SIERRA LEONE: Streetlights light up Sierra Leone's captial, in what some say is a government election ploy

Record ID: 456076

  • Title: SIERRA LEONE: Streetlights light up Sierra Leone's captial, in what some say is a government election ploy
  • Date: 18th April 2007
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF BUSY FREETOWN STREET AT NIGHT
  • Embargoed: 3rd May 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Sierra Leone
  • Country: Sierra Leone
  • Topics: Industry,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA4U84MY51DXKRDOZPH5H0AWZC8
  • Story Text: Streetlights have lit up Freetown, for the first since 2002. While appreciating the difference it has made, some are branding the lights a propaganda campaign and are demanding the government do more to improve life in Sierra Leone ahead of July elections. Sierra Leone's capital Freetown is bustling with people, perhaps not usual apart from the fact it is in the middle of the night. The streetlights have been switched on for the first time since the civil war in 2002 and people are taking advantage of the light.
    Muctarr Barrie sells tea on the street, and since the streetlights were operational, business has improved.
    "The street light is fine, we are happy about it. It encourages us to stay on the street till late 12:00 a.m to 1:00 am it's better than when we experienced blackout," said Barrie.
    Sierra Leone hasn't had a steady supply of electricity in 25 years, but in December 2006 the government put up streetlights in the capital. Despite resident's enthusiasm critics say it is just a smokescreen ahead of the elections set for July this year.
    "They make us to suffer in this country. They lied to us. They told us 2007 we will have plenty of food to eat, they brought the light to make fool of us so that they can rig the elections, but it will not happen," said Abubakarr Kamara, a freetown resident.
    "Well that's the feeling we have. They told us we will have light before election, so we are taking it that they have started the campaign," Nelly lewis said, a popcorn seller.
    Even though there is electricity on the streets, many homes still suffer regular blackouts. Josephine Beal only has electricity in her house for few hours a week. If her children don't finish their homework before nightfall, they are forced to do their assignments by candlelight or use kerosene lamps.
    "Its strenuous when we do not have electricity. At least with lights, my children will study, then I will cook, but when there is no light I find it difficult. My kids study hard, but they have to use candles and lamps, so with that we undergo a lot of strain," says Beal.
    Sierra Leone's relies largely on imported fuel for its power generation. The capital's electricity supply comes from the oil-powered Kingtom power generating station, run by the government-owned National Power Authority (NPA). The NPA is the only electricity supplier in Freetown but its generator is old and dilapidated and not able to provide power to all residents.
    "Even if we assume that we were able to generate about 40 mega watts from Kingtom, we cannot transport all that mega watts to the consumers because the cables are under size they are ageing. We also have transformer problems and we need new transformers," said Foday Mannah the General Manager at NPA.
    Elections are set for July this year, the first since United Nation peacekeepers left after a brutal 10-year civil war that ended in 2002.
    "The government is not using electricity as a ploy. This is a necessity. The people of sierra Leone need it and we are going all out to have it," Lloyd Ado said, Sierra Leone's Minister of Energy and Power.
    Electricity will be one of several issues including unemployment and a poor economy that voters will judge the government on.
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