KM Mayor Bensouda receiving documents of the 175 plots.
By Ramatoulie Jawo
Following a three-year endeavor to secure land for its members, the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) Staff Welfare Association witnessed the official transfer of 175 fully paid-for and demarcated plots of land on Friday.
The event, presided over by Lord Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda, served as the formal handing over ceremony of the newly purchased estate’s documentation to the leadership of the KMC Staff Welfare Association.
The land parcels are situated in Kitty and Brikama within the West Coast Region.
Addressing the gathering, Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda of the Kanifing Municipal Council emphasized the significance of housing in individuals’ lives. Additionally, he urged the KMC Welfare Association to assist in securing property for other staff members.
“This is the first of its kind staff estate by a council and we have to realize that every human being wants to have a dignified life and the best way to have a dignified life is to own your home. So today 175 KMC staff will have the beginning of a dignified life. But let us not forget that KMC has thousands four hundred staff. So there is a thousand two hundred and twenty-five staff without this opportunity. So I would like to challenge the welfare association to ensure all the one thousand four hundred staff have a plot of land,” he said.
Mayor Bensouda emphasized the need to go beyond this point and actively assist the staff in transforming these properties into homes.
“I therefore, also want to challenge the staff welfare to work with the director of administration as the KMC is about to launch an affordable housing scheme and I would want our staff to be the first beneficiaries of this scheme,” he highlighted.
Mayor Bensuda remarked on the significant journey of the staff welfare association, recalling a time when the association faced challenges related to transparency, corruption, and limited communication from its members. He acknowledged the hardships encountered along the way but noted that the association ultimately succeeded in addressing these issues.
“I think this is a day that will be remembered in the history of councils and it has happened during your time it has happened during the time of Modou Njie, Bolong Badjie, and the staff welfare executive, and the director of administration JaJa Cham, and the CEO. This is a day that will be remembered that all the staff welfare in the country can emulate as a sample of a council taking care of its most valuable resource which is its staff,” he said.
Modou A. Njie, President of the KMC Staff Welfare Association, promised that the association would distribute the 175 plots of land to its members.
He noted that the plots have been fully paid for by the KMC staff and expressed gratitude for their unwavering commitment during the entire process.
“The staff were very patient during the process because definitely, wherever somebody is putting your money you should make sure that your nose is there. Thank God today it has come to an end. And within the shortest possible time after the handing over, all of you will get your land, and your documents, and then you are free to build whatever you want to build on that plot of land,” he said.
He went on to thank Almot Real Estate for their patience, understanding, and support throughout the period just to make sure that the staff welfare executive where able to achieve this estate comprised of 175 plots.
The Director of Administration at the Kanifing Municipal Council, Mr. JaJa Cham, highlighted a brief history of how the initiative came about.
“This was some years ago. It all started from Our annex when our environment and sanitation staff saw that they needed to have a plot of land. So Bolong Badjie came to my office and i saw sense in what he was talking about. I decided to give support to it. What you saw here today is because of the Lord Mayor and the general council members, the president of the staff welfare, and his executive members, the CEO, and the management of KMC. We all supported this initiative,” he said.
Mr. Cham elaborated on the past controversies surrounding staff welfare issues and funds, highlighting the necessity for all parties to contribute their fair share to ensure that the staff receive the compensation they rightfully deserve.
Mr. Alieu Danso, the CEO of Almot Real Estate expressed his immense gratitude and appreciation to the KMC Staff Welfare Association for their commitment to excellence, innovation, and social responsibility.
“It has been an honor to work with an organization that strives to make a positive impact on society. Once again thank you all and Almot Real Estate is proud to be part of such a remarkable partnership and hopes to continue partnering with your noble organization in future economic and social development,” he said
The event was graced by the staff and Councillors of KMC as well as other invited dignitaries.
The KMC Staff Welfare Association aims to support its members for economic stability, social support, healthcare education, and improved quality of life.