By Sulaiman Aruna Sesay
In a shocking revelation by the Acting Managing Director, Prince Thomas Sorie of Guma Valley Water Company accused the Sierra Leone Police and the Sierra Leone National Fire force of water theft. The accusations were made in a Public Account Committee hearing held on Thursday 27 June 2024, where the Acting Managing Director General of Guma appeared before the committee to answer questions relating the Auditor’s General Report 2021/2022.
According to him, both Institutions have been failed to pay their water bills and using illegal means of accessing water from Guma’s main pipelines that were installed to provide drinking water to the public. The MD assured he has evidences to the effect.
The chairman of PAC doubles to be the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh said, Parliament is the only Institution that is paying their water rates regularly. According to him parliament do not have any liability. He added that they have liability that is very small and they are settling it no soon as they received money. He explained that people are deliberately not paying. He said, the police have integrity and that is why they are called force for good and if they failed to pay, the committee will call the highest authority.
With the issue of paying water rates remain to be an old ways, PAC has urged Guma Valley Water Company to collect all Institutions and private companies owing them for the issue to be resolved. The chairman of the committee threatens to block all accounts own by the Sierra Leone Guma Valley Water Company if they failed to collect water rates.
