By Tamba Borbor, PRO-WHH SLE1048
German International Non-Governmental Organisation- Welt Hunger Hilfe (WHH) has on Monday 29th March 2021 successful completed and officially handed over the Improved Waste Management in Cities Project to the Koidu New Sembehun City Council (KNSCC) in Koidu City.
At a well-attended occasion marking the official commissioning of the Waste Management Department (WMD) and Controlled Landfill Site signifying the official handing over of the project to the Koidu City Council, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development- Tamba Lamina in his delivery of the keynote address stated that “me performing the groundbreaking of this vital waste management infrastructure today in my own backyard is something very satisfying and close to my heart.” He thanked WHH, DFID and the Government of Sierra Leone for the successful implementation of the project in Koidu municipality.
“This infrastructure built under the project is very impressive and done in record time,” the Local Government Minister stated.
Cities across the world he noted are challenged with the task of waste management and disposal.
“…and for a long time, we have not prioritized the issue of waste management in our communities,” Minister Lamina stated; adding that “we should challenge ourselves to make the needed change to make sure our communities are healthy and clean.”
He maintained that the youth involved in domestic waste collection in the Koidu municipality must be supported while the people have the responsibility to pay for their waste to make the service sustainable.
“We should also be willing to expose those who throw waste indiscriminately around the city so the law can be applied to them,” he urged.
Koidu City, the Minister stated “is one of the cleanest cities in Sierra Leone.” He urged all to be responsible citizens by supporting the Government to effectively manage waste around the country.
In her statement, Ursula Langkamp, one of Welthungerhilfe’s Country Directors recalled that her organisation started its operation in the country in 2004 in actively involved in agriculture, waste management, skills development, Water And Sanitation Health and Gender Equity as a cross-cutting issue.
She disclosed that the waste management project was rolled out in 2014 in Bo City which experience was later cascaded to Kenema, Makeni and eventually Koidu City.
“The Integrated Waste Management Project in Koidu includes provision of infrastructure for effective waste management and establishment of waste recycling entities and domestic waste collection,” Madam Langkamp stated.
She thanked the Mayor of Koidu for his unwavering support and close collaboration with WHH in successfully implementing the project even in the midst of a pandemic.
The WHH Country Director noted that the other cities like Makeni, Bo and Kenema where the project was implemented, are experiencing challenges with equipment and disposal after her organisation handed over the project to the City Councils.
“Celebrating the handing over this project today comes with a parcel of responsibility from the City Council to ensure the project’s gains are maintained and sustained. We really hope that in Koidu, there would be a huge commitment to keep things to the standard so that the vehicles supplied can serve the people for a very long years,” Ursula Langkamp stated.
She disclosed approval of a new project which aims at promoting sustainable waste management in Sierra Leone through policy formulation and implementation; enforcement of rules and regulations; scaling up recycling and rolling out new technology to enhance effective waste management. This would be implemented with the city councils of Bo, Kenema, Makeni and Koidu.
“So we are looking forward to continuing the good corporation that we had under this new project,” Lanka, as she is fondly called, expressed.
In his statement, the Mayor of Koidu City, Mathew Komba Sam acknowledged that the occasion of the official commissioning marks significant milestone in the history of the Koidu City; adding that without the political will of the Government of Sierra Leone, the project would have been challenged.
He highlighted the role of WHH in first identifying illegal dumpsites in the Koidu municipality and ensuring they were all cleared.
“Waste management is one of the issues you cannot politicise and that is why we made sure the youth selected to undertake effective door-to-door waste collection service in Koidu, were chosen based on merit,” Mayor Sam stated.
He urged the people of Koidu to be fully involved in ensuring the city remains clean and healthy always while committing to continuously collaborate with WHH on future projects including the one just approved and funded by the German government.
The Paramount Chief of Tankoro Chiefdom, PC Paul Ngagba Saquee IV thanked WHH and the Government of Sierra Leone for “addressing this felt need in the Koidu municipality.” He noted that the Koidu project is one of the best successfully implemented by WHH; urging the people of Koidu to fully support the domestic waste collection service for the good of the municipality.
“I would propose to my colleague Paramount Chief of Gbense Chiefdom, PC Fengai Kamachiande for us to reactivate the chiefdom sanitary officers to ensure every household is effectively monitored for waste,” PC Saquee informed.
Thomas Okara, WHH Head of Project in Koidu City gave a brief background of the project while thanking the Department For International Development (DFID) now Foreign Commonwealth Development Office FCDO) for providing the funds to undertake the project.
Okara urged the Council and the people of Koidu to ensure the gains of the project are not lost just after phasing out.
The Chief Administrator of the Koidu New Sembehun City Council (KNSCC), Francis Devoyama Tiffa sayd the event makes history for Koidu. He explained that his Council has successfully journeyed together with WHH in enhancing waste management and disposal in the municipality.
Environment and Social Officer, Nanah Jalloh-Conteh in her vote of thanks stated that the task of efficient waste management and disposal is daunting and thanked WHH for the timely intervention in the sector.
She urged the youth groups to be committed to waste collection as a profitable venture; promising to guide the youth along the way as they start out the door-to-door waste collection.
Symbolic cutting o the tape at the Waste Management Department (WMD) at D.O. Barracks in Koidu by the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development- Tamba Lamina formed highlight of the event after which a conducted tour of the Controlled Landfill Site by all stakeholders and WHH Management was undertaken.
