The Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation (MOWRS) with funding from World Bank will be implementing 60 million dollar water project for both Western Area Rural and Western Urban Council respectively.
Giving an overview on Wednesday 9th April 2025, at the Waterloo Rural District Council Hall in Waterloo, Director in the Ministry of Water resources Ing. Augustin Tucker underscored the importance of the project. He noted that as country there is enough water but access to safe drinking water is very challenging due to poor functioning and nonfunctioning infrastructure.
He stated that close 40% of Sierra Leone still do not have access to safe drinking water. He said the sanitation aspect is the most lagging with 17% population not having access to basic sanitation services.
He pointed out that the project will support the country’s engagement to improve water resources management and access to WASH. He added that to increase access to water supply and sanitation services, there should be improves operational performance of the water.
He stated that one of the component “ Priority investment in Urban Water supply focuses on improving Gumma operational efficiency , implementation a set of no regret investment. This will increase access to public toilet with handwashing in schools, hospital, health centers, major market place and bus station.
In his capacity Representing the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, the Director also said the rational from the President to expand the mandate of the ministry to cover sanitation is a sectorial transaction cost related to the delivery of integrated WASH services from different institutional arrangement that have impacted negatively on the WASH sector.
He said the workshop is therefore a consultative process to get impute and feedback and endorsement of social issues. The process is to get frank discussion and better understating of environmental and social issues.
The Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation who doubles as Chairman of the program Raymond Komba said the workshop is to create inclusive participation of different affect group. He said it helps to understand and address issues relating to the design and promote transparency and accountability. The project also look at the challenges people face in hard to reach Areas, marginalized, and the most vulnerable group, citing out compliance of the procedures and standard as one the key issues.
In his statement, councilor Zakaria Kanu recalled that as a council proving public toilet has been part of their mandate. He called for inclusion and pledges support for any project coming to0 the council for development.
Other key partners also made positive contribution towards the project whilst representative of World Bank and other Donor Partners were in attendance
