Sierra Leone News: “I am hopeful, optimistic that Salone will get there,” MCC Chief Executive Officer

Business

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), Dana J. Hyde, toured water projects in the Dockyard and Moeba Community in the East end of Freetown, on the 22nd of October as she evaluated the delivery of water to businesses and homes. MCC is supporting key reforms at the water utility that aim to improve access to clean water for communities. Listening to testimonials at the water facility in Dockyard Community, Counsellor Ibrahim A. Kamara said, “The water facility is used by over 10,000 people. Before the installation of the facility, teen pregnancy was on the increase and we had a lot of water illnesses”. He said with the water facility, teenage pregnancy has been reduced and they hardly ever hear about diseases like cholera. School children and parents also thanked the MCC group and Ms. Hyde and expressed how grateful they were for the facility. Water is being sold to the community at Le100 per five-gallon container. Hyde was in Sierra Leone to meet with public and private sector partners who are advancing MCC’s $44.4 million grant-known as the MCC Threshold Program. The grant was signed in November 2015 between the U.S. Government’s MCC and Sierra Leone. Hyde said, “The MCC grant of $44.4 Million is aimed at the delivery of electricity and water, especially in Freetown, disclosing that it will strengthen public regulation and accountability, and it will create a framework for sustainable public and private investment in both of these sectors. While touring the Moeba Community, she was asked why the MCC is supporting the water and energy sector? Responding, Hyde said, “According to data, the lack of reliable access to energy and the lack of water supply is an impediment to the growth of the country,” adding, “those are the sectors that are unlocking economic growth in Sierra Leone”. The CEO of MCC said improvements to the energy sector means more students can study at night; hospitals can treat patients with better equipment, and businesses can grow and thrive. “The MCC has a number of really tough criteria for a country to be selected as eligible for an MCC assistance programme,” continued Hyde, “but I am encouraged by the progress Sierra Leone is making on the threshold programme itself”. She continued, Sierra Leone has more to do around some of the criteria. She concluded that they are impressed with the commitment, resilience, desire and effort of the government and the people of Sierra Leone. By Emmanuella Kallon Monday October 24, 2016

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