By Aminata Abu Bakarr Kamara
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has officially launched the construction of solar-powered autonomous water points in Sierra Leone and The Gambia as part of a regional effort to improve access to safe drinking water for vulnerable communities across West Africa.
The initiative, implemented under the ECOWAS Special Project titled “Improving Access to Safe Drinking Water for Vulnerable Populations in ECOWAS Member States,” seeks to strengthen water security, improve public health, and support sustainable development in member states.
The groundbreaking ceremonies were held within five days of each other, beginning on 10 July 2026 in Busura, approximately 50 kilometres from Banjul in The Gambia, and followed by a similar event on 14 July 2026 in Ginger Hall, a suburb of Freetown, Sierra Leone.
In Sierra Leone, the launch comes after the official handover of project sites to contractors on 16 June 2026, paving the way for construction to commence.
The water infrastructure forms part of ECOWAS’s broader commitment to addressing regional development challenges through strategic investment in essential public services. The project is also aligned with the regional body’s ambitious 25-year Infrastructure Master Plan, which comprises 201 regional projects valued at approximately US$131 billion across key sectors including transport, energy, telecommunications, and water resources.
Under the programme, each ECOWAS Member State is expected to receive fifteen solar-powered autonomous water stations, designed to provide reliable and environmentally sustainable access to clean drinking water, particularly in underserved and vulnerable communities.
The launch ceremonies attracted senior government officials, ECOWAS representatives, local authorities, and community members in both countries.
In Sierra Leone, the President of the ECOWAS Commission was represented by his Chief of Staff, who officiated alongside the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation. Also in attendance were ECOWAS Resident Representatives, Heads of National Offices, the Director of the Water Resources Management Committee (WRMC), local authorities, contractors, and members of beneficiary communities.
The broad participation reflected the collaborative approach being adopted to ensure the successful implementation and long-term sustainability of the project.
In The Gambia, the solar-powered water scheme is expected to directly benefit approximately 8,000 people, particularly those living in rural communities where access to safe and reliable drinking water remains a major challenge.
Officials say the use of solar-powered technology will ensure continuous water supply while reducing operational costs and promoting environmentally sustainable solutions in line with regional climate resilience goals.
The initiative is expected to improve health outcomes by reducing the incidence of waterborne diseases, ease the burden on women and children who often travel long distances to fetch water, and contribute to socio-economic development by providing communities with dependable access to clean water.
As construction gets underway in Sierra Leone and The Gambia, ECOWAS says the project demonstrates the regional body’s commitment to improving living conditions and accelerating progress towards universal access to safe drinking water across West Africa.
The project also reinforces ECOWAS’s broader vision of promoting inclusive development through investments in critical infrastructure that directly improve the lives of citizen throughout the region.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday, 20th July 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
