At public hearing: Santa mayor establishes dialogue as pathway to dev’t.

He was speaking Tuesday, September 2, during a public hearing, organised by the Santa Council on the theme: “Building Santa Council with your voice in a public hearing”. 

The event at the council hall was attended by the Divisional Officer, DO, of Santa, municipal councillors, the North West Public Independent Conciliator, village and neighbourhood committees, head of government services, religious and traditional authorities, youth leaders, heads of Santa motorbike riders union, amongst others.

The public hearing, according to Mayor Gahnyam II, was meant to discuss amongst others, the land use plan for Santa council and the mid-term budget for 2026 financial year.

The mayor stressed that the public hearing provides a platform where the community comes together to discuss views, express concerns and chart the way forward for projects that directly affect the population.

He noted that the council strongly believes that development can only be achieved when the voices of the people are heard, and respect taken into account in decision-making. 

The mayor noted that the purpose of the public hearing was not only to inform the population of the plan of the council, but also to listen carefully to the contributions of the people.

"We have to define our plan, highlight them with community priorities and ensure that what we implement is the true aspiration of the people,” he said.

He emphasised that accountability and inclusiveness are the guiding principles of the event, and that the success of the council development agenda largely depends on the active participation of the people.

Execution of 2025 projects assessed

The progress of ongoing projects in Santa municipality were equally highlighted and assessed during the event, and the 2026 budget presented.

According to the Santa Council Chief of Technical Service, Dingha Emmanuel Lehtem, the council has been able to carry out nine projects in 2025 and three others which were earmarked for last year.

Lehtem cited the rehabilitation of the road segment into Santa Council town hall, construction of 30 closed market sheds in Santa central; construction of an integrated health centre in Menka phase one, construction of a community hall in Mbesoh Mepi phase one in Awing village, construction of a block of two classrooms at GNS Kapcho Akum, extension of potable water from Afeta College to Paul NGO in Awing; renovation of building in social promotion and reintegration centres Akum.

Other projects include the handing over of training kits to vocational training centre, handing of farming tools and inputs to some eight Common Initiative Groups, acquisition of equipment and devices suitable for persons living with disability, payment of arrears for the construction of a block of two classrooms and a head teachers office at Mbesoh in Awing, payment of arrears for the extension of potable water supply at Ntarrah, and the payment of arrears for the construction of a touristic site in Shumlaka.

Village, neighbourhood committees share strides, priority projects

Various village and neighbourhood committee representatives equally also noted some projects achieved and carried out in their villages and some priority projects that should be carried out.

Talking to The Guardian Post, the Secretary General of the Meforbe Neighborhood Committee, Fogwe Samuel, said the Council has been able to provide for them a market, potable water, good toilet facilities and constructed a slaughter house.

He, however, hoped that the council would in the days ahead help them to be able to construct a water catchment and street lights. 

"We are equally thinking of a bridge that links Meforbe, because the bridge is one of the most important bridges that if constructed will help link the two village of Meforbe,” Fogwe said.

On his part, the Secretary General of Bamock Committee, Tsalah George, said the council has helped them in maintaining roads, and the construction of a primary school.

"As far as our priority projects are concerned, we need the rehabilitation of roads in some areas in the village, construction of a health centre and the rehabilitation of pipe-borne water," he said.

Meanwhile, the President of the Santa Motorbike Riders Union, Mokom Joel, said the union has received both moral and physical support from the council. 

He said they have realised road construction, maintained peace, decency and cleanliness within the commercial motorbike sector. The event also featured the distribution of farm inputs to some farmers’ groups in Santa municipality.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3555 of Friday September 05, 2025