By: Aminata Sesay
In the quiet town of Rokuprr, located in Kambia District, a once-promising symbol of development now lies in ruins. The Rokuprr Water Supply Facility originally constructed to serve over 50,000 residents has been abandoned for years, the result of neglect, mismanagement, and a glaring lack of political will.
On Friday, August 22, 2025, a Parliamentary Oversight Committee led by Hon. Abdul Karim Kamara (AKK), Chair of the Water Resources and Sanitation Committee, visited the derelict facility. What they found was alarming: missing equipment, vandalized infrastructure, and dense vegetation overtaking the site. Once built to deliver clean, treated water to thousands, the facility is now being used by locals to store palm kernels and agricultural produce.
“The equipment is gone, the site is unsecured, and the community has been left behind,” said Hon. Kamara, describing the facility as a “graveyard of broken promises.”
The issue is not with the facility’s design or capacity it lies in the absence of consistent funding, oversight, and maintenance. Engineers on-site confirmed that no operational funding had been received in years. The security guard assigned to the site reportedly went on leave and never returned, highlighting the larger pattern of neglect.
For the people of Rokuprr, the consequences are severe. With no access to treated water, residents are forced to rely on boreholes and nearby streams for drinking and sanitation. These unregulated sources pose serious health risks, contributing to outbreaks of typhoid, cholera, and dysentery. Children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable, and the financial strain of recurring illness burdens already struggling families.
Sadly, Rokuprr’s story is not unique it reflects wider systemic challenges in Sierra Leone’s water sector. Billions of Leones have been allocated to water infrastructure over the years, yet many communities remain without safe drinking water.
Hon. Kamara’s visit has sounded the alarm. But what’s needed now is more than acknowledgment it’s urgent, concrete action including immediate rehabilitation.
The Rokuprr Water Facility is salvageable. With swift intervention, transparent funding, and technical expertise, clean water could be restored in months. A full audit is necessary to trace previously allocated funds and identify where responsibility lies.
Restoration must include trained personnel, operational budgets, and community involvement to ensure long-term functionality.
Access to clean water is a basic human right, not a privilege. The government must move beyond rhetoric and fulfill its commitment to UN Sustainable Development Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation for all.
What happened in Rokuprr is a failure but it is not irreversible. The crumbling facility stands as both a reminder of neglect and a symbol of potential. With political will, community pressure, and coordinated efforts, it can once again serve its purpose bringing clean water, dignity, and hope to the people of Rokuprr. In 2025, no Sierra Leonean should have to drink from a stream.
