Monrovia – The new Managing Director of the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC), Mo Ali has come under staunch criticism for his refusal to recognize the efforts of the World Bank and the Weah-Taylor Administration in restoring water to Central Monrovia.
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh, [email protected], and Webster Clayeh, [email protected]
At the commissioning ceremony performed by Montserrado County Senator Abraham Darius Dillon, the LWSC Managing Director Mo Ali stated when he took over the corporation, he learned that the government only needed US$42,000 to refurbish the city reservoir near Ducor Hotel up Broad Street to resume water supply to Central Monrovia after several years of dormancy.
Also, fire Hydrants were installed to boost the quick response of the Liberia National Fire Service, (LNFS) especially at a time when there are fire outbreaks all around the city and nearby communities.
“Our technicians went to work and came out with the assessment and the cost to renovate came up to US$42,000. Central Monrovia had been out of water for more than five, or six years. For some communities, more than 10 to 15 years,” Ali said.
Ali added: “Because we are determined and as people who have a background in water study to give our people water which is an essential component of life, we made this our priority.”
He followed that up while speaking on Spoon Network ‘s live Facebook show. He revealed that It was part of the Liberian Government’s 100-day deliverable.
It was a moment of celebration and relief for thousands of residents and business people of Central Monrovia last week when the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation dedicated the newly refurbished reservoir and restored water to their homes and businesses. Top figures of the Unity Party Alliance including Senators Abraham Darius Dillon and Amara Konneh lauded the Management of LWSC led by Ali for the milestone achievement.
Writing on his Facebook Page, Senator Dillon said: “This morning, the Liberia Water & Sewer Corporation (LWSC), under the leadership of Managing Director Hon. Mo Ali, will commission the refurbished facilities and resume water supply to Central Monrovia, following many years of inactiveness… We are humbly honored by our selection as Official Guest to Cut-the-Ribbon at this very important commissioning ceremony. A very key, essential part of the #rescue mission’s commitment being fulfilled to our people!!”
Senator Konneh, also writing on his social media page after the event, explained that under his watch as Minister of Finance during the Sirleaf-Boakai administration, he “heavily intervened” by
increasing financing on the national budget and attracting external resources from the African Development Bank to the tune of an estimated amount of US$60 million but got no results from successive management teams because of procurement and corporate governance issues.
Writing Further, he said: “A member (Mo Ali) of our regional team at the erstwhile Ministry of Planning and Economic Affairs and assigned to Cape Mount, he is a beneficiary of the GoL-sponsored graduate studies program, he earned his master’s in water and sanitation in England and worked under our mentorship at MFDP where he learned the ropes of deep policymaking. He is qualified for this role.”
He added: “MD Ali’s early achievement today may be small but it is exactly the kind of change the country needs to see from their new government. It demonstrates his vision, commitment, and leadership. We will support him in the Legislature to succeed by sustaining the gains he is making! I am super proud of him!”
However, not everyone agreed. Following the ceremony, Ali has come under a barrage of criticism from some members of the public for not acknowledging the World Bank’s substantial support to the LWSC during the previous administration. They claimed that the World Bank’s support was crucial in the restoration of water supply to Central Monrovia.
“The CDC-Weah administration, with significant backing from the World Bank, completed all tasks necessary to ensure the restoration and provision of pipe-borne water in Monrovia and its environs,” said a post on Freedom FM Facebook page that garnered several mixed reactions.
“The Boakai’s administration has no shame or the moral rectitude to brag about pipe borne water in Monrovia and its environs because it’s impossible to do so in just 3 months. As far as the vast majority of the Liberian People are concerned, it’s the CDC government that brought such a relief to our people, after decades. The UP government is desperate in justifying their 100 days deliverables,” said Willian B. Sando.
Prominent Liberian economist Samuel Jackson weighed in, wrote: “Liar, liar, pants on fire. Mo Ali did not originate, seek funding and implement the project.”
FrontPage Africa reached out to Ali for clarity on his statement, and whether the World Bank’s support to the LWSC in the past administration covered the renovation of the Ducor reservoir, but he did not respond up to the time of publication.
The World Bank Liberia Country Office was also reached, but did not respond.
However, in July 2023, the Bank turned over a US$6 million water express line project at the same facility to the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation under then Managing Director G. Alphonso Gaye.
The express line runs from the Fish market booster station on Tubman Boulevard to the LWSC Newport street booster station in central Monrovia. At the turnover ceremony at that time, officials of the Liberian Government and the World Bank expressed confidence that the express line would successfully address the LWSC’S long standing challenge of supplying pipe borne water to central Monrovia and its adjacent parts, and would also ensure the restoration of pipe borne water.
Liberia, one of the wettest countries in the world, has abundant rivers, rainforests, mangroves and swamps. But it has limited infrastructure and services to reach everyone with safe drinking water. Less than 10 percent of Liberians have access to safely managed drinking water and sanitation services, according to the World Bank in a presentation during the recent cabinet retreat in Monrovia.