By Sheku Putka Kamara
Sanctioned by the leadership of SALWACO, female members of staff at the Sierra Leone Water Company (SALWACO) headquarters in Freetown have held a one-day meeting in commemorating the International Women’s Day, 2024. The ceremony attracted the presence of several dignitaries including, but not limited to, Ing. Francis Amara Kallon, Sierra Leone’s Deputy Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Brima Munda Sowa, Senior Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Managing Director of SALWACO, Ing. George Lamin Vandi and his Deputy, Apostle, Albert Harrison Harvey, and several other dignitaries.
After a proper introduction of all attendees, Chrisla Koroma, SALWACO’s Planning, Research and Policy Officer and Margaret Kojo-Musa, ICT Officer did a succinct PowerPoint presentation on women in SALWACO, where it is observed that even with developments that have taken place to promote women at the workplace, there was need to accelerate on such progresses that have been made to ensure institutional growths.
Chairperson of the event, Mary Mansaray Ngegba, SALWACO’s Stakeholders’ and Media Relations Manager started by outlining the important roles that women play at SALWACO and urged the leadership of the institution to see reasons to place capable, qualified and resulted driven women in leadership and other enviable positions. She said that it was high time women are not treated with levity, noting that the empowerment of women is a pivotal aspect of institution growth and development.
Deputy Managing Director of SALWACO, Albert Harrison Harvey remarked that women should be seen as partners in development and assured that the SALWACO leadership has greater plans to promote more women in strategic positions. He however urged the females to possess the requisite skills and expertise, adding that when such happens, they would be able to make use of the opportunities the moment they show up.
Managing Director of SALWACO, Ing. George Lamin Vandi said that his management is very much considerate in dealing with women. He called on women to also support compatriots, noting that there was every need to negate the pulling Down syndrome. He said that inclusivity was a pivotal aspect in every work place, stating that the SALWACO leadership will continue to push to get more women in more strategic and leadership positions.
Senior Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Brima Munda Sowa said that there is a strong need to continue to provide more support to and for women. He assured that the Water Resources ministry was also toeing similar trajectories. He called on women not to settle for less and not to compromise set standards.
Deputy Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Ing. Francis Amara Kallon who acted as Minister said that women inspire excellence and that it was prudent to include them in leadership positions so as to enhance sustainability. He said that President Bio has placed women in very high esteems, adding that it was therefore incumbent on all ministries, departments and agencies to adopt similar traits. He noted that women should therefore brace and buckle up to meet set targets and institutional aspirations.
Keynote speaker, Madam Rosaline M’carthy a SALWACO board member said that she was thankful that SALWACO thought it befitting to celebrate women. She encouraged women to have the right attitudes and to be supportive to one another. She said that women also have a responsibility to enhance massive cooperation and collaborations at all times and at all levels. She called on all present to desist from the notions of negative masculinity whiles urging all present especially the male counterparts to be He for She champions. She also called for increased representation of women at the board and other leadership positions at SALWACO.
Before the end of the programme, the SALWACO management openly committed to promote more trained and qualified women in leadership positions, including making the annual commemoration of IWD gets budgetary allocation for 2025 and beyond.
Customized SALWACO flasks and tea cups were presented to the deputy Minister including all other dignitaries present and some invited past workers female engineers of SALWACO, who all made significant contributions by calling for more female leaders whiles urging compatriots to get the requisite qualifications and experiences in the dispensation of duties.
