NATIONAL NEWS
Monrovia — The Managing Director of the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC), Mohammed Ali, has warned that climate change poses a serious and growing threat to Liberia’s water and sewage infrastructure, citing flooding, extreme rainfall, sea-level rise, and climate variability as major risks to service delivery and financial stability.
Speaking during a high-level meeting with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, Ali said flooding continues to damage pipelines, water intakes, and pumping stations, while extreme rainfall increases water turbidity and drives up treatment costs.
By: Trokon S. Wrepue – trokon1992seokin@gmail.com
Mr. Ali added that rising sea levels threaten coastal sewer networks, and climate variability disrupts service continuity and revenue collection.
According to the LWSC Managing Director, these climate-related pressures have pushed the utility into what he described as a “macro-critical” position, with frequent service disruptions increasing public health expenditures and emergency repairs on aging infrastructure generating unplanned fiscal costs.
He further noted that energy price shocks are amplifying operating deficits, while weak climate resilience is deepening LWSC’s dependence on central government support.
Despite the challenges, Ali reported notable improvements in LWSC’s operational performance, institutional reforms, and climate adaptation investments.
The LWSC boss cited strengthened board oversight and internal controls, the completion of financial, billing, and human resource audits, and the introduction of standard operating procedures as key governance achievements. Improved transparency and reporting discipline were also highlighted.
Ali outlined the corporation’s climate adaptation priorities, which include climate-resilient water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services, a transition to renewable energy, protection of coastal zones, and the development of climate-smart infrastructure.
The LWSC Managing Director expressed optimism that targeted reforms and investments could help reduce climate-related fiscal and service delivery shocks, strengthen the financial sustainability of state-owned enterprises under climate stress, support climate-resilient public investment, and improve water security and urban resilience—key contributions, he said, to the objectives of the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF).
The remarks were made during an IMF 3rd Review Mission meeting with LWSC management, led by Mission Chief Daehaeng Kim and IMF Resident Representative Joel Chiedu Okwuokei. Discussions centered on ongoing negotiations under the IMF’s Resilience and Sustainability Facility, with particular focus on supply-side issues in Liberia’s water sector.
