In a significant move towards participatory governance and fiscal transparency, the Maryland County Council convened an intensive citizens’ engagement meeting with residents of the Barrobo Statutory District on Friday, April 18, 2025. The well-attended event, held at the Glofaken Youth Center, brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including local government officials, youth leaders, women’s groups, elders, traditional authorities, representatives of the disabled community, joint security personnel, media practitioners, and engaged citizens from across the district.
The primary focus of the meeting was a crucial review of the 2024/2025 County Development Fund (CDF) budget. Participants actively worked to identify priority projects for the Barrobo District, ensuring citizens had a direct voice in the allocation and oversight of vital development resources.
Mr. Melvin T. Weah, President of the Maryland Youth Association and a member of the County Council, underscored the importance of inclusive participation in the development process as he provided an overview of the meeting’s objectives. He clarified that the District Development Fund (DDF) for Barrobo District, derived from the 2024/2025 CDF, necessitates critical citizen input to guarantee successful implementation.
Mr. Weah revealed that the initial proposed CDF for Maryland County in the 2024 draft national budget stood at $894,332.00. However, following a budget recast, the approved amount was significantly reduced to $200,000.00. Of this revised figure, $13,334.00 was specifically allocated to the Maryland Service Center, leaving $186,666.00 for broader development initiatives. Consequently, each of the county’s administrative districts, including Barrobo, received an allocation of $35,709.91.
He further announced that the district’s top priority project, identified through citizen input, is the completion of the long-stalled Glofaken City Hall. The newly allocated $35,709.91 will be directed towards this project, which was initially launched under the previous George Prowd administration with a proposed budget of $65,000.00 – a figure that has since become a point of contention within the community.
During the interactive session, a palpable sense of concern arose among citizens regarding the stalled city hall project. They directly questioned the transparency surrounding the initial funding. Many attendees voiced their disappointment that despite the $65,000 allocation, the project remains at the foundation stage. Driven by a demand for accountability, citizens urged the current county leadership, headed by Superintendent Henry Cole, to publicly provide the Bill of Quantity (BOQ) for the project and transparently explain how the previously allocated funds were utilized.
Many participants lauded the engagement as a significant stride towards empowering communities. “This is an eye-opener,” one attendee remarked. “We now have a clear picture of what’s in the national budget for our district.”
Council Chair Mr. Thomas Mawolo, in his closing remarks, expressed gratitude to the residents for their strong turnout and constructive feedback. He assured them that their concerns would be treated with utmost seriousness and would form the basis for further dialogue with county authorities. Mr. Mawolo reaffirmed the council’s commitment to ensuring effective oversight and diligent project implementation throughout the county. He also announced the continuation of the council’s town hall engagement tour, with Karluway Statutory District scheduled as the next destination this week.
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