Freetown, Sierra Leone — The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), in collaboration with the Guma Valley Water Company (GVWC) and several government institutions, has demolished a number of unauthorized structures at Mambo Old Road on the Western Area Peninsula in a decisive move to safeguard Freetown’s main water supply network.
The exercise, carried out on Wednesday, followed investigations which revealed that buildings had been erected directly above a key water transmission pipeline, severely damaging the infrastructure and triggering widespread water shortages in parts of the capital. Among the structures pulled down were a two-storey building, two single-storey houses, and several temporary shelters, all found to be in breach of planning laws and right-of-way regulations.
According to technical reports from GVWC, the illegal developments weakened the pipeline and led to the loss of millions of litres of treated water.
An emergency meeting involving NDMA, GVWC, the Western Rural District Council (WARD C), the National Protected Area Authority (NPAA), and other stakeholders concluded that the structures posed an immediate threat to public health and water security, necessitating urgent demolition.
NDMA Director General, John Vandy Rogers, said the action reflected the importance of coordinated efforts among state agencies to protect vital national assets.
GVWC Managing Director, Mariwan Kallon, described the affected pipeline as one of the most critical components of Freetown’s water distribution system.
Officials confirmed that repair work is already underway, with assurances that water supply to affected communities will improve once the damaged pipeline is fully restored.
Authorities have also issued a stern warning to residents, especially those along the Western Area Peninsula, to desist from constructing buildings near pipelines and other public utilities, emphasizing that illegal structures will be removed in the interest of public safety.
