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Dr. Alhaji Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella, Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy, and Food Security, and Sector Head of the Energy Ministry, led a distinguished delegation from the Western and Central Africa Distributed Access to Renewable Energy Services (DARES) group in a meeting with President Julius Maada Bio at State House.
The delegation is in Sierra Leone for a Government Consultative Workshop organized in partnership with the Government of Sierra Leone, the World Bank Group, and Sustainable Energy for All. The workshop aims to tackle critical barriers to electrification across West and Central Africa and to develop strategies for accelerating access to renewable energy in the region.
During the meeting, Dr. Yumkella underscored the importance of addressing energy poverty to achieve broader development goals. He highlighted Sierra Leone’s commitment to renewable energy and the significant strides made under President Bio’s administration toward sustainable development.
President Bio welcomed the delegation, reaffirming Sierra Leone’s dedication to advancing energy access as a pathway to improving livelihoods and fostering economic growth. He emphasized the role of partnerships in driving the renewable energy agenda forward and reiterated the government’s commitment to achieving universal energy access.
The consultative workshop will bring together key stakeholders, including policymakers, development partners, and private sector actors, to evaluate existing challenges and propose actionable solutions. Outcomes from the workshop are expected to inform regional and national strategies, ensuring sustainable energy solutions reach underserved populations.
Sierra Leone, like many nations in the region, faces significant hurdles in achieving universal electrification, with less than a third of its population having access to reliable power. The government has prioritized renewable energy initiatives as part of its broader strategy to combat climate change, enhance energy security, and stimulate economic development.
