Sierra Leone’s Minister of Energy, Alhaji Kanja Sesay, who is leading a high-level delegation of stakeholders in the energy sector to Kono,has symbolically erected the first electricity pole to connect the district to the CLSG interconnections and assured the people of that diamond-rich district that plans were underway to enable them enjoy 24 hours of electricity supply.
Welcoming the delegation, Paramount Chief of Nimikoro Chiefdom,PC Aiah Dante Bona,said his people were happy to see such a high-level team in their district,noting that they were already relishing the prospects of enjoying sustainable and quality electricity.
Giving an overview of the purpose of the visit, Director General of EGTC, Ing. Milton Ngebai, said they were in Kono to assure the people of plans to connect the district to the CLSG interconnections, stressing that the contract which had already been awarded to a renowned energy company was going to be completed within a two-month timeframe.
While delivering his keynote address,Minister of Energy, Alhaji Kanja Sesay,said the high-level representation to the district was indicative of the attention that President Bio had given to Kono, adding that the President had asked him to convey his appreciation to the people of Kono for never allowing their patience for sustainable electricity to wane or grow thin. He said everybody was aware of the challenging electricity situation in the district.
Mr. Sesay said Kono was only enjoying 10 hours of electricity out of the expected 24 hours a day, stressing that that ugly situation would soon give way to a sustainable 24-hour supply of electricity.
He said Bo and Kenema were now having reliable,sustainable and quality electricity courtesy of the TRANSCO CLSG facility and assured that it was now the turn of Kono to benefit from same .
One of the stakeholders of Kono district and former Ambassador to China, Ambassador S.E. Johnny, praised the Minister for his stellar leadership, adding that Alhaji Kanja Sesay had made an immaculate name and reputation for himself within the matrix of national development.
He catalogued the critical social, economic and industrial importance of electricity and assured that Kono was ready to reciprocate the development strides of President Bio in the district at the 2023 polls.
Mayor of Koidu City Council,His Worship Komba Sam,also spoke at the ceremony.