Mohammed Ali, the Managing Director of the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC), has acknowledged misleading the public about the depth of the first Mini-Water Supply System project built in Gbarpolu County.
In an interview on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, on a local radio station in Monrovia, Director Ali admitted that his earlier statement regarding the water well’s depth was incorrect. He initially claimed it was 750 feet deep, but no
“They are controversial, but my initial understanding of what we agreed upon was that the water well should be 750 feet deep. Now, my engineers have confirmed to me that the well is actually 500 feet deep, not 750 feet as I previously claimed,” Mo Ali said on Prime FM.
When asked if he regretted his actions, Ali stated he had no regrets, asserting that he had been the most criticized public figure in Liberia.
Ali’s clarification followed public outcry as citizens labeled the project a scam intended to embezzle public funds. On February 26, 2025, President Joseph N. Boakai dedicated the first-ever Mini-Water Supply System project in Gbarpolu County, which was estimated to cost US$25,000.
The project’s value and the claimed depth of the well were heavily scrutinized and challenged by various individuals, including activist Martin K.N. Kollie. Under pressure, Director Ali maintained his position until he appeared on a local radio station, where he was interrogated by journalists and eventually conceded.
On his Facebook page, Ali responded to Martin Kollie’s accusations, stating, “Dear Martin K.N. Kollie, I’m not sure it would have cost you anything to call and seek guidance from me on what a water system entails, but I guess your insistence on knowing everything prevented you from making that call. Just a little education here: a water supply system is not just the small building you saw; it includes the water source, treatment system, power system, and extensive transmission and distribution systems.”
Ali continued, “A description of the Bopolu Mini-Water Supply System includes: 1. A deep well that’s 750 feet deep. 2. A 4-inch underground pipe network measuring 1.718 kilometers. 3. A 2-inch underground pipe network measuring 1.371 kilometers. 4. A 3/4-inch underground pipe network measuring 213 meters. 5. A building housing the mini chlorinator, lithium battery, reservoir, and solar system. Additionally, four water kiosks with six faucets each were constructed. For your reference, please see the water supply system map. Martin, you have absolutely no idea what a water system is. Stop pretending to know everything simply because you want to show that everyone else is wrong and that you alone can do things right.”
