By Sahrfoa Matturie
Electricity supply emerged as one of the most contentious issues at the Presidential Town Hall Meeting in Makeni, as the city’s Mayor directly appealed to President Julius Maada Bio to address the prolonged power outage that has left residents without a reliable electricity supply for months.
Speaking during the interactive session, the Mayor painted a grim picture of the situation in Makeni, stating that the city has endured nearly six months of darkness. He said the persistent blackout has disrupted daily life, affected businesses, hampered learning in schools, and created serious challenges for healthcare facilities and households that depend on electricity for essential services.
The Mayor urged President Bio to prioritize Makeni’s electricity needs, stressing that residents have continued to suffer despite repeated calls for intervention. According to him, restoring stable power should be treated as an urgent national priority to revive economic activities and improve the living conditions of people in the northern city.
Responding to the concerns, Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, defended the government’s performance in the energy sector. He argued that Sierra Leone has made significant progress in electricity generation since President Bio assumed office, stating that national generation capacity has increased considerably under the current administration.
Bah maintained that the government has continued investing in the energy sector to improve electricity production and expand access across the country, adding that the administration remains committed to addressing existing challenges.
President Bio also responded to the Mayor’s concerns, acknowledging the difficulties facing the energy sector while rejecting suggestions that Makeni had been deliberately neglected. He argued that electricity generated nationwide is distributed across different parts of the country and that no single city can consume the majority of the available supply.
The President further claimed that illegal electricity connections by some residents have contributed to the challenges affecting electricity distribution in Makeni. He noted that power theft places additional pressure on the national grid, reduces efficiency, and undermines efforts to provide stable electricity services.
Despite the government’s explanations, the Mayor maintained that the reality experienced by residents tells a different story. He insisted that regardless of national generation statistics, businesses and households in Makeni have continued to endure prolonged blackouts, making life increasingly difficult for citizens.
He renewed his appeal for immediate government intervention, emphasizing that access to reliable electricity is essential for economic growth, education, healthcare delivery, and overall development.
The exchange between the Mayor and President Bio became one of the most notable moments of the Town Hall Meeting, highlighting growing public frustration over electricity shortages while exposing differing perspectives on the state of Sierra Leone’s energy sector.
While government officials pointed to improvements in electricity generation and ongoing investments, local leaders emphasized that communities ultimately judge progress by the consistency of electricity reaching homes and businesses.
The discussion underscored the continuing challenges facing Sierra Leone’s power sector and reinforced calls for practical solutions that will ensure communities such as Makeni receive reliable and sustainable electricity to support development and improve the quality of life for residents.
