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Sierra Leone has been selected to join the global Mission 300 initiative, a program launched by the World Bank, the African Development Bank, and partners to connect 300 million Africans to reliable electricity by 2030.
This selection is both an opportunity and a stark reminder of our country’s struggle with energy poverty.
The truth is clear. Sierra Leone’s electricity access rate remains below 40 percent. This figure stands in sharp contrast to the government’s more optimistic claims of wider access. For ordinary Sierra Leoneans, the reality is not found in official speeches but in the daily frustration of blackouts, the reliance on generators, and the absence of power in many rural communities.
Our inclusion in Mission 300 was not a reward for progress but a recognition of need. We were chosen precisely because millions of our citizens remain in the dark literally. The program aims to mobilize resources and partnerships to expand generation capacity, strengthen distribution networks, and increase the share of renewable energy in our national mix.
This opportunity demands honesty, discipline, and accountability. Unless we confront the reality of government’s integrity deficit, no amount of international support will change the lives of the people.
As a nation, we must take ownership of this mission. Development partners can provide the tools, but only visionary leadership and practical reforms can ensure success. Our people deserve more than inflated statistics they deserve electricity that is available, affordable, and reliable.
