Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. The Sierra Leone Water Company (SALWACO), under the leadership of its Board of Directors and the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, has officially conducted a handing-over ceremony between the outgoing Managing Director, Ing. George Lamin Vandi, and the newly appointed and first-ever female Managing Director, Ing. Tiideni Hawa Jabbi.
Held at the company’s Boardroom in Freetown, the event brought together key stakeholders, including the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Dr. Hannah Sao Max-Kaine, the Board Chairman, Mr. Joseph Joe Ndanema, the Deputy Managing Director, Apostle Dr. Albert Harrison Harvey, Board Members, Directors, and senior management staff.
The ceremony, which marked a smooth leadership transition, was chaired by Apostle Dr. Albert Harrison Harvey, who in his welcoming address commended both the outgoing and incoming Managing Directors for their dedicated service and leadership. He described the event as a moment of reflection and renewal, emphasizing teamwork, continuity, and progress in the company’s operations.
In his opening statement, Board Chairman Mr. Joseph Joe Ndanema introduced the Minister and commended her for her exemplary leadership and commitment to improving water service delivery across Sierra Leone. He further expressed confidence that the new Managing Director would build upon the progress achieved by her predecessor while advancing the company’s mandate in line with government priorities.
Delivering her keynote address, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation Dr. Hannah Sao Max-Kaine described the occasion as a “positive and historic moment” in Sierra Leone’s water sector. She highlighted the significance of appointing a woman to lead SALWACO, noting that women are among the primary users and managers of water at household and community levels.
The Minister emphasized the importance of collaboration between the Managing Director, the Board, and the Ministry, stating that while the Managing Director is responsible for executing plans and activities, the Board controls and directs company functions, and the Ministry ensures supervision and resource mobilization. Dr. Max-Kaine congratulated Ing. Jabbi on her appointment and encouraged all staff to support her leadership for the effective delivery of SALWACO’s mandate.
In her response, the new Managing Director, Ing. Tiideni Hawa Jabbi, expressed gratitude to the government for the confidence reposed in her and reaffirmed her commitment to transforming SALWACO into a functional, professional, and financially viable institution. She outlined her vision and 100-day plan, which includes conducting a comprehensive organizational assessment to identify institutional gaps, technical challenges, and operational inefficiencies.
“You can only proffer solutions when you know the problems,” she stated, explaining that the findings from the assessment will inform sustainable, evidence-based recommendations and help develop a Strategic Development Plan to guide SALWACO’s transformation.
Ing. Jabbi emphasized that her goal is to refocus the company on its primary mandate of ensuring reliable water supply and sanitation services across the country. She noted that achieving these objectives would not only strengthen institutional performance but also contribute to Sierra Leone’s commitment to the National Development Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
In his remarks, the outgoing Managing Director, Ing. George Lamin Vandi, reflected on his tenure, highlighting progress made in institutional strengthening, infrastructural development, and operational efficiency. He expressed appreciation to the Board, management, and staff for their cooperation and assured the new leadership of his continued support to ensure a smooth transition and sustained growth.
The event concluded with a Vote of Thanks delivered by the Company Secretary, Mrs. Mayiwa Sia Macauley Esq.
For More News And Analysis About Sierra-Leone Follow Africa-Press
