By Musa Paul Feika
The Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) Chief Minister, David Moinina Sengeh, has accused mosques and churches, the various Ministries Department and Agencies (MDAs), family members and relatives of illegal abstraction, or of stealing electricity.
Chief Sengeh made the statement on Tuesday, 30th April, 2024, during the usual government press briefing held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation at Tower Hill in Freetown.
According to the Chief Minister, the Electricity Distribution Supply and Authority (EDSA) has been running at a loss due to illegal abstraction of electricity by the aforesaid entities emphasising that EDSA have not been receiving payment for the amount of electricity they have been supplying.
He asserted that even if EDSA generated 100 MW (megawatts) they will only be able to supply 80 MW, adding that not everybody will be able to get electricity in Freetown.
David Sengeh assured that the fight against electricity theft is a holistic one, adding that the government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Finance (MoF) has paid $17 million to Karpowership to supply electricity in Sierra Leone.
He admitted that the government of Sierra Leone has to pay $48 million to Karpowership.
He also affirmed that for the past weeks there is darkness in Freetown and called every citizen to be aware of their responsibility to curb the illegal abstraction of electricity.
The Chief Minister said only Sierra Leoneans can make and change Sierra Leone.
Buttressing, the Deputy Minister of Energy noted that EDSA needs to be reformed disclosing that they are working hard to ensure there is stable electricity supply in Sierra Leone.
He said although most of the engineers and contractors working for EDSA are Sierra Leoneans, not foreigners, there is still illegal abstraction of electricity people or businesses are not paying for.
The Deputy Minister of Energy, Dr Eldred Tunde Taylor, assured that they are currently reviewing the Electricity Act of 2008 for it to be repealed and replaced with a new one that will include punitive measures to be taken against those who are in the habit of illegal abstraction of electricity in the country.
