Members of Parliament (MPS), yesterday, 25 April 2017, unanimously approved the additional loan agreement for the improvement of access to adequate, safe and reliable water and sanitation in Makeni, Kenema and Bo.
The also approved the loan agreement on the improvement project of the Tokeh-Lumley Road project to link the western part of Western Area with the provincial town through the peninsular axis.
The additional loan agreement for the three water projects is between the Government of Sierra Leone and the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID), while the improvement loan agreement for the Tokeh-Lumley Road is between the Government of Sierra Leone and the Kuwait fund for Arab Economic Development.
Presenting the two agreements before MPs for debate and possible ratification, the Deputy Minister of Finance, Momoh Vandy, disclosed that OFID co-financed the original three water supplies and sanitation project in the sum of $19 million USD with the African Development Bank providing $41 million USD.
He disclosed that the objective was to provide improved access to adequate, safe and reliable water supply and public sanitation services in Bo, Makeni and Kenema and to also enhance the institutional, operational and management capacity of the executing agency, SALWACO.
He furthered that despite the attainment of about 184 kilometres of distribution network of water supply systems in the three cities, there are still large areas that are not covered by a distribution system due to increases of population.
Expansion of 3.36 kilometres tertiary water distribution network, construction of two booster pumping stations, 2 reservoirs and a distribution network to cover high level areas in Bo and Makeni, development of the recently discovered additional water source in Makeni are among the objectives of the project.
Speaking on the purpose of the Tokeh-Lumley Road project, the Deputy Minister maintained is to enhance the economic and social development of the country by connecting Freetown to other provincial towns through the peninsula.
He disclosed that 70% of the road project has been completed as pavement up to No. 2 River is under control with interruption due to the construction of the bridge after Hamilton.
Making his contribution in the debate, Hon. Sualiho Koroma, expressed thanks and appreciation to the past and present governments (SLPP and APC respectively) for their contributions in providing water facilities in the three cities as the project started decades ago.
He maintained that the Committee of Water Resources did so many observations during their oversight visit that have resulted to the additional loan for the improvement of the water projects in the three cities.
Speaking on the Tokeh-Lumley Road project, Hon. Dauda Kallon, covering that Constituency where the project is being implemented, expressed thanks and appreciation to the government and donor partners for making the funds available for the completion of the project.
He disclosed that for years now residents along that rout have been suffering as a result of bad road network, disclosing that the people have been finding it very difficult to associate with other communities’ people as a result of their dusty conditions.
According to him the road project will attracted more people to construct dwelling houses and also make it very easy for movement along the peninsular which is very short in terms of linking Freetown to the provinces.
Both the Majority and Minority leaders of the House supported the speedy approval of the two loan agreements.
By Alhaji M. Kamara
Wednesday April 26, 2017.
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