By: Saidu Jalloh
The government of Sierra Leone, represented by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education has informed the general public that the country has been re-selected by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Board of Directors, chaired by the United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
According to the press release, this re-selection signifies an increased confidence in the measures taken by the Government of Sierra Leone to address concerns raised by the MCC Board in September. The release highlighted that the proposed compact aims to enhance the availability of reliable and affordable electricity in Sierra Leone.
Furthermore, it was mentioned that the compact specifically focuses on increasing private sector participation in power supply, doubling the energy transmission capacity, expanding access in selected towns, and improving sector governance and institutional capacity. The press release emphasized that Sierra Leone, having recently concluded core feasibility studies to determine the compact’s scope, looks forward to engaging in negotiations with the MCC to finalize the process.
The release also reflected on the past five years, during which Sierra Leone successfully passed the MCC Scorecard for the fifth consecutive time. It noted that one of the considerations for Sierra Leone’s re-selection was President Julius Maada Bio’s statement acknowledging the valuable contribution of MCC, providing an objective framework to assess the country’s development aspirations in line with both national and international benchmarks.
Highlighting the commitment of the government to critical reforms, the press release affirmed Sierra Leone’s dedication to deepening democracy, improving the investment climate, and enhancing human capital development in accordance with MCC principles. The release concluded by expressing anticipation for the compact, emphasizing its role in addressing the binding constraint of energy and contributing to economic growth and poverty alleviation for the people of Sierra Leone.
