By Alpha Abu
The spate of vandalisation of electrical transformers and theft of power supply together with other acts of criminality associated with the energy sector are now being addressed with the formation of a crack Joint Field Task Force on Electricity. Senior officials of the force were on Tuesday 21st September 2021 introduced to journalists at the Ministry of Information and Communication in Freetown.
The Minister of Energy Alhaji Kanja Sesay said they have been compelled as a government to act because of the criminality surrounding the electricity system particularly in the Western Area.
He spoke about the destruction of transformers supplying neighbourhoods by ill- motivated persons and other acts of criminality such as illegal abstraction of electricity, meter bypass, cable, and meter thefts. He said the Ministry of Energy solicits subsidies from the Ministry of Finance every month to augment their operations because of the loss of revenue experienced by the Electricity Distribution and Supply Agency (EDSA), a situation the Minister affirmed could have been avoided.
He said other partners in the energy sector such as Karpowership have to be paid for their services, something he said the government strenuously does continuously.
He believed even if the energy sector could not accrue profit, they should at least be having a break-even but were instead running at a loss. Minister Sesay pointed out that they have increased power generation but have not realised any corresponding profit.
He stressed they would now go after those engaged in the nefarious acts against power supply in the country. Six courts have been set up in the Western Area that would now try suspects; already 62 people have been arrested and are to face court action. The energy minister said he had approached the Attorney General and the Chief Justice for the setting up of the separate courts because of the rampant thieving and vandalism the sector has faced since the government was sworn into office.
Sesay warned the line has now been drawn and they will go after those bent on disrupting electricity supply in the country. He however admitted that there has been a fall in reported cases of destruction to transformers ever since the new task force stepped up monitoring and community engagements. He also revealed there has been an increase in revenue generation since then.
Information and Communication Minister, Mohamed Rahman Swaray said it was now a call to action against those he described as enemies of the state. He observed that there are some Sierra Leoneans who are bent on torpedoing the efforts of the government by targeting electricity infrastructures. Swaray asserted the government was now ready to deal a lethal blow to the electricity criminals whom he said are bent on holding the government back.
Similar strong sentiments were expressed by Minister of Internal Affairs, David Panda Noah also explained how suspects charged to court could face a 50 million Leone fine or two years imprisonment.
The Inspector-General of Police Ambrose Sovula highlighted the need for full community participation in the policing of EDSA facilities and warned that his officers will go after people caught stealing electricity or vandalising facilities belonging to EDSA.
The western area has been divided into eight zones with two teams of the task force to be deployed to each zone. The Military, Police, Office of National Security, and EDSA personnel make up the composition of the task force. Dr. David Coker from the energy ministry is spearheading the task force.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online (22/09/21)
