The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Dr. Isata Hannah Max-Kaine on Saturday 15th November 2025 commended the outgoing Director-General of the Sierra Leone Electricity and Water Regulation Commission (SLEWRC), Dr. Emmanuel Mannah for a work well done and for making a lot of strides during the seven years he headed the Commission, observed that he may have made mistakes, appealed to his successor to focus on the goals of the Commission noting that transition periods can be very difficult and encouraged all to be impartial and maintain fair play by working together as a firmly united team.
She made the statement at the handing over ceremony of the newly-appointed Director-General of the SLEWRC, Mr. Festus Kallay at the Commission’s 55 Berwick Street, headquarters in Freetown and wished the outgoing Managing Director well in his future endeavors.
The Minister further encouraged the new Managing Director to balance the two sectors of energy and water supply underscoring that she wants to see tangible impact of the work of the Commission as well as heightened public awareness of its work and activities and ensure that the Commission is working in the best interest of the people.
In his handing over statement, the outgoing Director-General, Dr. Emmanuel Mannah extended thanks and appreciation to His Excellency, President Julius Maada Bio for his appointment seven years ago asserting that in life one would not head an institution forever.
Dr. Mannah also recalled the struggle he went through to establish the office, that from five staff members, the SLEWRC now has 34 pin-coded staff members with five departments, asserted that he worked effectively with the board, reviewed the 2011 SLEWRC Act to 2025 that has attracted private sector participation, appointment of five commissioners of the board, established branches in Bo, Kenema, Port Loko and Makeni and revealed that from Le400,000, the Commission now has Le.4.5 million in its accounts.
According to the outgoing Director-General, government now pays the salaries of staff, that the SLEWRC’s major source of revenue is license fees, levies and fines imposed on companies under its mandate and from the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority and that assets include vehicles and eight motorcycles, technical equipment, a safe and seal.
He further informed that during his tenure, staff salaries were increased by 25% last year, commissioners enumerated, formed affiliations with various organizations like the World Bank and the European Union, established a Complaints Department, formulated 19 regulations, developed a standard template for regulations that has reduced impersonation of SLEWRC staff disclosing that there are now many private sector players in the industry like Independent Power Producers (IPPs).
Other successes Dr. Manneh highlighted are formulation of tariffs for the provision of electricity and water supply, establishment of the Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) Department and a SLEWRC website, conducted a cost of service study, rolled out of the multi-tier tariff and the new 2025 Act and Sanitation Regulations respectively and establishment of relations with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
On challenges, he revealed that two SLEWRC vehicles were stolen.
In his acceptance speech, the newly-appointed Director General, Mr. Festus Kallay said he is grateful to the President for his appointment and the confidence reposed in him, promised to build on the gains made, that transparency and accountability would be his watchwords, maintain true partnership and collaboration as well as team work, tap the expertise of his predecessor and that quality service would be key with the support of the Ministries of Energy and Water and Sanitation respectively.
Other topical issues that were highlighted were for SLEWRC to certify technicians in the electricity, water and sanitation sectors, need for the new Managing Director to always count on the board for advise and support, that the number one priority of the Commission should be quality service at affordable cost and that SLEWRC is unique for being supervised by two Miniseries.
Mr. Festus Kallay is a professional in Finance and Administration with over 18 years’ experience in strategic planning and resource management in the public and private sectors. Mr. Festus Kallay is passionate about the development of Sierra Leone and is also an Economic Policy Manager.
He holds a Master’s Degree in Economic Policy Management (Makerere University-Kampala, Uganda), a BSc in Economics from Fourah Bay College and a Certificate in City Leadership Initiative from Harvard Business School in the United States of
America. He is married with six children.
Earlier, Hon. Sama Sandy, Deputy Director General, SLEWRC introduced the chairman of the event who is also chairman of the Board of SLEWRC, Commissioner P.K. Lansana.
The vote of thanks was rendered by Desiremarg B. Augustine, the Head of Legal Affairs.
