By Omar Bah
The newly elected Lord Mayor of Kanifing Municipality Talib Bensouda has vowed to run the municipality under the principles of transparency and accountability as he takes office yesterday.
“We shall focus on strengthening and ensuring that revenue is collected and accounted for in a transparent manner, thereby reducing leakages and increasing confidence of the residents in the Council,” Bensouda said in his inaugural speech yesterday.
He continued: “I would like to remind you that public service requires commitment and sacrifice. We must rededicate ourselves to the residents of this municipality; to provide for its needs and create a more conducive environment for living.”
Mayor Bensouda also vowed to end decade long problems of institutional inefficiency and politicisation of the works of the council.
“While I cannot promise turning the Kanifing Municipality into a perfect metropolis within this time (4 years), I can promise you the following: I shall turn the council into a service-oriented institution for all residence of the KM. This institution shall no longer be a political bureau. Instead this office shall be a place of hard work where professionals come to serve the municipality and deliver the much need service for the people,” Bensouda said.
