The Minister of Water Resources,Ing. Philip K. Lansana, has described water resource management a priority to the Ministry and pledged his strongest support to manage the country’s water resources. He made this commitment when he visited the new National Water Resources Management Agency’s (NWRMA) office at kingharman Road on Thursday June 11, 2020 in Freetown. The Deputy Minister, Permanent Secretary and other Officials visited the Ministry accompanied by Minister Lansana on his visit.
The Philip Lansana in his statement said that said he was very impressed with the strides which had been taken, by the Agency to protect and properly manage the country’s water resources. He further said that since the agency had been created, so far the it has been very instrumental in the Ministry’s work “in establishing the fine lines of Water Resources Management.”
While Addressing the staff of the NWMRA he said “You have a very huge responsibility to protect our water resources, and we as a Ministry will give you all the support you need.”
The NWRMA Director-General, Junisa P. Bangali Esq., said the Agency is grateful for the confidence shown by the Ministry to its work. He admitted that in spite of their rough start, with support from the Ministry, the Millennium Challenge Corporation through the Millennium Challenge Coordinating Unit, UNICEF and other partners, they have found their footing, and are rising to the challenges. He briefed the Minister on the Western Area Water Catchment Assessment Exercise conducted early this year, and the monthly water quality tests regularly done along the Rokel River.
“The COVID19 pandemic has hugely impacted the Agency’s work, as many water users are not fully operational presently, but our work continues and some water users are regularizing their status with us,” he said. The National Water Resource Management Agency moved into its office space at Kingharman Road in May of this year, after being hosted by the Ministry’s Water Directorate for fourteen months.
The Agency (NWRMA) was formed by Act No. 5 of 2017. It formation had been recommended by the the National Water and Sanitation Policy of 2010. The Agency has broad functions of regulating, utilizing, protecting, developing, conserving, controlling, and managing water resources in Sierra Leone.
By Ibrahim S. Bangura
15/6/2020. ISSUE NO.: 7845