New York – The Managing Director of the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC) Duannah A. Kamara has emphasized the need for governments across the globe to exercise political will with commitment to champion issues related to water, sanitation and Hygiene (WASH).
Speaking at the United Nations headquarters in New York at a conference in continuation of the recently held Paris UNESCO first water policy interface colloquium (SPIC), Managing Director Kamara joined 50 ministers from across the world to renew calls for the enforcement of political will in confronting water, sanitation and Hygiene challenges.
According to an LWSC dispatch from New York, the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation Managing Director stressed the urgent need for governments to address WASH Concerns globally if the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations are to fully be implemented
Kamara who expressed his administration’s commitment to providing uninterrupted water supply and sewage services to the people of Liberia under the pro-poor government of President George Manneh Weah said, exercising political will does not only respond to WASH challenges but also improves service delivery to the people.
“ In Liberia at the LWSC, we are determined to improve our country’s water infrastructure by expanding our distribution network to ensure majority of our population gets supply of pipe borne water which will reduce health risks amongst the people”; MD Kamara mentioned.
Also speaking on Liberia’s behalf at the New York gathering of ministers was Liberia’s deputy finance and development planning minister Hon. Augustus J. Flomo who noted that consistent with the aspirations of the country’s vision 2030, Liberia continues to make meaningful strides toward the implementation of the sustainable development Goals (SDGs).
“The President of Liberia H.E. George Manneh Weah along with his team has adopted a transformation development plan titled: Pro-poor Agenda for prosperity and development “; Deputy minister Flomo revealed in New York.
According to the Liberian minister, the Weah pro-poor agenda is based on four (4) critical pillars that keenly consider the sustainable development goals (SDGs) in the context for easy implementation in Liberia.
The Liberian public official indicated that the pro-poor agenda of the CDC-led government will the next years address the basic needs of Liberians for income security, better access to basic services and greater opportunities for self-improvements in an enabling environment that is inclusive and stable.
“The pro-poor agenda is, therefore, about people and how to draw Liberians living at home and abroad into the national development process”; Deputy minister told the New York gathering at the United Nations headquarters.
Deputy Minister Flomo told the Ministerial segment of the High level panel political Forum on Sustainable development that the overall goals of the Weah-Taylor’ s administration keenly consider the full implementation of the SDGs as the government continues to apply substantial efforts aimed at building a stable, resilient and inclusive nation embracing Liberia’s triple heritage and anchored on the country’s African identity.
“This government is also determined to lift an additional one million Liberians out of absolute poverty over the next six (6) years and reduce extremity of poverty by twenty- three percent (23%) across the five (5) of the six (6) regions through substantial and inclusive growth driven by scaled-up investments in agriculture, infrastructure and human capital development “; Deputy minister Flomo asserted.
Both Deputy Minister Flomo and Managing Director Kamara believe the path towards implementing the targets and goals of the agenda requires partnerships at all levels.
“To this end, strengthening global partnership to promote and support the removal of critical implementation challenges remain crucial,” intoned Deputy Minister Flomo.
The two Liberian public officials reaffirmed Liberia’s commitment to working assiduously towards the implementation of the SDGs and emphasized the importance for more results-driven cooperation to ensure that no one is left out.
“This delegation looks forward to the adoption of the ministerial declaration with the optimism that reflects the spirit of the theme and encapsulates the dimension sustainable development: economic, social and environmental; Flomo told his colleague ministers at the just ended New York conference.
The Liberian delegation which included the Managing Director of the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation Hon. Duannah A. Kamara and Deputy Finance and Development Planning Minister Hon. Augustus J. Flomo was received by Liberia’s permanent representative at the United Nations Hon. Lewis Browne.
Hon. Browne then took the Liberian team attending the UNESCO water conference which was a follow up to the recently held Paris conference on a tour of Liberia’s mission in the US.