By Ragan M. Conteh
The Opposition Leader of the All People’s Congress (APC) Party in Parliament, Hon. Chernoh Maju Bah, has stated, in the Chamber of Parliament, that if the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) government, especially the Ministry of Energy, cannot add more value, improve or increase electricity generation in the country, the Ministry should maintain the legacies of former President Ernest Bai Koroma in terms of electricity generation.
Hon. Chernoh Maju Bah made the submission on Tuesday 3rd November 2020 during the debate for the approval of the agreement for the utility grid infrastructure between the Government of Sierra Leone, represented by the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority, Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Finance and Karadeniz Powership Kaya Bey Company Limited.
“The APC knows electricity is expensive. The APC is very much concerned about the basic needs of our people, especially electricity, which has increased the livelihood of the people in the last regime. If you cannot improve what you met, just maintain what you met,” Hon. Chernoh Bah said.
Hon. Bah pointed out that the opposition always supports the approval of bills in Parliament, which shows commitment to the development of Sierra Leone, adding that the Ministry of Energy should dialogue with various political leaders, in Parliament, to share more ideas for improved electricity generation in the country.
According to Hon RM Bah, tax exemption brings more development, creates more job opportunities and will boost electricity and other development projects in the country.
He however countered what the deputy Leader of Government Business, Hon Bashiru Silikie, submitted to the House about the Transmission and Distribution network projects contracts left by former President Koroma’s regime.
“In 2007, when the APC took over power, we met less than 1% electricity generation in the country. It was better that we increased it to 20%. Three years have gone in the SLPP government, but it is the same 20% electricity left by the APC that Sierra Leoneans are still enjoying,” Hon. Bah added.
The opposition Leader also reacted to the deputy Leader of Government, who was talking about the former regime’s cosmetic roads left. “Tell me one major road that has been constructed by this current SLPP regime, tell me one major road, the records are there,” Hon. Bah said.
An opposition Member of Parliament, representing Constituency 077, Hon. Abdul Kargbo, said electricity power outage will not only disturb school going children, but also marriages.
The Leader of the National Grand Coalition (NGC), Hon. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella, said it is a pity that the current administration is still working on temporal measures on electricity in the country, adding that, “Temporal has becoming permanent in the country.”
Hon. KKY stated that the last regime spent lots of resources on electricity generation but less than 20% are still enjoying electricity in the country, informing that there should be more permanent solutions needed on electricity generation.
He went further that temporal solution has been in existence for ages in every regime, citing that, in Ghana, every regime works apolitical for electricity.
He said the NGC is asking for more permanent solutions to electricity supply in the country, adding that they want the government, especially the Ministry of Finance, to allocate more resources to the energy sector, which has become a right to the livelihood of the people.
The Leader of government Business in Parliament, Hon. Matthew Sahr Nyuma, noted that energy is now a human right issue in the country and it is the right of everyone to access clean and affordable energy, adding that, as a government, they are well aware that government is continuity, the reason they put more premium on electricity generation.
“Electricity is a continuation because the late President Kabba constructed Bumbuna Hydro and Former President Koroma improved on it, and now this regime will also ensure that electricity becomes a priority,” he pledged.
Responding to the submissions of all Members of Parliament, the Minister of Energy, Hon Alhaji Kanja Sesay, said energy is a national issue and that he was excited because the interest on the debate for energy is unprecedented.
The minister noted all the concerns of MPs and assured that his ministry will give more electricity services to the people, adding that the government is now using its resources to bring electricity to the major district towns in the country.
One of the major concerns raised is the electricity theft, which is not new. He stressed that his ministry has made several arrests and still it has not stopped.
“The electricity people enjoy today is better than yesterday,” he boasted.