By Alex Yomah
The plenary of the Liberian Senate has voted unanimously to summon three government institutions over the difficulties citizens faced in getting access to electricity.
The Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC), Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission (LERC), and the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) have been summoned to appear before the entire Senate having formed its plenary into a committee on Thursday, May 13, 2021 for probe the issue at bar.
The plenary’s decision to summon the requisite government’s institutions followed a motion filed by Montserrado County Senator, Abraham Darius Dillon stating that the institutions be made to appear before a committee but the decision to summon the institutions was triggered by Grand Kru County Senator, Numene Bartekwa, Chairperson in the Senate’s Committee on Concessions and Investment.
In his communication addressed to Senate Pro-Temp, Albert Chie, Senator Bartekwa informed the Liberian Senate that Liberians and businesses are experiencing extreme difficulties to access electricity in the country despite the enactment of the appropriate laws by the Legislature to enhance said process.
“This situation, Mr. Pro-temp, is becoming a serious embarrassment to the entire government and therefore requires a prompt action by this plenary especially considering that electricity is one of the key factors needed for the revitalization of our national economy.
“Indeed, the Government of Liberia and its international partners have invested huge resources into the development of the Mount Coffee Hydropower Plant with the total output of 88 Megawatts plus the West African Power Pool with 27 Megawatts across border electricity support from Ivory Coast,” Senator Bartekwa averred.
The Grand Kru County Senator expressed disappointment indicating that despite the huge investment, Liberians, businesses and foreign national in the country are still yearning for electricity without any solution in site.
He further said, considering this grave embarrassment that Liberians including foreign residents and businesses in the country are faced with on a daily basis, he is requesting that his colleague request the Senate’s plenary to constitute itself into a Committee of the whole on May 13, 2021 to invite the institutions responsible for electricity.