The Sierra Leone Parliament has ordered the Guma Valley Water Company to disconnect water supply to all government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) that have failed to pay their outstanding water bills within 48 hours.

This directive was issued by Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), during a session held at Parliament Tower Hill in Freetown. The move follows a review of the Auditor General’s report, which revealed that Guma Valley Water Company itself is facing significant financial burdens, including unpaid withholding and PAYE taxes totaling over Le 18 million.

Guma Valley officials cited the persistent non-payment by government institutions as the primary reason for their inability to meet financial obligations. The company’s revenue collection has plummeted, creating a cycle of debt and tax noncompliance.

Hon. Conteh criticized the ministries for ignoring their responsibilities and warned that their failure to settle these bills is crippling government operations. He highlighted major defaulters such as the Sierra Leone Parliament, the Youyi Building—which houses multiple ministries—the Ministry of Defence, and the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs.

He instructed Guma to act swiftly: “Notify these ministries and cut off their water if they don’t pay within 48 hours,” he said. “This misuse of state resources must stop.”

The PAC Chairman also stressed that this issue affects more than just water access. The ongoing disregard for payment obligations hinders government effectiveness and public service delivery, ultimately hurting the country’s development efforts.

A Guma representative confirmed that ministries must either pay their debts or face immediate disconnection. The company emphasized that service continuity depends on compliance, and the current trend is unsustainable.

This development underscores a broader concern about financial accountability in Sierra Leone’s public sector. The PAC aims to enforce stricter compliance standards and restore fiscal discipline across all government entities.