Post a comment 
Citizens of Freetown have called for the immediate resignation of the Presidential Adviser on Energy, the Minister of Energy, and the Director Generals of the Electricity Generation and Transmission Company (EGTC) and the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) following prolonged blackouts affecting the city.
The appeal, issued by civil society and human rights lawyer Victor Lansana Koroma Esq., comes as residents struggle to cope with inconsistent electricity supply, forcing many to rely on costly alternative power sources such as “Tiger Generators,” reminiscent of the historic “Kabbah Tiger” era.
Despite paying monthly electricity bills and meter service charges, citizens report being frequently deprived of electricity, even when meters show sufficient units. The prolonged outages have sparked outrage over the lack of transparency and accountability by EDSA and EGTC, which are accused of mismanagement and failing to maintain the power infrastructure.
The situation has been exacerbated by a reduced supply from the Turkish Karpowership docked offshore, with government debts reportedly causing the company to cut power provision. Additionally, the Bumbuna hydroelectric plant’s capacity has dropped to less than a quarter of its peak output, while EDSA reports multiple faults in its network, including burnt MV cables, faulty transformers, and vandalized substations across the Western Area.
Current demand in Freetown is estimated at 130–150 MW, but supply has dropped to less than 50 MW. EDSA has implemented a load-shedding schedule that prioritizes large industries and private clients willing to pay in foreign currency, leaving essential services such as hospitals, security facilities, and local households intermittently without power.
Lawyer Koroma emphasized that the lack of professionalism and transparency in the energy sector has contributed significantly to the crisis. He criticized ministers and technocrats for functioning as politicians rather than experts in their fields, failing to provide honest assessments and solutions to national challenges.
“The nation will only succeed when our ministers and technical advisors provide truthful, professional guidance to the President and serve the people effectively,” Koroma said.
The public, he added, views the denial of electricity services as a violation of citizens’ rights, a breach of contract, and an act of negligence. Citizens are now demanding accountability and have threatened to take legal action if the officials do not resign immediately.
