The Guma Valley Water Company and the senior management team of the National Investment Board (NIB) recently held their first collaboration meeting, a significant step towards supporting water supply projects in Sierra Leone’s Western Area. The purpose of the meeting, which took place on Thursday, February 22, at the Guma Building in Freetown, was to establish a strong collaboration between the two organisations to draw funding for important projects related to water supply.
The Deputy Executive Director of NIB, Fatima Mahawa Sandi, provided insight into the organization’s critical role in organising and promoting investment opportunities in Sierra Leone for the public and private sectors during the session. To improve transparency and efficiency in business registration, Sandi emphasised the NIB’s dedication to streamlining procedures and highlighted partnerships with important organisations like the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Unit and the Sierra Leone Investment and Export Promotion Agency (SLIEPA).
Guma Valley Water Company’s managing director, Ing. Maada S. Kpenge, emphasised the organization’s mission to supply clean, safe drinking water to the people of Freetown and the Western Area. Kpenge described the extensive Freetown WASH and Aquatic Environment Revamping Project as one of the ongoing initiatives to close the gap in water supply. In the short to medium term, this initiative aims to revitalise the aquatic environment in the region while upgrading the infrastructure related to water, sanitation, and hygiene.
In addition, Kpenge provided further details regarding the Freetown Water Supply and Sanitation Master Plan and Investment Studies, which are extensive strategic plans that cover the years 2023 through 2050. Through the building of dams and other important water infrastructure projects, this plan aims to improve access to clean water, improve sanitation facilities, and promote sustainable management of water resources. Guma Valley Water Company looks to the National Investment Board for assistance in obtaining funding to carry out these essential projects.
In addition to thanking the team for their efforts, Kpenge underlined how crucial it is for Guma Valley Water Company and the National Investment Board to work together to develop infrastructure projects that will improve communities and spur economic growth in Sierra Leone.
The Guma Valley Water Company and the National Investment Board’s partnership highlights a shared commitment to promoting sustainable development and improving the standard of living for the people of Sierra Leone and represents a major step towards addressing the country’s water supply challenges.
