By: Saidu Jalloh
The Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation (MWRS), in collaboration with the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE) and the leadership of Fourah Bay College (FBC), has agreed to pursue a coordinated government-led approach to addressing the institution’s longstanding water supply challenges ahead of its Bicentenary celebrations in early 2027.
The commitment was reached during a courtesy visit by the Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie, and a delegation from Fourah Bay College to the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Dr. Sao-Kpato Hannah Isatta Macarthy. Discussions focused on developing practical and sustainable solutions to improve water security at one of Sierra Leone’s oldest and most prestigious higher learning institutions.
Presenting the college’s proposal, Dr. Wurie outlined an integrated water supply strategy that includes the rehabilitation of the existing Babadorie Dam, the construction of strategically located boreholes across the campus, and the development of water storage facilities to harvest rainfall for use during the dry season.
She explained that the proposed interventions would provide a reliable, year-round water supply for students, staff and the wider campus community.
“With the 200th anniversary approaching, we cannot have an institution that has existed for two centuries still struggling with something as fundamental as water supply,” Dr. Wurie said. “We believe this is an opportunity to resolve the issue once and for all.”
Responding to the proposal, Dr. Macarthy welcomed the delegation and reaffirmed her Ministry’s commitment to supporting a sustainable solution through a whole-of-government approach.
She noted that Fourah Bay College is a government institution and that its water challenges require coordinated efforts among relevant ministries and agencies rather than isolated interventions.
The Minister proposed that the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation collaborate with the Ministry of Finance to mobilize resources through one of its implementing agencies, while also positioning the initiative as a priority project in preparation for the university’s Bicentenary celebrations.
Dr. Macarthy emphasized that improving water supply at FBC would not only benefit students but also staff, their families and other residents within the campus community.
“This is something we can champion as a Ministry,” she said. “We simply need to be deliberate in working with our colleagues at the Ministry of Finance so that this becomes one of our priority projects.”
She added that the proposed interventions are aligned with the Government’s broader objective of strengthening water security through sustainable infrastructure development and institutional collaboration.
The meeting concluded with an agreement on several steps to move the proposal forward. These include a detailed technical assessment of the project by the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, the preparation of formal communication to the Ministry of Finance, and the organization of an inter-ministerial meeting involving MWRS, MTHE, the Ministry of Finance, Fourah Bay College and relevant technical agencies.
The stakeholders also agreed to maintain regular coordination meetings and utilize the technical expertise of Fourah Bay College, particularly its engineering department, during the design and supervision phases of the project.
Welcoming the commitment, representatives of Fourah Bay College described the initiative as a historic opportunity to address one of the institution’s oldest infrastructure challenges.
“For almost 200 years, this has remained a recurring challenge,” said Lecturer Patrick Walker, Asset Chairman of Fourah Bay College. “Today, we are taking practical steps to solve it. Future generations will remember that we addressed what many before us could not.”
The partnership is expected to pave the way for a lasting solution to FBC’s water challenges as the institution prepares to mark two centuries of academic excellence and service to Sierra Leone and beyond.