July 28, 2021
BY PROBLYN JOHN ALPHA (KONO)
Participants of a day press conference organized by the Kono Student’s union executive to map out ways of addressing the incessant electricity power outage in the municipality of Koidu have described the constant boycotting of meetings by the management of the Electricity Generation and Transmission Company (EGTC) and the Electricity Distribution Supply Authority (EDSA) as a gross disrespect to the union and the people of Kono District by extension.
It could be recalled that the aforesaid electricity institutions have boycotted series of meetings organized by the civil society organizations, the district security committee to name but a few with no valid reasons which many have described as unfortunate with regards the operations of EGTC and EDSA.
Addressing the said press conference the National President of the Kono Students’ union, Sahr Fengai Kaimachiende foremost expressed dismay over the conspicuous absent of the two engineers of EGTC and EDSA having invited them to the said press conference to map out strategies to address the incessant power outage in Koidu city.
He intimated the audience that the objective of organizing the press conference is one of the Union’s responses to advocacy and for their voices to be heard widely on the prevailing operations of the two electricity institutions.
The National President of the Kono Student’s union maintained that owing to the importance of electricity which will in no doubt boom the economy of the district and the country as a whole.
He said with the allocation of at least 45.5 billion Leones support to the Ministry of Energy and power by the Sierra Leone people’s Party led government and the machine available in the district to provide electricity there is no need to have the present incessant electricity power outage in the municipality of Koidu.
He underscored the initiative of EGTC and EDSA having a Public Relations Unit to be informing the people about their operations rather than giving light at their pleasure which has damaged so many electrical appliances.
The Kono students’ union head pointed out that the implications of power outage cannot be overemphasized as the massive failure of pupils at external examinations cannot be unconnected with the problem of electricity power outage.
Sahr Fengai Kaimachiande whilst thanking the two electricity institutions for the recent improvement in their operations that is, the provision of light at 10:A.M to 2:P.M and at 6PM to 12AM daily.
He implored them to maintain the said improvement noting that there are plans afoot by his union to engage the Kono District members of Parliament and the Ministry of Energy and power on the said issue of the incessant power outage in Koidu city. Campaigns for the consumer protection law to be enacted among many others were solutions proffered as the way forward to the problem of power outage in the municipality of Koidu.