By Aminata Phidelia Allie
Minister of Water Resources, Hon. Momodu Maligie, has stated that his ministry has completed far more projects since 2002.
He made this statement whiles speaking at the confirmation ceremony of the Sierra Leone Water Company’s (SALWACO), new Director General, last Friday in Freetown.
He said between 2002 and 2007President Ernest Bai Koroma, with help from donor partners “poured lots of money into the water sector. But by 2012, most of the projects were still incomplete and stale due to lack of proper monitoring, managerial issues and operational inefficiencies”.
However, he said, with strategic planning meetings with the new DG, “all the staled projects we inherited have been successfully completed”. Amongst completed projects he outlined were the Mile 91-Yonibala project, which he said had been resuscitated, completed and were awaiting commissioning by the president.
“The Lungi water supply project, the Lunsar water supply project, the Kailahun water project the supply of pipe borne water for twenty-four communities between Hastings and Masiakawhich have never had that facility before”, he said.
The newly appointed DG, Samuel Bangura, also identified the Kabala water system, the Kossoh Town water supply scheme and the Bo, Makeni and Kenema water supply and sanitation projects amongst their success stories.
Mr. Bangura explained that the company, with his leadership, the government, and with funds from the African Development Bank, had launched the Rural Water and Sanitation Project (RWSP) for which they company were commended.
“Within nine months we have been able to restore the company’s corporate image through improved service delivery, installed an intercom system and internet facility for all staff and renovated the administrative building and fenced SALWACO’s compound with a first class reception with a face-lift in the working environment to give the corporate outlook required of a modern entity”, Bangura said.
(C) Politico 18/03/14
