By Precious D. Freeman
Liberia’s energy sector took a new step forward yesterday as Mohammed Sheriff officially assumed the role of Acting Managing Director of the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC).
The induction ceremony, held in Monrovia, marked a significant transition in leadership at the nation’s key power utility.
Representing Mines and Energy Minister Wilmot Paye at the event was Deputy Minister for Energy, Charles Umehai, who welcomed Sheriff on behalf of the Ministry.
In his remarks, Umehai emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to working closely with the LEC Board to ensure that the new management team remains aligned with Liberia’s goal of delivering sustainable, affordable, and efficient electricity to stimulate economic growth and drive national development.
“The Ministry will continue to support LEC in achieving the national vision of reliable power supply,” Umehai said, underscoring the importance of strong coordination between the Ministry, the LEC Board, and the utility’s executive leadership.
In his inaugural address, Acting MD Mohammed Sheriff struck an optimistic tone, outlining a bold vision for the future of LEC.
Sheriff announced plans to soon finalize a power supply agreement with the Republic of Guinea, which will provide Liberia with an additional 30 megawatts of electricity.
This move is expected to complement the 50 megawatts currently imported from the Ivory Coast, enhancing the country’s overall energy capacity.
Sheriff also vowed to tackle persistent issues such as power outages and load shedding, declaring his intention to work toward a future where such disruptions are eliminated.
“This new management is committed to ensuring Liberia achieves zero power outage and zero load shedding,” Sheriff stated. “Our people deserve reliable electricity, and we will deliver.”
A key highlight of the ceremony came during the turnover notes from outgoing interim MD Thomas Gonkerwon, who served from December 2024 to March 2025.
Gonkerwon, now appointed as Acting Deputy Managing Director for Operations under the new leadership, reported a reduction in power-theft-related losses from 37% to 23% during his short tenure—an achievement that was applauded by those in attendance.
The LEC Board, chaired by Cllr. Emmanuel Tulay, expressed confidence in Sheriff and his team, signaling strong support for the corporation’s new direction.
With today’s developments, the stage is set for what many hope will be a new era of improved energy access and service delivery for the Liberian people.
