By Politico staff writer
Alhaji Kanja Sesay, Minister of Energy has on Saturday 19th June 2021 commissioned electric poles in Bonthe Island to kick start the electrification project in the township.
Responding to the development, District Council Chairman, Layemin Joe Sandi said as sons and daughters of the district, they were appreciative of the prospects of enjoying electricity that would give a facelift to the city, boost the economy and positively impact social services. He commended the Energy Minister for his industry and commitment to ensuring the vision of President Bio in the district is actualized.
While symbolically erecting the poles to signal the physical commencement of the project, Alhaji Sesay said the Bonthe Island project was behind other township electrification projects in terms of implementation because it was among the second set of towns approved for the project. He however assured that with the erection of the poles, contractors were going to accelerate the process of implementation.
He said that the riverine or coastal terrain of Bonthe district had posed huge logistical challenges especially in the area of transportation of materials, noting however that 70% of the poles had been deposited on the island already and that contractors have been instructed to fast track the process of erection to prevent the poles from attracting rust.
Minister Sesay noted that on his last visit to Bonthe at the close of last year together with President Julius Maada Bio, had signed the contract for the electrification of the island and the mainland, adding that President Bio was a man of his words. He highlighted the many benefits that electricity would accrue to the island.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Solomon Sengepoh Thomas, commended the government for their foresight and statecraft. He described the occasion as historic and promised the people of Bonthe that their unflinching and consistent support of the Sierra Leone Peoples Party would occasion a variety of life-changing development programs in the district.
Similar ceremony was reportedly held by the Minister of Energy on the following day at the mainland in Mattru Jong in Bonthe district.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online (21/06/21)
