July 19, 2021
Chief Minister, Jacob Jusu Saffa, has 15th July, 2021 described the energy sector as a critical and difficult sector but one that was key to unlocking any country’s social and economic potentials. The Chief Minister was speaking at the Ministry of Energy where he had visited in continuation of his novel visits to different ministries.
Receiving and welcoming the Chief Minster at the Ministry of Energy, Minister of Energy, Alhaji Kanja Sesay, said the Ministry felt highly honored and privileged to receive the Chief Minister, noting that they were relishing the prospects of having a productive session of interaction with him.
Alhaji Kanja Sesay said Mr. Jacob Jusu Saffa had given aura, flair, meaning and significance to the Office of Chief Minister, adding that the new Chief Minister was a bundle of administrative energy and experience. He said they were happy to receive him in their offices and to share the Ministry’s successes and challenges with him
Speaking at the interactive session, the Chief Minister said the energy sector everywhere in Africa was always a difficult or troublesome sector, noting that he was at the session with a very rich knowledge of the sector owing to his interaction with the Ministry of Energy during his days as Minister of Finance.
The Chief Minister said he was at the Ministry of Energy to explain his role as Chief Minister to officials of the Ministry, to forge a very healthy and profitable relationship between his office and the Ministry of Energy, to have a first-hand opportunity of assessing the deliverables that the Ministry could so far boast of and to be informed of the challenges that the Ministry together with its line agencies like Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA), Electricity Generation and Transmission Company(EGTC) and Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC) was faced with.
He said he needed collaboration with different ministries to help him achieve his core mandates as Chief Minister, stressing that the Office of the Chief Minister was responsible to check whether ministries had delivered on their policy statements or action plans. He said his Office coordinates, facilitates and makes follow-ups on implementation of key deliverables.
Responding to the Chief Minister, the Minister of Energy said he was overly impressed with the presentation of the Chief Minister and informed him of the progress and challenges in his Ministry. He said there was now a 25% national access to energy and spoke about the many energy projects that were being carried out.
Through power point presentations, Project Manager for Bumbuna II,Cyril Grant, showcased projects that were either completed or were underway, with specific references to Energy Strategic Goals and Sector Statement which include four dimensions in Universal Access to Energy, Financial Sustainability, Reform of the Energy Sector and Significant Increase in Renewable Energy.
The Minister of Energy was left with his head high up on account of the commendations he received for his stellar stewardship and zest in seeing that government’s overall policy objective in the energy sector was realized.