By Forum staff Writer
The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED), through its Directorate of NGO Affairs, has intervened in a dispute over access to a community water well in Calaba Town, leading to the formal handover of the facility to residents.
The handover took place on Friday, September 18, 2026, at Alpha Terrace, K Step, Calaba Town, following a stakeholder engagement led by the Director of NGO Affairs, Eric Masallay.
The intervention followed complaints from residents over restrictions on their access to the water facility, which they said had created difficulties for households relying on the well for domestic use.
The well was constructed with support from World Changing Center Charity Organization, owned by Bernice Langley, after a community assessment identified water access as a major need. A member of the community later provided land for the construction of the facility.
However, disagreements later developed between residents and the charity over the management and use of the well. The dispute eventually resulted in restrictions on access, with community members saying women and children were sometimes forced to travel long distances in search of water.
During the stakeholder meeting, residents and community leaders outlined the history of the dispute and welcomed the Ministry’s intervention. They expressed hope that the handover would restore regular access and prevent similar disagreements.
Chairman of Calaba Town, Jebbrey Kamara, spoke about the challenges residents had faced and thanked the Ministry for helping to resolve the matter.
Chief Adviser of APPC Calaba Town, Chief Pa Alimamy H. Kamara, called for peace, responsible management and community ownership of the facility.
Inspector Phebean J. Sandy of the Calaba Town Police Station also recounted the police’s involvement in attempts to address the dispute. She said the disagreement had at one point resulted in a heated exchange and later spilled onto social media.
She welcomed the Ministry’s intervention and supported a community based management structure involving key stakeholders.
Speaking at the engagement, Mr Masallay said the Directorate conducted checks into the status of World Changing Center Charity Organization after receiving complaints from residents.
According to him, the organisation was not fully registered with the Ministry, while the organisation number associated with its name was reportedly linked to another organisation in the Ministry’s database.
He said further inquiries were being conducted into the organisation’s operations and documentation.
Following the discussions, the well was formally handed over to the Alpha Terrace community. A management committee involving traditional and community leaders, women, youth, the landowning family and the police is expected to oversee the facility.
Mr Masallay urged NGOs and charity organisations to comply with Sierra Leone’s laws and policies and ensure transparency and accountability in development projects.
