By Nasratu Kargbo
As CLSG completes work on the Kono sub-station line, President Julius Maada Bio has promised uninterrupted electricity for residents of Kono District, starting the 10th of October this year; the diamondiferous district joining other places such as Kenema and Bo that have since been powered by the grid.
Bio made this commitment on the 4th of October 2022 during a nationwide tour.
He said lighting up Kono is part of his government’s commitment to electrify all district headquarter towns.
Speaking to Politico, Engineer Paul Charles Saffa, and Country Manager TRANSCO CLSG-Sierra Leone said they are currently on test energization of the Koidu power station from their sub-station and that they are currently waiting on the government’s request to energize the line.
The West Africa Power Pool project deals with the provision of electricity to the four Mano River Union Countries and seeks to offer reliable and affordable electricity which has been a perennial problem for the beneficiary countries. It involves a power transmission line of 225 KW running through 1,303 KM with 11 substations across the four countries from which Liberia will have four stations, Guinea two, and Sierra Leone five.
Speaking on other issues, the President also assured citizens in Kailahun of the government’s commitment to making sure that the Kailahun-Koindu road is completed.
He explained that the tremendous spending made in the education sector is a result of the commitment he made during his campaign in 2018, that he will provide Free Quality Education (FQE). Highlighting the positive strides the FQE has made, Bio explained that there has been an increase in enrollment and that girls now have access to quality education.
The president mentioned the recent West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results, from which a girl had the best result. The President assured all that the government will continue to empower women and girls.
During his engagement with the stakeholders in Kailahun District, president Bio expressed delight over the massive turnout by district residents on the last day of the second phase of the voter registration exercise.
Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, the Paramount Chief of Luawa, Mohamed Kailondo Banya emphasized the President’s commitment to developing human capital through the Free Quality Education programme, which according to him has seen an increase in the retention of more girls in schools than ever before, and having attracted more enrollment.
The Paramount Chief appealed to the President to help them fix their road, explaining that they have not been actively engaging and participating in national issues as a result of the bad road network in their chiefdoms. Banya, therefore, called on Bio to consider them in his quest to transform the country by empowering them with mobility.
He noted that their priority as traditional leaders is to work and support all the development strides of the government.
Copyright © 2022 Politico Online (07/10/22)
