The Chief of Staff of the ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Abdou Kolley, has launched a US$400,000 autonomous solar-powered water supply project that is expected to benefit about 90,000 people in vulnerable communities, particularly Ginger Hall and surrounding areas in the eastern end of Freetown.
The project, which comprises a borehole, an elevated water tank and multiple water distribution points powered entirely by solar energy, is designed to provide a sustainable supply of clean and safe drinking water while easing the burden on residents, especially women and children, who often travel long distances in search of water.
Launching the project, Mr. Kolley said the initiative forms part of a special ECOWAS programme being implemented through the ECOWAS Water Resources Management Centre to improve access to potable water in vulnerable communities across the sub-region.
Describing water as life, he noted that despite progress made over the years, many people in the ECOWAS region still lack access to affordable, clean and safe drinking water.
“This is not merely a statistic,” he said. “It reflects the daily reality of thousands of people who walk long distances to remote water sources, losing valuable productive time while placing a heavy burden on women and children.”
Mr. Kolley explained that the project seeks to address those challenges by expanding access to safe and reliable drinking water in ECOWAS member states.
He disclosed that Sierra Leone will benefit from the construction of 15 autonomous solar-powered water stations, serving an estimated 90,000 people in vulnerable communities.
According to him, the first phase of the project is being implemented in Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.
He commended the Government of Sierra Leone, particularly the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, for its commitment and collaboration in making the project possible.
Mr. Kolley urged residents of the beneficiary communities to take ownership of the facilities by ensuring their proper maintenance to guarantee their long-term sustainability.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Mr. Alie Bakarr Conteh, described the launch as a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to improve access to safe drinking water.
He thanked the ECOWAS Commission for its timely intervention, noting that the project demonstrates the strength of the partnership between ECOWAS and the Government of Sierra Leone in addressing water challenges.
Mr. Conteh said access to safe drinking water is a fundamental human right and a critical requirement for public health, education and economic development.
He observed that many rural and underserved communities across Sierra Leone continue to experience serious challenges in accessing clean and safe drinking water.
According to him, the project will reduce the burden on women and children who travel long distances to fetch water while also helping to prevent water-borne diseases.
He called on beneficiaries to protect and properly maintain the facilities, stressing that community ownership is essential to ensuring the project’s sustainability.
Representatives of youth and women’s groups also expressed appreciation to the ECOWAS Commission and the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation for what they described as a timely and life-changing intervention.
They pledged to take good care of the facilities and work together to ensure the project delivers lasting benefits for present and future generations
