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The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Hannah Isatta Sao-Kpato Macarthy, has officially handed over land title documents to eleven (11) Project Affected Persons (PAPs) whose properties were impacted during the implementation of the Angola Town Water Supply Project.
The ceremony, held at the offices of the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation in Freetown, marked a key milestone in the resettlement and compensation process linked to the Angola Town Water Supply System.
Permanent Secretary Alie Bakarr Conteh highlighted the event as a demonstration of the government’s commitment to responsible project implementation and fair compensation for citizens affected by development initiatives.
The project, implemented by Guma Valley Water Company under the Freetown WASH and Aquatic Environment Revamping Project (WASHAERP), was developed to ensure consistent and reliable access to safe drinking water for residents of Angola Town and surrounding communities. Conteh noted that the Guma Dam, constructed in the 1960s to serve a population of around 500,000, now faces immense pressure as Freetown’s population has grown to nearly two million.
“The Angola Town Water Supply System is expected to provide clean and dependable water to more than 70,000 residents in communities including Angola Town, Adonkia, Ogoo Farm, Lakka, and Hamilton,” Conteh said.
Speaking on behalf of the PAPs, Musa Turay expressed appreciation to the Government and implementing agencies for reaching this stage in the resettlement process. He also appealed for the expedited processing of land allocations for the remaining 18 affected persons and requested assurances that those relocated to Mile 6 would not face future displacement.
Minister Hannah Isatta Sao-Kpato Macarthy, delivering the keynote address, emphasized that land issues are highly sensitive and must always be handled with fairness and respect for people’s rights.
“Anything that has to do with land is very sensitive. Land remains one of the most valuable assets in our society, and as a government, we understand the importance of protecting people’s rights,” she stated. She added that the relocation process aligns with the government’s commitment to human rights and sustainable environmental management, particularly the protection of the Western Area Peninsula water catchment areas.
“The Western Area Peninsula National Park is the main source of water supplied to Freetown by Guma. While the government may need to relocate people for development purposes, we must always do so with a human face and ensure that their rights are respected,” the Minister said. She assured beneficiaries that the government remains committed to resolving all outstanding resettlement matters.
