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Chief Minister Dr David Moinina Sengeh has acknowledged the ongoing electricity blackout affecting parts of Freetown, assuring citizens that the situation is temporary and efforts are underway to resolve it.
“You’re absolutely right, blackout is still in Freetown, but it will be for a little bit until we solve it,” Dr Sengeh said while addressing Sierra Leoneans in Leicester City, United Kingdom.
The Chief Minister used the opportunity to highlight the government’s broader achievements in the energy sector, noting that access to electricity across the country has significantly improved.
He stated that the current administration has “doubled the number of people who have access to electricity” nationwide, pointing to developments in several districts.
Dr Sengeh cited Kamakwie, which he described as “the heartbeat of the APC and a stronghold of the opposition in Karene District,” as an example, saying the town now enjoys a 24-hour electricity supply. He added that similar progress has been recorded in other parts of the country.
Addressing criticism surrounding the outages in the capital, the Chief Minister cautioned against generalising the situation.
He said, “Yes, blackout is in Freetown, but it may be wrong to conclude that blackout in the dry season means government is not delivering or that the 36 per cent access figure is a lie.”
He emphasised the importance of accountability and openness in governance, noting that challenges in Freetown must be acknowledged while also recognising progress made elsewhere.
“Accountability and transparency require that we speak about what is challenging in Freetown and also accept that across the country government has indeed been trying,” he said.
Dr. Sengeh further explained that increased electricity access in the Northwest and Northeast regions has been supported by the introduction of mini-grids.
He urged citizens to understand the distinction between universal electricity access and incremental progress.
“It’s important that we are able to understand the difference between everybody having light, which will take time, and the fact that we have doubled the number of people who have access to electricity,” he concluded.
