The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED), through its Directorate of NGO Affairs, has officially handed over community water well in Calaba Town to residents, bringing a longstanding disagreement over access to and management of the facility to an end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The handover followed a stakeholder engagement convened by the Director of NGO Affairs, Mr. Eric Masallay, after the Ministry received complaints from residents concerning restrictions on their access to the water facility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The water well was constructed through the support of World Changing Center Charity Organization, owned by Bernice Langley, following a needs assessment conducted in the Calaba Town community, during which residents identified access to water as a key priority. A community member subsequently provided a portion of land for the construction of the well, which was intended to serve the people of the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, disagreements later arose between the community and the owner of the charity organisation over the management and use of the facility, resulting in restrictions on residents\u2019 access to the well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before the handover, various community stakeholders gave brief accounts of the situation, explaining the history of the facility and the difficulties residents had experienced in accessing water. They explained that the restrictions had forced community members, including women and children, to travel considerable distances in search of water. The stakeholders expressed their frustration over the situation while welcoming the Ministry\u2019s intervention and expressing satisfaction that the matter had finally been addressed, allowing the community to regain access to the facility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jebbrey Kamara, Chairman of Calaba Town, highlighted the challenges residents had faced in accessing water and expressed appreciation for the Ministry\u2019s intervention and the restoration of community access to the well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chief Pa Alimamy H. Kamara, Chief Adviser of APPC Calaba Town, also contributed to the discussions, emphasising the importance of maintaining peace, proper management and community ownership of the facility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Inspector Phebean J. Sandy, Officer Commanding CRD Calaba Town Police, recounted her experience in dealing with the dispute, including a confrontation she had with Bernice Langley over the management and access to the water facility. She explained that attempts to intervene in the matter had at one point resulted in a heated exchange between them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Inspector Sandy further narrated that the disagreement subsequently extended to social media, where she said Bernice Langley made a Facebook post concerning the matter. She noted that the situation had the potential to further heighten tensions within the community, underscoring the need for dialogue and a structured arrangement for the management of the facility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She welcomed the Ministry\u2019s intervention, stressing the importance of maintaining peace while ensuring that residents have access to a facility established to serve the community. She also supported the establishment of a community management structure involving relevant stakeholders to help prevent future misunderstandings and ensure the proper use and maintenance of the well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alim Kargbo, representing the landowning family, expressed support for the community\u2019s continued access to the well and the need for the facility to serve its intended beneficiaries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking during the engagement, Mr. Masallay explained that following complaints from the community, the Directorate conducted checks into the status of World Changing Center Charity Organization. According to him, the organisation was not fully registered with the Ministry, despite having an organisation number associated with its name. He said the number found in the Ministry\u2019s database was assigned to another organisation, prompting further investigation into how the number was being used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr. Masallay further stated that the Ministry\u2019s checks raised concerns about the organisation\u2019s operational status, noting that officials were unable to establish a functioning office or a substantive staff structure for the organisation. He said the Ministry had consequently initiated further investigations, including into how the organisation obtained documentation bearing official signatures and registration information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He emphasised that the Ministry\u2019s intervention was aimed not only at addressing the immediate concerns of the Calaba Town community but also at protecting the public interest and ensuring that organisations operating in the development sector comply with the country\u2019s legal and policy requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Following the discussions, the water well was officially handed over to the Alpha Terrace, Calaba Town community for management and continued use. A community-based management committee will oversee the day-to-day operation, maintenance and equitable access to the facility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The proposed committee will comprise representatives of the traditional leadership, community leadership, women, youth, the landowning family and the police, providing a structured mechanism for managing and safeguarding the facility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr. Masallay also called on NGOs and charity organisations operating in Sierra Leone to comply with the relevant legal and policy framework, maintain transparency and accountability, and ensure that development resources and interventions are used for their intended purposes. He further assured the community that the Ministry would support the maintenance of the well, noting that its current condition appeared to require attention to ensure that it remains functional and continues to serve residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The handover marks an important step towards restoring uninterrupted community access to the water facility and ensuring that the well continues to serve its intended purpose for the people of Calaba Town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED), through its Directorate of NGO Affairs, has officially handed over community water well in Calaba Town to residents, bringing a longstanding disagreement over access to and management of the facility to an end. The handover followed a stakeholder engagement convened by the Director of NGO Affairs, Mr. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3260,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3258","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t