By: Marian Magdalene Bangura
The Civic Day Series USA Edition, organized by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education (MoICE), concluded on a high note with a groundbreaking announcement from the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation.
At the event, Engineer Amara Kallon, Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, unveiled the implementation of two major water projects aimed at improving access to clean and safe drinking water for Sierra Leoneans, both in Freetown and across other regions of the country.
The first project, the Freetown WASH and Aquatic Environment Revamping Project, is currently 65% complete and, once finished, will benefit over one million people. The second project, the Sierra Leone Water Security and WASH Access Improvement Project, is a $180 million grant from the World Bank aimed at providing clean water to five million people nationwide. The announcement was met with joy by the audience, especially by members of the diaspora, who have shown a strong interest in supporting sustainable development efforts in Sierra Leone.
In his remarks, Engineer Kallon emphasized that these projects align with the government’s broader agenda to enhance public health, improve sanitation, and reduce the burden on communities facing challenges due to limited water supply. He assured Sierra Leoneans that these initiatives will not only benefit urban areas like Freetown but also extend to rural communities throughout the country.
The announcement added significant weight to the Civic Day Series, which has been championed by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education as a platform to “bring government closer to the people, both at home and abroad.” The series continues to provide a space for Sierra Leoneans in the diaspora to engage directly with government officials, voice concerns, and contribute ideas toward the country’s development.
Attendees at the event praised the initiative and welcomed the water projects as both timely and impactful, noting that access to safe water remains one of Sierra Leone’s most pressing challenges.
With this commitment, the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation reassured Sierra Leoneans of the government’s determination to deliver tangible development outcomes that improve lives across the country.