Ismaila Sambou, secretary of state for Local Government, Lands and Religious Affairs has said that for a long duration, the overall performance of the local governments fraternity, particularly in the area of service delivery, has left a lot to be desired.

SoS Sambou was speaking at the opening of a three-days high-level consultative workshop on the theme 'Managing change in local governance in The Gambia' currently underway at the Sheraton Hotel and Resort. The objective of the workshop is to build and increase capacities on how to better manage change at local level and to highlighted the need for increase and effective management for improved service delivery of local governments.

According to him, this trend has to change as highlighted by President Jammeh and replaced by the need and desire to ensure that people's voices are heard and their needs met.

SoS Sambou added that, the contribution of local government authorities in the socio-economic development of the country and their role on local issues, as representatives of central government cannot be over-emphasised."Local authorities are uniquely placed and provide vision and leadership to local communities, raise awareness and change behaviours. Therefore government's ultimate objective is to engender a high quality local administration" he stated.

Giving an overview of the programme, SoS Sambou expressed delight that the workshop will identify the structural and institutional changes that have taken place in The Gambia following the enactment of the Local Government Act in 2002. He then urged the participants to look at the issues relating to how these changes can be efficiently managed in order to make local government relevant to the local people.

For his part, Dr Munawar Alan, head of the Commonwealth team from the secretariat, which facilitated and funded the workshop, as part of their initiative to capacitate local governments to effectively manage changes and provide relevant service delivery, stated that, he has realised that the government of The Gambia is highly dedicated and committed to local government reforms for better and improved service delivery.

He expressed optimism that the workshop will expose the participants to the decentralisation process, reforms and changes in the administration for the attainment of effective service delivery in all areas. He also assured the government's of the Commonwealth of the secretariat's support in ensuring that local governments becomes relevant to the people.

Honourable Fatoumatta Jahumpa Ceesay, Speaker of the National Assembly, Teneng Ba Jaiteh, Secretary General and Head of the Civil Service, Secretaries of State, UNDP representatives and other dignitaries, graced the occasion.