By Ragan M. Conteh
In its continued effort to strengthen accountability and protect the country’s most vital natural resources, the Parliamentary Committee on Water Resources and Sanitation, chaired by the Opposition Chief Whip, Hon. Abdul Karim Kamara (AKK) has conducted an oversight visit to several Guma Valley Water Company facilities across Freetown and Waterloo.
Hon. Kamara underscored that the visit formed part of Parliament’s constitutional duty to monitor, review, and evaluate public institutions, ensuring that service delivery is effective, transparent, and compliant with national laws and standards.
The committee toured major Guma installations, including the Mile 13 and Regent Dams, as well as the Angola Town Treatment Center and Allen Town facilities.
At the Mile 13 Dam, MPs expressed grave concern over indiscriminate land grabbing and encroachment on protected forest areas.
They noted that individuals are cutting deep into the green belt, undermining the ecological balance that safeguards Freetown’s water supply.
Deputy Managing Director of Guma Valley, Engineer Prince Moore-Sourie, warned that unchecked encroachment could compromise the dam’s future. “If this threat is not addressed, we risk losing the dam,” he cautioned, stressing the dangers both to the water system and to settlers themselves.
Currently, the dam holds over 5 trillion cubic liters of water. Moore-Sourie emphasized the risks posed to people building massive houses in areas unsuitable and unsafe for habitation.
At the Angola Town Treatment Center, Engineer Mohamed Jusu also raised alarms about nearby settlements and reiterated the urgent need for relocation to protect water infrastructure.
As MPs call for action, Hon. AKK praised the resilience of Guma Valley in fending off land grabbers, but insisted stronger measures are required. “Our duty as Parliament is to hold individuals and institutions accountable, prevent abuse of resources, and ensure the people of Sierra Leone get value for money,” he stated.
He reminded journalists that effective oversight promotes transparency, trust, and good governance, which are cornerstones of a stable democracy. The committee’s findings, he said, will be presented in a detailed report to Parliament with concrete recommendations.
While commending Guma Valley for its ongoing work in difficult conditions, MPs strongly condemned the actions of encroachers destroying forest cover and threatening water facilities. They called it reckless and dangerous, not only to the dam but also to the very lives of those who chose to settle unlawfully around it.
“The Guma dams are not just reservoirs-they are lifelines for the people of Freetown,” Hon. Kamara stressed. “To jeopardize them is to jeopardize the health, safety, and future of our nation.”
The committee vowed to push for decisive action against encroachment, warning that Sierra Leone can not afford to lose its most critical water sources to greed and negligence.
