The Chief Administrator of the Kono District Council, Mohamed Marah, revealed to members of the Parliamentary Accounts Committee (PAC) during a recent visit that the council has faced significant challenges in collecting tax revenue this year. According to Marah, all 14 chiefdoms in the district have taken control of the tax collection process, resulting in a sharp decline in the council’s revenue. As a result, the council has only been able to collect a meager sum of one billion Leones (old notes).
Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, Chairman of the PAC and Deputy Leader of Parliament, stated that the committee would intervene to resolve the ongoing dispute. However, further inquiries at the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs indicate a different stance. The ministry distanced itself from PAC’s involvement, stating that it is the responsibility of the ministry to address such matters. The PAC’s primary purpose in Kono was to assess the financial standing of the district council, with any issues concerning tax collection to be handled by the ministry.
A source familiar with the situation explained that before the 2024 revision of the Local Council Act, Paramount Chiefs were responsible for collecting taxes in their respective chiefdoms. The collected taxes were then deposited with the district council, which would return a portion of the funds to the chiefdoms for administrative purposes. However, after the act was amended in 2024, the responsibility of local tax collection was shifted to district councils, though the chiefdoms were not entirely excluded from the process.
The source speculated that the ongoing dispute could be related to concerns about transparency and accountability in the tax collection process. While the exact cause of the disagreement remains unclear, it is evident that the relationship between the district council and the chiefdoms has become strained, with both sides questioning each other’s role in the collection and management of local taxes.
As the dispute continues, the role of the Ministry of Local Government in resolving the matter may become crucial in restoring cooperation and ensuring that tax revenue is collected and managed effectively for the benefit of the district.
