A high-level delegation from the African Development Bank (AfDB), led by Dr. Abdul Kamara, Acting Vice President for Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery, on Monday, 20th July 2026, visited the Guma Valley Water Company (GVWC) Babadorie Raw Water Storage Facility at Regent to inspect the progress of the Freetown Water Supply and Aquatic Environment Revamping Project (WASHAERP).
The visit provided the delegation with an opportunity to assess the successful rehabilitation and expansion of the ageing raw water storage infrastructure, engage with project engineers and management, and appreciate the anticipated impact of the investment on water security in Greater Freetown.
During the visit, the Managing Director of Guma Valley Water Company, Ing. Mariwan Kallon, welcomed the delegation and expressed profound appreciation to the African Development Bank and its development partners for their continued investment in Sierra Leone’s water sector.
“Your presence here today demonstrates the African Development Bank’s commitment to improving the lives of our people. We hope you will not only see the infrastructure but also appreciate the profound impact it will have on economic development, sanitation, public health and the overall quality of life of our communities,” he stated.
He described the project as a transformative intervention that will significantly improve the lives of residents in Freetown, particularly those living in the mountain communities that have historically experienced acute water shortages during the dry season.
The Managing Director explained that before the project, Guma Valley Water Company was constrained by limited raw water storage capacity, resulting in severe water rationing during the dry season despite the abundance of rainfall during the wet season.
He noted that the completion of the rehabilitation works have substantially reduce the impact of seasonal water shortages, particularly for communities such as Regent, Babadorie, Gloucester, Leicester, IMATT and part of Hill Station.
The Freetown Water Supply and Aquatic Environment Revamping Project, financed by the African Development Bank at a cost of more than US$7 million for this component, has rehabilitated the existing raw water circular reservoir, increasing its storage capacity from 60,000 cubic metres to 72,000 cubic metres, while constructing nine new steel raw water storage tanks with a combined capacity of 60,000 cubic metres.
The project has increased the total raw water storage capacity at the Babadorie Facility to approximately 132,000 cubic metres, providing a more reliable water supply to an estimated 90,000 residents in the mountain communities of the Western Area.
Speaking after touring the facility, Dr. Abdul Kamara praised the quality of work undertaken by Guma Valley Water Company and reaffirmed the African Development Bank’s commitment to supporting Sierra Leone’s water sector.
He described access to safe drinking water as a fundamental human right and emphasized that investments in water and sanitation remain a priority for the Bank’s development agenda.
“Water is life. Access to safe water is a basic human right, and I am very pleased to witness the significant progress made under this project. This investment demonstrates what can be achieved through strong partnerships between Government, development partners and implementing institutions,” he said.
Dr. Kamara observed that while the project has significantly increased the capacity to capture and store raw water, additional investments would be required to expand water treatment capacity in order to maximize the benefits of the new infrastructure.
“We have substantially increased the capacity to capture and store water, but we have also identified the need to strengthen treatment capacity so that the full benefits of these investments can be realised. This is a conversation we will continue with Government as we explore future financing opportunities,” he noted.
He further commended the Government of Sierra Leone for demonstrating strong leadership and commitment in implementing critical infrastructure projects that directly improve the lives of citizens.
Community representatives, who participated in the visit, including Mr. Joseph Bangura, Headman of Regent Village, expressed profound appreciation to the African Development Bank and Guma Valley Water Company for what they described as a transformative investment that will significantly improve water security and the quality of life for thousands of residents in the beneficiary communities.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiary communities, Councillor Mendi Bangura, Chairman of the Water Resources Committee – WARD C, reflected on the years of hardship endured during the dry season, when women and children were forced to travel long distances in search of water, exposing themselves to health risks while disrupting education, livelihoods, and daily life. He described the project as a transformative intervention that will significantly improve access to safe and reliable water, enhance public health, and restore dignity to thousands of residents in the affected communities.
He said the project would help eliminate persistent water shortages, improve sanitation, reduce waterborne diseases and restore dignity to thousands of residents.
“For many years our communities suffered from water scarcity. Women and children walked long distances to fetch water, and outbreaks of cholera, diarrhoea and other waterborne diseases were common. Today we are witnessing a project that gives us hope for a healthier and better future,” he said.
The inspection formed part of the African Development Bank delegation’s broader engagement with the Government of Sierra Leone and implementing agencies to monitor the progress of Bank-financed projects and strengthen collaboration on future investments in water, sanitation and other strategic infrastructure.
The Babadorie Raw Water Storage Facility is one of the flagship components of the Freetown Water Supply and Aquatic Environment Revamping Project (WASHAERP), which also includes the rehabilitation of water infrastructure, transmission pipelines and distribution improvements aimed at enhancing water supply reliability across the Western Area.
With the completion of the expanded raw water storage facilities, Guma Valley Water Company expects a significant reduction in dry-season water rationing, bringing improved access to safe, reliable and sustainable water services to thousands of households in the Mountain communities and supporting the Government’s broader agenda of strengthening water security and improving public health in the country.
