By Septimus Senessie in Kono
The District Coordinator of a civil society organization based in Kono has expressed dissatisfaction over the “long abandonment of the electricity work in the district”, describing it as “a political gimmick and a total discrimination and marginalization by the government of Sierra Leone against the people of Kono especially in the equal distribution of development and resources in the country over the past years.”
Berns Komba Lebbie of the Leadership Efficiency for Advocacy and Development Sierra Leone (LEAD-S/L) was addressing newsmen and other civil society organizations in Koidu including the Kono Bike Riders’ Union, Traders’ Union and Motor Drivers and General Transport Workers’ Union.
He said the electricity work was going on at a snail pace as was the 22 kilometers of road work in the city.
The coordinator recalled that in September last year, they were told by the Regional Manager of the National Power Authority in charge of the Koidu City electrification project, Harry Reider that the electrification of the city was scheduled for three months to end in November adding that before the elections, Koidu would received constant electricity power supply starting with government and business houses.
He added that a similar statement was also made by President Ernest Bai Koroma during the launch on his Campaign at the Konomanyi Lorry Park.
Lebbie maintained that there was prospect at the initial stage of the work but that with two days to the election, “the entire work was put on hold and has remained so since” referring to it as “deceitful”.
He insisted that there was nothing for the APC to show to Kono district in their 5 years in office. He said the 6-meggawatt power generator promised to be installed at the new Sembakoro power house was not forthcoming and that during the rains last year when the Kono-Matotoka road was in a bad shape the minister of energy and power blamed the non-conveyance of the generators on the bad roads. He asked why the generators had still not been brought to the district now that the rains were over and the roads consequently improved. He called it “a mere campaign promise to make fool of the people”.
He called on the people of Kono to stop dancing for “greedy and selfish politicians”.
The chairman of Traders Union in Kono, William D. Sesay also expressed dissatisfaction over the electricity work which he said was adversely impacting on businesses.
