NATIONAL NEWS
GRAND BASSA COUNTY – A major step toward improving access to safe and reliable drinking water has been taken in Compound #3, Wee Statutory District, Grand Bassa County, with the groundbreaking of a US$285,000 water project aimed at addressing the community’s long-standing water challenges.
By: Trokon S. Wrepue – trokon1992seokin@gmail.com
The project, being implemented by the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC), marks the first phase of an initiative expected to eventually bring water directly into households across the community.
LWSC Managing Director Mo Ali said the groundbreaking represents the beginning of the corporation’s commitment to providing safe and dependable water to residents of Compound #3.
According to Ali, the first phase will focus on the construction of the water infrastructure, while the second phase will concentrate on connecting individual households to the system.
“We gather today in Compound #3, Grand Bassa County, to break ground for the construction of a $285,000 water project. This marks the beginning, Phase One, of our commitment to deliver safe and reliable water to this community. Phase Two will focus on household connections ensuring that families directly benefit from this investment,” Ali said.
Senate Pro Tempore Credited for Securing Funding
Mr. Ali attributed the realization of the project largely to the intervention and lobbying efforts of Senate Pro Tempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, who he said played a key role in securing funding for the initiative.
He also disclosed that the Pro Tempore’s support has gone beyond the water project, including efforts to create employment opportunities for residents and advance plans for the rehabilitation and expansion of the Buchanan water supply system.
Ali said Karnga-Lawrence helped facilitate short-term contracts for 25 residents of Grand Bassa, creating immediate employment opportunities in the county.
He further credited her support for enabling the corporation to undertake an engineering feasibility study and an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for the rehabilitation and expansion of the Buchanan Water Supply System.
The studies, he said, are intended to provide the technical foundation for a broader and more sustainable water supply system in the county.
Ali also expressed appreciation to Rep. Alfred Flomo, whom he said consistently advocated for the water project and helped persuade the Senate Pro Tempore to support the initiative.
LWSC Says Buchanan System Needs More Than US$5 Million
Beyond Compound #3, the LWSC says the broader water challenge in Grand Bassa County will require significantly greater investment.
Ali disclosed that the rehabilitation and expansion of the Buchanan water system could cost more than US$5 million, highlighting the scale of the infrastructure challenges facing the county.
He explained that the Compound #3 project emerged after Representative Alfred Flomo approached him about extending water services to the community.
According to Ali, after informing Flomo that available funds had already been allocated to other priorities, he advised him to seek the intervention of Senate Pro Tempore Karnga-Lawrence.
Ali said he subsequently contacted the Pro Tempore and informed her of the request to provide water to Compound #3.
He said Karnga-Lawrence responded positively and instructed that efforts be made to extend water to the community.
“When Honorable Flomo left my office, I called the Pro Tempore and told her that the Representative was at my office and asked me to carry water to Compound #3. The next day the senator called me and said we should bring water here on the compound,” Ali recounted.
20 Water Points and Three Reservoirs Planned
Senate Pro Tempore Karnga-Lawrence said the project will include the establishment of 20 water points and three reservoirs within Compound #3.
She explained that LWSC will lay underground pipes as part of the initial infrastructure, making it easier to connect individual homes when the household connection phase begins.
“We are going to have 20 water areas here on the compound and three reservoirs. Then the LWSC will connect all the pipes underground and then when it is time to connect the homes, it will be easy,” Karnga-Lawrence said.
She said the ultimate objective is to ensure that residents do not have to travel long distances to obtain water, but can eventually have access to the resource directly from their homes.
The Senate Pro Tempore described water, roads, electricity and employment as some of the key development priorities that government must address to improve living conditions in communities across Liberia.
Electricity Supply Remains a Major Concern
While celebrating the commencement of the water project, Karnga-Lawrence also acknowledged another pressing concern facing Compound #3 — the loss of electricity.
She said electricity was available in the community at the beginning of the year through the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC), but that the supply was subsequently interrupted and has not returned.
The disruption has reportedly generated growing frustration among residents, who are calling on the government to intervene.
Karnga-Lawrence said she has been in communication with the Liberia Electricity Corporation regarding the situation and was informed that the problem is connected to electricity coming from Côte d’Ivoire, which is affecting Compound #3 and parts of Rivercess County.
“I know that we have a problem here with the electricity. I am in touch with the Liberia Electricity Corporation and I was told that the electricity comes from Ivory Coast. There is a problem and it’s affecting Compound #3 and regions in Rivercess County,” she said.
She added that efforts are underway to resolve the issue and restore electricity to the affected communities.
Development Push Extends Beyond Water
The water project is being presented as part of a broader development push in Grand Bassa County, with local leaders emphasizing the need for simultaneous investments in basic services and infrastructure.
For residents of Compound #3, the water initiative is expected to provide an important improvement in access to safe drinking water, while the planned household connections could eventually make water services more convenient and reliable.
At the same time, the continued absence of electricity remains a major concern for residents, particularly as the community looks toward improved economic activity and better living conditions.
The combination of water infrastructure, electricity, roads and employment, leaders say, is critical to ensuring that development reaches communities beyond major urban centers.
Commitment to Long-Term Water Expansion
Ali said the Compound #3 project should not be viewed as an isolated intervention, but as part of a broader effort to strengthen water infrastructure in Grand Bassa County.
He said the planned feasibility study and ESIA for the Buchanan water system will help determine the requirements for rehabilitating and expanding the existing system.
With the estimated cost exceeding US$5 million, Ali’s disclosure underscores the need for continued government support, legislative advocacy and investment in the county’s water infrastructure.
For now, the US$285,000 Compound #3 project represents the first phase of that effort, with residents looking forward to the completion of the infrastructure and the eventual connection of their homes.
Ali concluded by thanking the people of Compound #3 for their reception and support, saying their partnership strengthens LWSC’s commitment to delivering on the project.
