Placards commending the government for the dissolution of the Guma Valley Water Company (GVWC) board and the appointment of Ibrahim Wilson as General Manager yesterday greeted the Electricity House in a street-like carnival.
It seems like Mr Wilson’s appointment has scored another mark at the Energy and Power ministry’s score sheet, added to the already commendation of the ministry’s provision of appreciable power supply.
The new General Manager looking elegant in black suit, white shirt and silk blue designer’s tie, stood at the Electricity House portico to address the euphoric rabble.
In his statement he said, “I am a man for the grassroots people; we are going to change Guma Valley around.”
Mr Wilson thanked the Energy and Power minister who, “is a woman of vision. If it were not for her I should have gone a long time ago,” he noted, adding that, “but she encouraged me to hold on, pointing out that she had a job for me. Indeed she got me this job so I’m going to work to the best of my ability”.
Mr Wilson accentuated that, “Let’s forget about the past, God has brought the correct management to change GVWC.”
The new GM assured workers that, “this new management is going to provide water to Freetown and it’s environs and Sierra Leone is going to move forward.”
Speaking to Awoko later at his fourth floor office at the Guma building, Mr Wilson said, “my background is on energy, water, and the environment, and I see my appointment as very critical being that we have brought the meaningful change that all of us were looking for in this country. I’ll try to do my best and make things work.”
Mr Wilson continued, “it is only in this country that people want to use public utilities and do not want to pay for them. One of the things I am emphasizing here is that we have to pay for what we use and the company is doing its best to maximize revenue collection, in addition to the fact that we will be providing better service in the long run. It is not an easy task to overcome”.
Addressing the jubilant crowd earlier, the minister of Energy and Power Haja Afsatu Kabbah said, “I’m very appreciative to know that all of you came out as early as 9 am to show your appreciation for our new appointment”. The Energy and Power minister stated that the reason for her delay was that she had a meeting with the president at State House followed by the African Development Bank (ADB) mission meeting at the ministry of Finance. Haja Kamara thanked workers of GVWC for the peaceful demonstration they undertook without holding back their services. “This is how a good workforce should behave. This is what is called good governance,” she said. “You made your demonstration peacefully, and highlighted your constraints which we have already beginning to address,” the minister averred.