By Aminata Abu Bakarr Kamara
Residents across three chiefdoms in Kailahun District are celebrating visible progress in education and local infrastructure, following the successful completion and handover of community projects under the second phase of the Accountable Governance for Basic Service Delivery (AGBSD) Project.
The initiative, funded by the World Bank and implemented by the Kailahun District Council (KLDC), has transformed public facilities in Sandiyalu (Luawa Chiefdom), Baiima (Mandu Chiefdom), and Daru (Jarwei Chiefdom) boosting both educational access and local development.
Under the project, the Council rehabilitated two key schools the Community Junior Secondary School in Sandiyalu and the Ahmadiyya Primary School in Baiima constructing modern classrooms, staff offices, sanitation units, solar-powered electricity systems, and safe water facilities. In Daru town, the Council’s guesthouse was fully refurbished to serve as an income-generating venture for the district.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremonies on Monday, October 13, 2025, KLDC Chairman, Sahr Ahmed Kaikonjor Lamin, said the projects represent the Council’s commitment to delivering accountable and inclusive local governance.
“These schools are generational structures today’s children will learn here, and generations after them will do the same. But sustainability depends on how communities care for these assets,” Lamin emphasized.
He noted that the selected communities were identified after careful assessments by the Council’s Civil Works Department, which revealed urgent infrastructure gaps in the beneficiary areas.
Chairman Lamin further described the refurbished Daru guesthouse as a model of how local councils can creatively raise revenue for community development.
“The guesthouse belongs to the people. When it generates income, that income returns to the people through more development projects,” he said.
Acting Chief Administrator, Hawa Toma Coomber, highlighted that the Council’s focus aligns with the government’s Human Capital Development agenda, stressing that the new school facilities are intended to foster better learning outcome.
“Before our intervention, some schools had only two classrooms for six classes, and toilets that were unfit for children. This project is not just about buildings it’s about restoring dignity to education in our district,” she said.
Representing the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Deputy Director of Education, Alusine Michael Kpulun, praised the project for advancing the “Radical Inclusion” policy, noting that the new facilities include access ramps for pupils with disabilities.
The intervention has also drawn commendation from civil society leaders, who underscored the importance of community ownership. Kabba, Chairperson of the Civil Society Organizations in Kailahun, urged residents to provide security and maintenance for the structures to prevent vandalism and ensure sustainability.
Traditional leaders and community members expressed deep gratitude for the development. Paramount Chief Musa Ngombuklah Kallon of Jarwei Chiefdom said the facelift given to the Daru guesthouse has elevated the image of his chiefdom.
For the beneficiaries, the impact is already tangible. Sow Alieu Mohamed, a JSS 3 pupil at the Sandiyalu Community Junior Secondary School, described the rehabilitation as life-changing.
“The new classrooms and solar power make learning exciting again. We now feel proud to come to school,” he said. Representing the Ahmadiyya Mission, Musa Mewa, Esq., lauded the partnership between the Council and the World Bank, affirming the Mission’s commitment to maintaining the facilities.
The commissioning concluded with the symbolic handing over of keys and ribbon-cutting ceremonies, marking another milestone in Kailahun’s local development drive.
As Phase Two of the AGBSD Project takes shape, the Kailahun District Council’s performance underlines how effective local governance and accountability can turn global funding into real improvements in people’s lives.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Friday, 17th October 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
