Dou Sanno, Presidential Adviser
By Fatou Sillah
Dou Sanno, a presidential adviser and key figure in the National People’s Party (NPP), has accused the Brikama Area Council of attempting to dissolve Village Development Committees (VDCs) across the West Coast Region.
Speaking on the issue, Sanno criticized the council’s alleged actions, asserting that it has no authority to interfere with VDCs.
“You have gone to many villages, telling them you will dissolve their VDCs. You don’t have that right. The Village Development Committee belongs to the village, and the area council is responsible for the council’s affairs,” he stated.
He further accused the council of overstepping its boundaries, emphasizing that VDCs exist to drive local development and should not be manipulated for political gain.
“The VDCs were established to develop their respective villages. No council has the right to remove those entrusted by the community to lead their affairs, only to replace them with individuals who align with your political interests,” he added.
Sanno also stated that councilors, Seyfos, and Alkalos are all answerable to the president and should not interfere with VDC operations.
“The Chairman, councilors, Seyfos, and Alkalos are all under the president’s authority. If a councilor secures any development project, they should consult the Alkalo and the VDC to discuss how it will benefit the community. But instead, some are trying to impose their will on villages they don’t belong to, just to serve their political agenda,” he alleged.
He called on Alkalos, VDC members, and residents to resist any attempts by the council to dissolve their committees.
“I urge all Alkalos and villagers to stand firm and reject this move. VDCs, with or without the council’s support, have been raising funds and executing development projects for their communities,” Sanno stated.
Finally, he advised the Brikama Area Council to abandon divisive politics and focus on working collaboratively with communities to foster development.
“Stop the division and work with the people to develop the country and the wards—this is why you were elected. But instead, you are prioritizing political interests over progress,” he concluded.