation debate three months ago but we didn't particularly know what we were to execute in terms of the public investment budget this year. So we found it necessary to bring back all the councilors and all the coordinators of the village development committees as prescribed in the law so that we sit together involving them in all the projects that will be executed in their communities. We are starting to practice a program budget where we can budget for the next three years where in every community shall be involved " mayor Ndang told the Observer.
Councillors and village development coordinators who participated in the debate expressed their appreciation to the Mayor.
Councillor Ghangha Linus praised the mayor's efforts, stating that this approach would empower councillors and village development coordinators to prioritize projects that truly benefit their communities.
"We are now working with the coordinator of village committees and it is right in the villages that contracts are being executed and I think that the contractors will now be more efficient because they will now understand that they have a steady supervision on the work that they are carrying out. This is a very positive move where-in the village coordinators are being involved in the debate who are the immediate beneficiaries of the project there by involving those at grassroots unlike in the past" Councillor Linus said.
Awoh Paul, a village development coordinator from Kumtem village, echoed similar sentiments, highlighting the importance of community involvement in decision-making processes."it is good when the community participates so that they actually know how the budget comes and how projects are being executed so we are very happy to be a part of the budget debate as community coordinators"Awoh Paul said.
Projects realized by the council in 2024 were visited
Councillor Nchitu Maltida also praised the initiative, stating that it would bring about a sense of calmness and stability in the communities. "I am happy that this time around there will be no quarrels in the villages because they have understood what it means for the projects to be budgeted and the periods during which the projects have to be carried out. Also the mayor has equally detailed how the finances come and how they are being given out to the contractors who come to carry out the projects." Councilor Nchitu expressed.
Throughout the debate, participants shared their thoughts and ideas on how to improve the municipality's budgetary process. They also discussed the challenges facing the municipality and how to address them.
The budget orientation debate was a significant step towards promoting transparency, accountability, and community development in Fundong Municipality with a mission to improving sustainable development and livelihoods.
By Munya Charles Babila
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