The Minister of Lands, Local Government and Religious Affairs, Hamat N.K. Bah, has defended the government’s decision to suspend traditional village leaders following violent disputes, telling Kiang West National Assembly Member Lamin Ceesay that he was “not in tune” with developments in his constituency.
The heated exchange took place during a National Assembly session as lawmakers questioned the government’s handling of escalating community boundary disputes and the suspension of Alkalos as part of efforts to restore peace and order.
Ceesay raised concerns over the growing number of disputes between communities across the country, particularly incidents that have escalated into violence and required the deployment of security forces.
“You have so many areas where you have boundary conflicts among communities,” Ceesay told the minister.
“Other than suspending community Alkalos, what other mechanisms have you put in place so that we avert what happened in my constituency, where people attacked each other with arms and you had to redeploy security forces there, which is happening in other parts of the country?”
The Kiang West lawmaker also questioned the administrative arrangements that follow the suspension of an Alkalo, including who assumes responsibility for local leadership and how residents are informed of changes affecting community governance and official transactions.
Responding, Minister Bah rejected suggestions that the government had suspended Alkalos arbitrarily, saying the measures followed serious incidents that threatened public order.
“Two Alkalos were suspended. They went into violence, even armed violence, threatening the peace and stability of the country, and the village filed a petition,” Bah said.
He maintained that government intervention was necessary where traditional leadership disputes contribute to violence and threaten the peace and stability of communities.
The exchange became more pointed when Bah challenged Ceesay’s awareness of developments in his own constituency.
“I don’t think you are in tune with your people,” Bah told the Kiang West NAM.
He subsequently disclosed that one of the suspended traditional leaders had already been reinstated.
“I want to tell you, Honourable Member, since Monday I have ordered the reinstatement of the Alkalo of Kolikunda,” Bah said.
