MAYOR OF KANIFING MUNICIPAL COUNCIL FOR THE FIRST TIME NOMINATED PERSON WITH DISABILITY AS A COUNSiLLOR

There are Seven Administrative Regions in The Gambia. These are; Banjul City Council, Kanifing Municipal Council, Western Region, Lower River Region, Central River Region, Upper River Region and North Bank Region. Out of these Administrative Regions, for the First time in the histry of the Gambia, the Lord Mayor of Kanifing Municipal Council nominated Person With Disability as a Councillor that will represent the interests of Persons With Disabilities at the Municipal level. The Local Government Act 2002 of the Gambia provides for elections of councillors. However, it also does provides for nomination of a counsellor by the mayor being a special power on the mayor.

It is in consequence of the foregoing authority vested in the mayor by virtue of the Local Government Act that the said Lord Mayor nominated Mr. Ebrima Colley whose disability is a Wheelchair User as Councillor in Kanifing Municipal Council thereby represents the interests of Persons With Disabilities. The said councillor including other councillors are on monthly paid salaries and allowances. They usually hold meetings. They also do have travelling opportunities across the countries and abroad.
When I interviewed Mr. Ebrima Colley for such nomination as Councillor, Mr. Colley said indeed the mayor Mr. Talib Bensauda has taken a right decision which represents inclusion of PWDS and by extension, mitigate unemployment for Persons With Disabilities and thus, improve their improvement status.
Lord Mayor, Mr. Talib Bensauda called on his colleagues to emulate his action to give Persons With Disabilities to be representatives of their people so that their problems and solutions could be redressed.