By Fatima Kpaka
Freetown, Sierra Leone – January 30, 2026 – The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) has convened the first Inter-Pillar Coordination Group (IPCG) meeting of the year, bringing together the Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency (SLMeT), the Guma Valley Water Company (GVWC), and other partners to strengthen collaboration on disaster preparedness, risk reduction, and response.
The IPCG serves as a vital platform for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), national and international NGOs, and other stakeholders to share risk information, align interventions, and avoid duplication of efforts. It promotes joint planning, early warning coordination, resource mobilisation, and collective decision-making to enhance national resilience and ensure a more coherent disaster response system.
Opening the meeting, NDMA Director General Mr. John V. Rogers reflected on the challenges of 2025 and expressed gratitude to partners for their continued support. He announced that in 2026, NDMA will prioritise disaster risk assessment and monitoring, with district-level contingency plans set for review to improve preparedness.
Mr. Rogers reaffirmed that a 72-hour minimum standard response time remains central to effective disaster management. He also disclosed plans to establish a structured training and capacity-building framework with partners to strengthen disaster management skills nationwide.
Highlighting inclusivity, Mr. Rogers stressed that NDMA operations integrate gender considerations and pay special attention to vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.
He further raised concerns over poor waste management, linking recurrent flooding in Freetown to indiscriminate garbage dumping. NDMA, he said, is working with the Freetown City Council to address the issue, while condemning roadside garages that spill oil onto streets and increase environmental risks.
Deputy Director General of SLMeT, Mr. Gabriel Kpaka, outlined the agency’s mandate to collect, analyse, and disseminate weather data in line with global standards. He acknowledged challenges faced by end-users in interpreting meteorological information and revealed that SLMeT has developed a home-grown machine-learning forecasting system.
Mr. Kpaka emphasised that expert judgement remains crucial for accurate forecasting and announced plans to issue regular weather bulletins and targeted advisories, particularly for the transport sector, including aviation and marine operators.
GVWC Managing Director Mr. Marina Kallon raised alarm over encroachment and rapid population growth, disclosing that 290 houses have been built on water transmission pipelines. He cited the demolition of a two-storey building in Mambo Community, which led to the loss of 49,000 cubic metres of water during emergency repairs.
Mr. Kallon also revealed that the US$5 million Angola Dam has been heavily encroached upon, commending NDMA for its leadership and support in addressing the issue.
Participants resolved that GVWC, in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands, NDMA, and other institutions, will intensify efforts to survey, document, and demarcate water transmission pipelines and catchment areas. They also agreed to tackle existing encroachments and prevent further illegal construction on critical water infrastructure.
Institutions will continue coordination through the inter-agency committee to review enforcement actions, including demolitions where necessary, and strengthen accountability over Right of Way and greenbelt protection.
The meeting further underscored the need for NDMA and partners to clearly define institutional roles in disaster risk management, improve knowledge sharing, and raise public awareness. NDMA, SLMeT, and partners also committed to enhancing early warning dissemination through regular bulletins, advisories, and improved communication channels.
Mr. Rogers reaffirmed NDMA’s commitment to sustained coordination, proactive risk reduction, and collective responsibility. He stressed that protecting critical infrastructure and environmental assets is essential to safeguarding lives and livelihoods across Sierra Leone.