By Ragan Conteh
Inspite of the numerous efforts by both past and present governments to nip in the bud the acute shortage of electricity supply in the country, there are still people who are on a daily basis working as criminals tirelessly to destroy electricity transformers and ultimately punish citizens from benefiting from power generation.
In Port Loko City on the night of Thursday, 12th September, 2019 on Kambia highway, some hoodlums reportedly vandalized electricity transformers that transmit electricity power to the Resident Minister, North-West office and other important administrative offices in Port Loko City.
According to the EDSA Engineer in Port Loko, the situation is very critical and disturbing and that though it is a difficult task, but gave the assurance that power would be restored in the next 24 hours.
Citizens of Port Loko City continue to express dissatisfaction for the erratic behavior of the hoodlums, also citing the Solar street lights that were vandalized by thieves some time ago.
Port Loko District, according to one Amidu Swaray, is among the largest benefactors of power generation in the country blessed with hydro-electricity which the indigenes are supposed to benefit from rather than being pests to destroy it.
He said the benefit of electricity is enormous today because gone are days when people relied on candles, burning fires, gas and kerosene lamps to eat, read or bathe at night.
Mr. Swaray opined that destroying it is like going back to the dark days of ‘Kabba Tigers’.
He went on that just about every aspect of the world economy depends on electricity, and that 3% percent of Africa’s GDP is obliterating every year due to problems with energy supply as without electricity, you can’t make or do much of anything”.
The Police in Port Loko City are reportedly investigating the incident while the criminals are reportedly at large.