CHICO receives the Angola Town Project Site from Guma.

Guma Hands Over Angola Town Project Site to CHICO

The Guma valley Water Company in collaboration with the Office of the Chief Minister and Ministry of Water Resources has on Thursday 19th May, 2022 handed over the project site for the construction of the Angola Town Water Supply System to China Henan International Corporation Group (CHICO) at a ceremony held at Angola Town witnessed by stakeholders.

Ing. Francis Lahai, Deputy Managing Director of Guma Valley Water Company who chaired the ceremony said the construction of a water supply system in Angola Town “is welcome news” and hoped that the contractor will complete the works on the stipulated date stated for the contract implementation.

The Deputy Managing Director said the project will construct a Treatment Plant with a capacity of 2500 cubic meters and a 25-kilometer distribution network which on completion will improve on access to water supply in Angola Town, Adonkia, Ogoo Farm, and Lakka Communities. He strongly encouraged the contractor to employ local labor during the implementation of the project to create a sense of ownership.

The Managing Director of Guma Valley Water Company, Ing. Maada Kpenge in his statement informed the gathering that water supply is central to the human capital development agenda of the Government; and that Guma have been task with the responsibility of ensuring that 75% of residents of the Western Area have access to water supply by 2023 and universal access by 2028.

Ing. Kpenge commended the Kuwaiti Development Fund for providing US$10 million for the implementation of the project under the Freetown WASH and Aquatic Environment Revamping Project which aims at contributing 15% increase in access to safe water supply and 7% increase in improved sanitation in the Western Area. He called on community members and stakeholders to ensure that the project is successfully implemented for the benefit of the greater good.

Ing. Augustine Tucker, Director of Water at the Ministry of Water Resources and Ing. Monica Morrison-Kamara of the Office of the Chief Minister reiterated Government’s commitment to the provision of adequate potable water supply for the people of Sierra Leone. They called on the people of Angola Town and the surrounding communities to cooperate for the successful implementation of the project. 

In his statement, the Local Unit Commander at the Adonkia Police Station, Commissioner Abu Bakarr Kallon assured the project of the Sierra Leone Police fullest support and encouraged residents of Angola Town to be law abiding. He advised them to channel all grievances through lawful and appropriate mechanisms for peaceful resolution.

Jeffrey L. Kabia (Head Man Adonkia), Foday Tucker (Head Man Lakka), Ashmie Cole (Dep. Head Man Ogoo Farm), Chief Dumbuya (Angola Town), George Sesay (Dep. Head Man Hamilton), Councillor Bai D. Kabia of Ward 389 and other stakeholders pledged their support to the success of the project.

The Managing Director for the China Henan International Corporation Group (CHICO) Kong Weikong said his company is a world renowned specialized company that works on water supply, roads, bridges, hydro dams and other civil works. He added that they have previously worked on water supply projects in Kenema, Kono, Kabala and Kailahun. He thanked the Government and Guma for the confidence reposed in the company and promised to complete the project according to the contract agreement with high quality standard.

The ceremony was climaxed with the symbolic handing over of the project site by the Community Stakeholders to the representatives from the Ministry of Water Resources and the Office of the Chief Minister, who in turn handed over the project site to Guma Valley Water Company and the Contractor - China Henan International Corporation Group (CHICO).

©Guma Communications Unit