Liberia: LWSC’s MD Warns Indebted Customers of Drastic Actions

The new Managing Director of the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC), Mo Ali, is taking firm steps to address the significant debt owed by customers. With ‌US$7,393,297.48 in outstanding payments, Ali has expressed the need for customers to fulfill their financial obligations to the corporation.

Ali warned of drastic actions to ensure that the LWSC’s unpaid monies are collected in order to settle current liabilities and make some investments in the future to improve and upgrade service delivery to the public.

Speaking on a local radio program in Monrovia last Thursday, February 22, the MD revealed the staggering amount that the customers collectively owe LWSC, emphasizing the impact of this debt on the corporation's operations and its ability to meet other financial commitments, including employee salaries.

Expressing frustration at the situation, Ali emphasized that, while many individuals complain about the corporation's services, they remain reluctant to fulfill their financial obligations, hindering LWSC's efficiency and productivity. 

“You complain about the entity, but you don’t want to pay your bills,” MD Ali furthered. 

He highlighted the critical nature of this debt, noting that it significantly impacts the corporation's ability to address other financial obligations, including employee salaries amounting to over US$2 million.

Ali noted that one of his major priorities as the new LWSC boss will be to ensure that the corporation becomes viable and vibrant in executing its statutory responsibility of providing uninterrupted water and sewer services to all Liberians but called on customers to play their equal parts in achieving this feat.

“Let me state that under my watch, we will work to ensure that LWSC becomes a dependable service provider, but firstly, I want to call on all those owing the corporation to begin to pay their bills, as we will go after every delinquent customer,"  Ali expressed.

Ali has outlined a plan to collect the arrears by billing customers, publishing their names in the media, and pursuing legal action if necessary.

Ali went on to state, “All those owing LWSC, please start paying your debts now; we will not hesitate to publish your names and take you to court.”

The "$7 million, three hundred ninety-three thousand, two hundred ninety-seven dollars, and forty cents” arrears to the LWSC represent the corporation’s customer base, which includes both industrial and household customers and its sewer customers.

It must be stated that prior to Ali’s appointment, previous management made frantic efforts to collect these outstanding debts from delinquent customers, but failed, as there were reports of interference. Meanwhile, the new LWSC’s management is focused on improving services and financial stability, and Ali is determined to address the debt issue to ensure the corporation's viability. Efforts to collect these outstanding payments were reportedly hindered in the past, but under Ali's leadership, the focus remains on resolving this issue without interference from the so-called top levels in the Liberian government.