By Ragan M. Conteh
In a high-stakes oversight mission, Sierra Leone’s Parliamentary Committee on Water Resources and Sanitation, chaired by Opposition Chief Whip Hon. Abdul Karim Kamara (AKK), has raised red flags over rampant encroachment and deforestation threatening the Guma Valley Water Company’s infrastructure—particularly the Mile 13 and Regent Dams.
During a recent tour of Guma facilities across Freetown and Waterloo, MPs expressed grave concern over illegal settlements and land grabbing in protected forest zones. These activities, they warned, are undermining the ecological balance critical to Freetown’s water supply and placing the lives of settlers in jeopardy.
Guma Dam Under Siege
The Guma Dam, built in the early 1960s to serve approximately 300,000 residents, now supports over 1.2 million people—far beyond its original design capacity. It supplies over 90% of Freetown’s drinking water1. Yet, its survival is increasingly threatened by deforestation and urban sprawl.
Deputy Managing Director of Guma Valley, Engineer Prince Moore-Sourie, cautioned that unchecked encroachment could lead to catastrophic failure. “If this threat is not addressed, we risk losing the dam,” he warned. The dam currently holds over 5 trillion cubic liters of water, and its surrounding forest acts as a vital watershed.
Deforestation: A Growing Crisis
Reports indicate that deforestation rates in Sierra Leone have surged. The Western Area Peninsula Forest Reserve, which serves as the catchment for Guma Valley, has lost over 4,000 hectares of tree cover due to unregulated human activity2. This environmental degradation increases the risk of landslides, flooding, and water scarcity.
In a recent incident, land grabbers set fire to vegetation near the dam embankment, further endangering the infrastructure. Such acts not only compromise water security but also pose serious threats to public health and safety.
Government Inaction and Accountability
Despite existing legal frameworks to protect forest reserves, enforcement has been weak. Hon. Kamara emphasized Parliament’s constitutional duty to hold institutions and individuals accountable. “Our duty is to prevent abuse of resources and ensure the people of Sierra Leone get value for money,” he stated.
MPs condemned the encroachers’ actions as reckless and dangerous, calling for urgent relocation of unlawful settlers and stronger protective measures. The committee pledged to present a detailed report to Parliament with concrete recommendations.
“The Guma dams are not just reservoirs—they are lifelines for the people of Freetown,” Hon. Kamara declared. “To jeopardize them is to jeopardize the health, safety, and future of our nation.”
As Sierra Leone faces mounting environmental challenges, the Parliamentary Committee’s visit serves as a stark reminder: without decisive action, the country risks losing its most critical water source to greed, negligence, and governmental failure.