Renowned Sierra Leonean journalist and BBC correspondent, Umaru Fofana, has voiced his concerns over the ongoing power outages plaguing Freetown, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan.
Taking to his Facebook page, Fofana lamented the frequent blackouts, describing how he has had to eat his dawn meal (Sokoli) in complete darkness for the third time in the first four days of Ramadan.
He highlighted the additional hardship posed by the intense March heat, the hottest month of the year, making life even more difficult for residents without electricity.
“The only time we’ve eaten Sokoli in brightness, the light went out around 4:45 AM,” Fofana wrote, emphasizing the frustrating reality of the city’s unreliable power supply. He also expressed the moral dilemma of using a generator at such early hours, mindful of disturbing neighbors.
Fofana’s post is the latest in a series of public criticisms regarding the persistent blackouts in Sierra Leone’s capital. Days earlier, he had similarly raised concerns about the power crisis, which has been a long-standing issue in Freetown.
Blackouts have been a significant challenge in Sierra Leone, particularly in Freetown, where the lack of consistent electricity supply has disrupted daily life for years. The problem has worsened in recent months, affecting businesses, homes, and essential services.
The ongoing electricity crisis has sparked widespread frustration among citizens, many of whom are calling on the Bio-led government to prioritize finding a sustainable solution.
Freetown has experienced power outages in the past due to various factors, including severe weather conditions damaging parts of the distribution network.
Additionally, financial challenges have impacted electricity supply; for instance, in September 2023, Turkey’s Karpowership switched off electricity supply to Freetown due to an unpaid debt of around $40 million, leading to significant power cuts.
These ongoing issues highlight the need for sustainable solutions to Freetown’s electricity challenges.
