Serious concerns have mounted over the Bong County 2026 draft budget.
This follows criticism from Suakoko District Administrator, Moses Dotain.
Mr. Dotan has publicly described the document as “flawed and disconnected” from the real development needs of the locals.
He said, the county’s budget process has raised troubling questions about transparency and genuine community participation, despite formal consultations held with district leaders.
Dtain: “Suakoko District officials actively engaged in the county’s budget discussions, and submitted a list of urgent priorities intended to guide development planning for 2026.”
However, he claimed that none of those key proposals were reflected in the final draft budget.
Dotain warned that the omission of community priorities undermines the intent of the Local Government Act of 2018, which promotes inclusive decision-making and ensures that citizens’ needs shape development planning at the local level.
Dotain highlighted several projects, which he said, were completely excluded from the budget, including the construction of a paramount chief compound in Balama, and the installation of hand pumps in rural communities to improve access to safe drinking water; needs he described as “basic and urgent.”
Dotain further criticized “misplaced spending priorities” by the county administration. He argued that too much attention is being given to renovate existing school auditoriums, while many communities still lack new school buildings and adequate learning facilities.
Such decisions, he said, reflect a serious disconnect between county authorities and the realities faced by the locals in underserved areas, where access to education, water and basic infrastructure remains a daily struggle.
He added: “The current approach to budget risks weaken public trust in local governance structures if urgent corrections are not made.”
He has meanwhile, called on the Bong County administration to urgently revisit the 2026 draft budget and ensure that community-driven development priorities are fully captured before final approval and implementation.
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