Liberia: WASH CEO Calls for Reviving Sector for Safe Drinking Water, Sanitation

The Chair and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Liberia’s Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector, Ambassador Bobby Whitfield has described the ongoing three-day Water Sanitation and Hygiene joint sector review as a great opportunity for Liberia and a revitalization of the sector. 

Whitefield said Liberia needs decent safe drinking water and sanitation for all the people across Liberia and also 100% access to safely manage water for all Liberians, no matter location. He believes that with the government’s partners, more can be achieved over the next five years.

The three-day ongoing joint sector review under the theme: “Enhancing Uptake in Sustainable Access to WASH Services Across Liberia” aims to validate the findings from the WASH sector performance report, and to develop specific recommendations to guide the sector forward, in the next five years.

“This is a great milestone in the history of Liberia, particularly for the WASH sector of Liberia and we are grateful to all our development partners. We have been working with you and it has been a wonderful journey,” Whitfield said. “We believe that the WASH sector is a critical development indicator because you cannot count development without counting the WASH sector.” 

Whitfield made the statement on Tuesday, April 25, at the Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, where he told the Liberian technicians that partners from Germany, the United States of America and the rest of the world only come to Liberia to support Liberians achieve their objective as a nation. Therefore, Liberians must take the lead to solve Liberia’s WASH sector challenges. 

“We just need to work together to achieve. We cannot wait for people to come and do it for us. Imagine the number of experts that have come to Liberia to solve Liberia’s WASH sector problems or challenges yet still discussing these same problems today. This is an opportunity for Liberians to take on this role and transform this sector. Our international partners are here to facilitate those processes that will lead to the general development of this sector but if we think they are here to do it for us, we will be here for another 100 years and the problems will continue,” Whitfield told technicians.

He told government partners that the sector is a reflection of the support being provided and called on them (partners) to double up their support in the transformation of the sector. 

“It’s so pleasant to the ears that the government needs to put in some money. Well, when you were sourcing those monies to come to Liberia, it was not based on the government putting money in the sector. You genuinely went after those monies to come and help and it’s time that you do your job without saying or calling for government money first,” Whitefield told the government’s partners.

Christian Yeakula, World Bank Group Specialist for Water Supply and Sanitation, said the joint sector review is important for Liberia's WASH sector and the World Bank, being one of the biggest partners to Liberia, is pleased to be a part.  

“As we go through this process, we should focus on water. Liberia is the wettest country in Africa and Liberia is third in South Sahara in terms of water availability; yet minimum access to water. Our focus is investing in key infrastructure that will make water accessible. We cannot talk about the sector if the old man in West Point cannot access water,” Yeakula said. 

Country Director of Living Water, Austin Nyanplue, said there is a need for stakeholders to be intentional to ensure that the national strategic recommendations come out and everyone should be able to implement his or her responsibility. 

“We cannot be repeating the same things year in and year out. Let's see happenings in the various communities and everywhere because the issue of WASH is serious. Our plan should not be just developing a roadmap,” he said.

Deputy Mines and Energy Minister for Planning and Development, Carlton Miller, lauded the stakeholders in the WASH Sector for the level of work done so far but said the water sector in particular remains highly fragmented and continues today. 

“Our goal should be focused on elevating water governance to the highest decision-making platform, which is now at cabinet level in our dispensation. As Water is life, it cuts across all spectrums in society including health, environment, national security, social and economic, and many others. 

Yesterday’s program brought together both local and international stakeholders in the sector, including the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Mines and Energy, Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation, Liberia WASH Sector Consortium, Action Against Hunger, the Federation of Liberian Youth (FLY), UNICEF, civil society organizations, Paynesville City Corporation, representatives of various counties, and others.