By Abrah Tee Jay
Before 2018 Elections, Sierra Leoneans were enjoying intermittent electricity, not knowing that after 2018, the story will change. The APC led government of former President Ernest Bai Koroma championed energy and infrastructure as his key priority when elected President of Sierra Leone in 2007. In his first 90 days, Ernest Koroma promised the people of Sierra Leone electricity if elected President. Sierra Leone, at the time, was considered the darkest city in the world. The SLPP was in governance with Former President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah (late) as President. Throughout his tenure, President Kabbah was unable to bring sanity in the energy sector. He considered himself unlucky to be surrounded by people who can’t deliver. Therefore, his mission to light Freetown and the entire nation became a pipedream. As if Sierra Leone is cursed whenever the SLPP is in governance, rice and other commodities were not good to write home about. The people decided to pay the SLPP Government in 2007 by overwhelmingly voting them out of governance in 2007.
APC became the savior. Ernest Koroma, a man who has spent virtually his entire life in Sierra Leone, became President. In his first 90 days, his promise to light Freetown became a reality. Though the cost of the project Titled Income Electrix was very expensive, Sierra Leoneans were excited and happy to have a system that is ready to provide for their needs. Light and electricity was badly needed. What the people wanted was light. So, the cost was not an issue. Koroma’s first Energy Minister, Haja Hafsatu Kabbah, now late, ensured that the President’s dream became a reality. She championed the cause and was able to light Freetown within 90 days. There was jubilation all over Freetown. The SLPP couldn’t bear the brunt of provocation it faced for being unable to provide basic electricity for its citizens. Their next criticism became a slogan saying “noto light en road we dae eat”, meaning; what the people wanted is not light and roads. That’s because Ernest Bai Koroma had put more priority on light and roads. Sierra Leoneans began to feel the engine of development.
Fast forward to 2018, SLPP came to power. APC, which was in governance, is now in opposition. The people thought SLPP has come to redeem the masses. Their expectations ended becoming a pipedream. Electricity became an issue. The exchange rate of the Leone to the dollar suffered, with the Leone plummeting beyond belief. Prices of commodities began to rise, but the worst thing that the people could not bear was the constant blackout. Blackout under SLPP had caused the deaths of ten people at Connaught Hospital. Similar situations were reported at PCMH, where doctors had to do surgery with the help of Chinese lamps. And now that the hardship continues to bite, SLPP Blackout has deliberately refused to go. Some school of thoughts opined that the current state of things has inflicted more hardship on poor Sierra Leoneans. Foods preserved in refrigerators and freezers become decomposed. The extreme heat of the weather is not permitting people to have sound sleep at night. There is grumbling all over the place that the ‘SLPP Blackout Too Trangayase’.
The Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority, in a recent press statement, has conceded to the defeat. Joe Lahai, a man, once under investigation for corruption, was brought back to head EDSA. In his absence, electricity was far better. Is Sierra Leone a cursed nation? Why is the SLPP always having problems with electricity provision?