By Nasratu Kargbo
The Chairman for Water Resources Committee in Parliament Lahai Marah has during the ratification of the agreement between the government of Sierra Leone and Grafton Investment Company, said that 85% of sachet water produced in the country lack purity and unfit for consumption. He also described the industry as “chaotic”.
He explained that the committee during its usual monitoring observed that most of these water companies are hosted in unhygienic surroundings. Marah made mention of a certain community that he described as filthy and hosting over fourteen water companies. “They are all fetching water using their bare hands and buckets and then process it. They are not meeting the requirement”, the MP said.
Marah also mentioned other unhygienic places in Bo, Makeni and Grafton that he said are in a very bad state.
Emphasizing on the chaotic state of the industry, Marah said the industry is not controlled properly with most companies producing water randomly without going through the procedures or meeting the standards, whilst others are not even registered.
Marrah made reference to statistics given by Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC) and Standards Bureau about only one hundred and fifty recognized water producing companies in the country, though he said the union in the sector would give a figure of some six hundred water companies in existence. He further explained that Standards Bureau has fifty companies that meet the standard.
He noted that there are few companies who met the requirements, and went through all necessary procedures, though majority of them are not going through the regulatory process. Marah explained some companies have only one machine and location where they produce water and blamed EWRC for not doing much.
When asked what the committee has done to solve the issue, the chairman said the committee has advised EWRC to collaborate with the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) to effect arrest and close down all illegal water companies.
He warned the new company emerging from Grafton to make sure they meet the standards and follow the procedures.
The Chairman further stated that he has called on the Minister of Water Resources to create a special Water Management Commission that will manage all water issues, noting that EWRC are more concentrated on the electricity aspect than water.
Speaker of Parliament Chernor Abass Bundu acknowledged that the issue is a serious one and that it is a matter of public interest. He said he has observed that most people who got sick with malaria ended up being diagnosed with Typhoid (water borne disease) as well.
He instructed the Chairman together with the leadership in parliament to summon all water producing companies, to “engage them in series of meetings to find out exactly what the problem is”.
Deputy Chairman of Trade Committee Charles Abdulai commended the government for the agreement between Grafton Investment that will create revenue and employment amongst many other things. He advised the new company to make sure that they handle all risk related issues well in order to avoid problem.
Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Isata Abdulai said their ministry will make sure that trade monitors will from time to time inspect the company.
The agreement between the government of Sierra Leone and Grafton Investment was ratified in parliament on the 15th March 2022. 25 million dollars is to be spent in resuscitating and expanding the company that would include the production of other drinks apart from water.
Copyright © 2022 Politico Online (17/03/22)
