By Amara Thoronka
The Honourable Vice President of Sierra Leone, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh switched on a brand new solar mini-grid facility on Friday, August 16th, 2024, at Kalangba, a community in Loko Masama Chiefdom, Port Loko district, northern Sierra Leone.
With smiles and jubilation, the people of Kalangba welcomed the development, citing a range of socio-economic benefits they would derive from it.
Commissioning the solar energy infrastructure, Vice President Jalloh confirmed that the mini-grid is brand new, while highlighting its impact on the community.
“We put smiles on the faces of the Kalangba people in the Loko Masama Chiefdom by switching on the lights powered by the brand new solar mini-grid. As part of His Excellency Julius Maada Bio’s vision to expand electricity access, this mini-grid will provide light to over 250 households, healthcare facilities and small businesses,” he said.
Dr. Jalloh told the people of Loko Masama that the development is part of President Bio’s commitment to provide sustainable energy across the country, assuring that other communities like Babara, Kalangba Junction, Petifu, and Gbinti would soon be lit up.
Giving a highlight of similar energy development nationwide, Vice President Jalloh disclosed that over 103 communities across the country have been connected to mini grids under the Julius Maada Bio presidency, saying energy is crucial in realizing development in other sectors like agriculture, education, health and business.
He however told the people of Loko Masama that, now that the energy infrastructure has been realized, they have the moral responsibility to protect it, emphasizing that “Loko Masama will always be close to my heart”.
The Vice President was welcomed by the Paramount Chief of Loko Masama chiefdom, PC Shebora Raka III, who described the Vice President as a son of the soil who truly loves Loko Masama.
Appreciating the development on behalf of his people, PC Raka III mentioned that the commissioned energy facility would make a difference in livelihoods, education and health in his chiefdom.
The Vice President was accompanied by the Deputy Minister of Energy l, Dr. Eldred Taylor.
Dr. Taylor thanked the people of Kalangba for supporting the development in all its stages, emphasizing the need for community ownership of the infrastructure.
“The facility is durable, dependable and affordable,” the Deputy Minister of Energy l assured, while recognizing the efforts of the Vice President in ensuring development in that part of the country.
Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Energy, Emmanuel Junisa; Chairman of the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Energy, Hon. Kekura Vandi; and many other dignitaries graced the commissioning ceremony, making similar speeches of thanks to the government and calling on locals of the community to protect the said solar-powered energy facility.