By Amin Kef Sesay
During a well-attended Press Conference held in the Conference Room of the Ministry of Information and Communications at Youyi Building, in Freetown on the 21st September,2021 which was attended by mainly members of the Fourth Estate and Civil Society Organizations, the Minister of Energy, Alhaji Kanja Sesay, stated that acts of engagement in the illegal abstraction of electricity and the criminal vandalization of electricity installations and materials are based on cowardice, lack of patriotism saying it is inimical to the Government’s moves to revamp the electricity sector.
Alhaji Kanja Sesay furthered that his presence is to specifically throw light on the Task Force that was set up on the directive of the President and to deliver a stern warning to those engaged in the act of electricity theft to desist forthwith, stressing further that the act had become a national security concern.
He dilated on the terrible state of the energy sector he inherited adding that before April 2018, energy access in the country stood at 16% with generation and distribution capacities facing serious challenges maintaining that tremendous strides have been undertaken to revamp the sector.
He described energy generation and distribution as capital intensive, noting therefore that it was always going to be difficult for the government to solitarily work towards increasing access to energy. This he said, warranted the establishment of convenient partnerships with companies in the private sector.
The Minister lamented over the spate of domestic and industrial electricity theft which he said had adversely affected the revenue generation capacity of the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority and independent power providers.
He disclosed that the rate in which the vandalization of transformers was taking place has decreased saying they will not become complacent to continue combating the vices and called on EDSA and state security agencies to be very vigilant.
The Minister also made mention of the Electricity Crimes Court that was recently established and the convictions that have been made thus far.
On his part, the Inspector General of Police, Ambrose Sovula, said his institution is aware of the critical significance of electricity and registered the commitment of the security sector to supporting the task force. He called on citizens to refrain from the act and to report instances of electricity theft to authorities.
Head of Compliance of the Presidential Task Force, Dr. Caulker, dilated on the rationale for the setting up of the unit and gave an insight into the strategic significance of the unit, its work and expectations.
