April 30, 2021
By SALWACO Communications Unit
In a way to showcase the good work of the Company, the Managing Director of SALWACO, Ing. George Lamin Vandi on Wednesday presented SALWACO 2020 Annual Report to the Minister of Water Resources, Ing. Philip Karimu Lansana.
The presentation was done in the presence of the Deputy Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Nimatulai Bah-Chang, SALWACO Board Chairman, Ing. Mohamed Alieu Jalloh, Parliamentary Oversight Committee Chairman on Water Hon. Lahai Marrah, SALWACO Board Member Mr. Ansumana Soko, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Water Resources, Mr. A.K Kondeh and the NWRMA Director General, Mr. Junisa Bangalie among others.
The presentation ceremony was held at the Ministry of Water Resources Conference Room, Kuku Drive, Off Jomo Kenyatta Road, Freetown.
Setting the Stage, the Deputy Managing Director of SALWACO, Mr Albert Harrison Harvey called on all and sundry to do individual prayers in one’s own creed and also called on members of SALWACO to introduce themselves whilst he introduced dignitaries in the Water sector.
He stated that this is the first time SALWACO is presenting a report to the Ministry and therefore his Boss will summarize the 170 pages report to the Minister of Water Resources and the group
Presenting the Report, the hardworking and dedicated MD an engineer who also doubles as a Procurement Specialist, Ing. George Lamin Vandi stated that he will summarize the Report so that the Ministry will know what is written in the Report.
He continued that the Report was put together by the Management of SALWACO and particularly showered praises on Ing. Sahr Augustine Sinah who systematically and neatly put together the report and who also served as the lead writer of the Report. This kind of work would have caused the company some thousands of dollars should an expert consultancy were hired. Bravo to Ing. Sinnah for this sound local content.
According to him, the Report is to fulfill the legislative requirement of the SALWACO Act of 2001 and 2017 section 41 which made provision for the Company to present an annual report to the Minister every year for forward tabling to Parliament by the Minister.
Ing.Vandi stated that the Report contained highlights of the company”s challenges, ongoing and future projects to be undertaken with recommendations as to how SALWACO will immensely continue to provide sustainable and quality water supply within the provincial townships.
He stated that they are currently having over 600 Kilometer distribution network and there are still challenges along the supply of Water.
Ing. Vandi reiterated that for year under review the Company supplied 1’250,000 cubic meter of portable water.
He intimated the group that the Company was grappling with billing. “Our billing efficiency is very low the tariff is low too. So we are working on establishing an electronic reporting system”. He appealed to Minister and Chairman to talk to EWRC to look into the tariff for water.
He said that the company intends to improve on the existing water facilities and the water quality system as plans are currently under way to own an Engineering Studio.
MD Vandi commended his staff both at Head Quarter and in Provinces. He referred to them as colleagues and he said SALWACO is practicing decentralization and as such Station Engineers will now be project Engineers for any project being undertaken in their location.
Ing. Vandi appealed to the powers in the water sector to advocate to the Ministry of Finance for increase in budget allocation and timely disbursement so that effective work will be done.
MD said that there were few recommendations although the problems were numerous. He said that when the road is bumpy people don’t talk much but the tiniest particle in water will create much alarm. He therefore called on his superiors to advocate for more government attention to the water sector.
In his Keynote Address, the Minister of Water Resources, Ing. Philip Karimu Lansana lauded SALWACO Management for the great moves shown to the importance of the Report which is a guide way to achieve the water constraints within the provincial townships.
He opined that the report is to ensure that government delivers accordingly through the recommendations and commended SALWACO for working towards the Ministry’s target and the New Direction objectives.
The Minister talked about decentralization too noting that the spaces created on the new Organogram especially for Directors be filled when it is approved by the Board.
Minister Lansana assured the group that he will go through the report and definitely lay it in Paliament.
Parliamentary Oversight committee Chairman on Water, Hon. Lahai Marrah commended SALWACO for this report, adding that it has all the required information on their operations noting that they will be waiting to receive the report. He also assured the Company of their uttermost support.
SALWACO Board Chairman Ing. Mohamed Alieu Jalloh also reiterated in commending the leadership and management for such professional work done in taking the goal of the company ahead.
Chairman said that in his life this is the first time this Company has produced and annual report.
He also made mentioned of the challenges and recommendations made in the reports. He therefore called on the Parliamentary Oversight Committee Chairman to help in solving the challenges in the water sector.
The presentation ceremony was chaired by the Senior Permanent Secretary, Mr. A.K Kondeh at the Ministry of Water Resources. He expressed great delight in such a comprehensive report.