Princetta Williams reports from Bo

Funded by the African Development Bank ADB, the three-town water supply and sanitation project supervision mission aims to provide pure water and sanitation in Bo, Kenema and Makeni.

The project initially was to be completed within 16 months but according to the Managing Director of the construction company Chima Henan Intermatiomal Cooperation Group Company Ltd, Wan Gi, the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak affected the project to such an extent that it was stopped at a point.

Since the EVD outbreak was official declared over about a fortnight ago, the company says it is now working to have the project completed by March.

Sandy Jambawai, Social Sector at the ADB said as a bank, they are impressed with the implementation of the project. He said they are aware of the impact of the EVD on the project; but noted that they are optimistic of having it completed at the promised deadline. He urged SALWACO to be implementing projects correctly, as that he said will cause them to gain more support.

SALWACO Director General Samuel Bangura said that as a company, they are happy that the ADB decided to support the water sector in the country; adding that they have been the only unit to have spent almost a hundred million United States dollars in the water sector.

He explained that they are aware of the importance of water “and that is why we are working as expected by the Government of Sierra Leone and the ADB”, Mr Bangura said. He described the loss of some properties by property affected owners as a sacrifice for the development of the country and reminded that company paid compensation to those affected.

Head of the Parliamentary Committee on Water Resources Honourable Sualiho Koroma expressed concern over the sustainability of the project; noting that water is a very essential commodity and pledged Parliament’s commitment in ensuring proper monitoring and supervision is done on works or project undertaken by SALWACO.