On Friday 13 December 2024, the Benakuma Council convened its annual budgetary session, adopting an ambitious 842 million FCFA with an addition of 660MFCFA in projects from the Council Support Fund for Mutual Assistance (FEICOM) making a total of 1.5bn FCFA budget for 2025. With priorities spanning education, health, road infrastructure, and accessibility, the council reaffirmed its commitment to promoting inclusive development and addressing the needs of persons with disabilities (PWDs).
Partial view of Benakuma Council session
Presiding over the session, Mayor Ihimbru Solomon KUDI highlighted key initiatives aimed at ensuring that PWDs are not left behind in the council’s development agenda.
“We don’t have to treat them separately from the society. If we are preaching inclusion, we have to make them feel normal despite the various challenges they face because others who are physically fit have different mental challenges.” he stressed
Recognising the challenges PWDs face in accessing public infrastructure, the council plans to rehabilitate older projects to ensure they are disability-friendly. Collaborating with technicians, the council aims to retrofit public buildings and spaces for improved accessibility.
“Our technicians are moving around to propose measures that ensure public buildings are accessible to persons with disabilities,” Mayor Kudi explained.
In addition to infrastructure improvements, the council has integrated PWDs into community programmes such as scholarships and sporting activities. This inclusive approach emphasises the council's broader goal of promoting equality and unity among its population.
The budget also focuses on education, with provisions for constructing classrooms, awarding scholarships to high-performing students, and equipping teachers and learners. These initiatives aim to create a conducive learning environment, especially for children displaced by the ongoing conflict in the Anglophone regions.
However, funding remains a critical challenge. The council will rely heavily on state allocations to implement these projects, given the difficulties in generating local revenue amidst the region's instability.
The Benakuma municipality, home to over 21,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), faces immense pressure to address urgent humanitarian needs such as shelter, food, and healthcare. Despite these challenges, the council remains committed to its vision of inclusive growth, guided by strategic objectives that include improving social amenities, reducing gender inequality, and increasing job opportunities.
Established in 1993, the Benakuma Council serves a vast municipality spanning 1,050 square kilometres. It continues to play a pivotal role in addressing the needs of its diverse population, even in adversity.
With its strong emphasis on inclusion, accessibility, and sustainable development, the Benakuma Council is taking tangible steps to ensure that every resident regardless of ability has the opportunity to thrive.
By Bakah Derick
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