By Fatou Sillah
The Minister of Information, Media, and Broadcasting Services, Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, has defended the removal of the Alkalo of Nyangen Village, Baboucarr Nyang, stating that the decision was made in accordance with the Local Government Act after it was established that the village head no longer resided in the community he served.
Speaking in an interview with West Coast Radio, Dr. Ceesay explained that the issue originated at the local level and was handled through established administrative procedures before a final determination was reached.
According to the minister, the process began with the village chief engaging the Alkalo, who acknowledged that he was no longer living in Nyangen.
“The chief engaged the particular Alkalo, who confessed and admitted that yes indeed, he is not living in the village anymore. That is what the governor said the chief told him, and the Alkalo himself admitted that he is no longer staying in the village,” he said.
He noted that the matter was subsequently escalated through the appropriate administrative channels. The chief reported the situation to the governor, who also engaged the Alkalo and confirmed the same admission. This, he said, prompted further review and action in line with legal provisions.
“Now, when that came to the attention of the chief, he escalated it to the governor to say, ‘Hey, this is the situation.’ The governor also engaged the Alkalo, who admitted that he is not staying in the community anymore, and then the matter was investigated and processed in line with the law,” he said.
Dr. Ceesay emphasized that residency within the community is a statutory requirement for holding the position of Alkalo, underscoring the importance of compliance with local governance laws.
“In line with the law, the Alkalo was retired; the community is now consulting with the relevant authorities to appoint a new Alkalo,” he stated.
The minister maintained that the decision was based strictly on legal and administrative grounds, dismissing suggestions of political influence. He added that there has been no significant opposition from the community, apart from concerns raised by the United Movement for Change (UMC).
“There is no pushback from the community. There is only pushback from UNITE because they have an interest in the matter,” he said.
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