By Emmanuel Mbowa
Freetown, 6th August, 2026 – The National Protected Area Authority (NPAA) has launched legal and administrative measures to curb encroachment within the Congo Dam catchment at the Western Area National Peninsula Park, after identifying several illegal structures through its Geographic Information System (GIS) Unit.
In a notice issued on August 6, the NPAA underscored the national importance of the Congo Dam, which supplies safe drinking water to more than 20,000 people daily. The Authority warned that continued encroachment threatens water quality, accelerates erosion and sedimentation, undermines biodiversity, and jeopardizes ecosystem services vital to thousands of Sierra Leoneans.
Citing provisions of the NPPA and Conservation Trust Fund Act of 2022, the Authority stressed that unauthorized occupation, construction, or activities degrading protected areas are prohibited. It cautioned that all illegal developments identified within the catchment are subject to enforcement action, including demolition and prosecution of offenders.
“The protection of the Congo Dam catchment is essential to ensuring a reliable supply of potable water, conserving biodiversity, and safeguarding Sierra Leone’s natural heritage for present and future generations,” the NPAA stated.
The Authority urged affected persons to cooperate with enforcement efforts and desist from further construction or expansion within the protected watershed.
