FREETOWN, Sierra Leone, 23 June 2026 - Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Dr Sao-Kpato Hannah Isatta Macarthy, has pledged to deepen regional cooperation on transboundary water management, strengthen women’s participation in the sector and advance initiatives to protect Sierra Leone’s water resources from the growing impacts of artisanal mining.
During a meeting with Dr Boluwaji Onabolu, the Chairperson of the Regional Consultative Council on Integrated Water Resources Management of ECOWAS, the Minister welcomed proposals for closer collaboration under the ECOWAS water governance framework, noting that Sierra Leone must utilize its leadership role in the region to drive meaningful change.
“We cannot allow the tenure to pass without doing something impactful to show Sierra Leone’s leadership in the water sector,” the Minister said, while endorsing plans to develop a joint project with Liberia and Guinea for the protection and conservation of shared water resources within the Mano River Union basin.
She stressed that the initiative could unlock economic opportunities while preventing potential conflicts over shared water bodies, adding, “There is a lot of potential for economic activity, but at the same time, those waters also have the potential to create conflict. If we are able to develop a joint project among our three countries, it will strengthen protection and conservation of our water boundaries.”
The meeting also focused on empowering women in the water sector and addressing the environmental consequences of artisanal mining. The RCC Chair proposed the establishment of a national network of female professionals in water resources and WASH, arguing that “we are stronger together” and that such a platform would create opportunities for mentorship, technical collaboration and leadership development.
Responding enthusiastically, the Minister, Dr Sao-Kpato Hannah Isatta Macarthy, said, “This female professionals network is really good. If we had a network right now, we would know where these women are and be able to mobilize them. For me, this is a very good initiative that I want to learn more about and support.”
Discussions further explored the impact of artisanal mining on rivers and water quality across Sierra Leone and the wider West African region. The RCC Chair called for a collaborative approach centred on awareness raising, capacity building and water resource protection, stating that “rather than approaching artisanal miners only with enforcement measures, we must also look at protecting water resources while supporting livelihoods.”
The Minister agreed, noting that pollution of major rivers remained a growing concern and revealing plans to work through the National Water Regulatory Agency and development partners to strengthen water quality monitoring and testing.
