October 15, 2021
By Hafsatu Z Bangura
On the 14th of October 2021 at the Ministry of Information and Communications conference room the Minister of Water Resources Ing.Pillip Karimu gave an update on the medium term development plan for a clean, safe and sufficient water distribution by 2050.
Present at the press briefing was Minister of Water Resources, Deputy Minister of Water Resources Madam Nimatulai Bah Chang, Mr. Maada S Kpenge Managing Director MD, and Engineer Francis Moijueh Deputy Director Ministry of Water Resources.
In his opening statement he said before the present governing party the previous governing party did a Manifesto that they will do a number of things this was then later translated into the Medium Term Development Plan of the Ministry of Water Resources.
He said that the aim of the Ministry is to actualize President Bio’s dream to ensure that water is accessible all.
The Minister of Water Resources, Ing. Philip K. Lansana said his Ministry prioritizes water resources management and will therefore ensure the strongest support for the country’s water resources management.
He started off by indicating the Ministries Vision which is to have access to reliable and sustainable portable water and well managed water resources, ensure availability to users of which are domestic and other uses such as irrigation, hydro power, mining and tourism.
He pointed out that the mission for the Ministry is to provide strategic leadership for the sustainable management and development of water resources to enhance and show economic growth for the benefit of all Sierra Leonean households, commercial and industrial entities.
He said the mission and vison was carved out based on the Sustainable Development Goals(SDG)of which is a global target set of which the goal states that by 2030 access to pure and safe water will be universal to all and the medium term development plan will have specific indicators of which the key specific indicators is to increase access to water and establishment of clean and safe water for all from 59.6% to 80% in 2023 also percentage of population with access to an improved Water source increases from 69% to 85% by 2023 and percentage of access to unreliable and limited water services reduced from 24% to 7% by 2023.
The explained that the ministry`s mandate is to provide strategic focus and direction for the water sector to formulate policies, regulations and standards for the water sector, and to ensure that the public has reliable and safe drinking water supply which are properly managed.
He emphasized proper collaboration amongst water sector stakeholders and to advocate for support and increase funding to the water sector.
On the development plan the new direction manifesto highlighted some and was divided into two that is urban water, and rural water.
For the urban water we want to construct a new water Reservoir for Freetown and its immediate environs, to construct bore holes and water supply facilities in hard to reach urban western areas and further more to rehabilitate global networks in Freetown and construct stand pipes in deprive communities, to introduce flow meter and wastages in urban towns and to rehabilitate existing water dams and protect all water sheds areas against deforestations and other environmental problems in order to speed institutional and regulatory reforms of the sector especially at Guma Valley Water Company to improve on efficiency and cost recovery, to strengthen the governance structure of the guma valley water company the Minister stated.
He talked about the New Direction manifesto that mentioned about the construction of a new reservoir of which plans have been developed and discussions are at their final stages.
Construction of bore holes and gravity supply water facility to reach peril bound places in urban western area. The Guma valley and the Ministry 80% plans to involving the private sector for the provision of clean and affordable water ahead of 2023 are already concluded