Failed Mid-June Promise…
’INCOMPETENT’ ENERGY MINISTER SLAMMED AS BLACKOUT CONTINUES
By Ibrahim Alusine Kamara (Kamalo)
The credibility of Sierra Leone’s energy sector leadership is coming under increasing scrutiny as residents across Freetown continue to endure persistent blackouts nearly a month after the Minister of Energy assured the nation that electricity supply would stabilize by the middle of June.
It could be recalled that in late April this year, the Minister of Energy, Cyril Grant, was on Truth Media, where he openly apologized for his ministry’s glaring failure to provide stable electricity supply. He further assured the nation that by mid-June this year, there will be stable and reliable electricity supply.
Sadly however, instead of the promised improvement, many communities—particularly in the eastern part of the capital—say they are experiencing one of the worst periods of electricity supply in recent memory.
From Kissy and Wellington to Calaba Town, Allen Town, Blackhall Road, Shell and surrounding communities, residents describe the electricity supply as little more than “disco lights,” with power repeatedly switching on and off before disappearing for hours.
Many households say it has been almost a month since they last enjoyed uninterrupted electricity throughout the night. Businesses are struggling to survive, students are finding it difficult to study after dark, and families are spending increasing amounts on generator fuel while enduring sleepless nights in the middle of the rainy season.
The timing has made the situation even more difficult for many Sierra Leoneans to understand.
Traditionally, the rainy season has been the period when electricity supply improves because higher water levels support hydroelectric generation. This year, however, many consumers say supply has deteriorated instead of improving.
That reality has brought renewed attention to the Minister of Energy’s public assurance in April that electricity would stabilize by mid-June. With the country now approaching mid-July and many communities still experiencing prolonged outages, critics argue that the commitment has not been fulfilled. (moice.gov.sl)
Across radio programmes, social media platforms and community discussions, citizens are increasingly asking whether the Minister’s assurance was based on realistic planning or whether the public was given expectations that could not be met.
For many residents, the issue is no longer simply about unreliable electricity. It is also about public accountability.
“When a minister gives a timeline, people naturally expect results,” one resident said. “If those results do not materialize, the public deserves a clear explanation of what went wrong and when the situation will improve.”
The prolonged outages continue to affect homes, hospitals, schools and businesses, with many small enterprises reporting mounting losses because of the rising cost of alternative power sources.
Government has previously cited generation constraints, ageing infrastructure, maintenance work and distribution challenges as factors affecting electricity supply while maintaining that reforms are underway. (sierraloaded.sl)
However, for thousands of residents across Freetown—especially in the eastern communities—those explanations have done little to ease growing frustration.
As the rainy season advances and the Minister’s own timeline has passed without the anticipated improvement, pressure is mounting on the Ministry of Energy and the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) to explain why the promised stability has not materialized and, more importantly, when Sierra Leoneans can finally expect the reliable electricity supply they were led to anticipate.