Recently, the Minister of Energy, Alhaji Dr Kanja Sesay disclosed that he had directed EDSA to fully launch a nationwide operation on checking the appropriateness of electricity installations with the key focus on combating illegal abstraction of electricity.
Addressing a news conference in Freetown, Alhaji Dr. Kanja Sesay said that this time, EDSA is going to implement non-traditional methods which includes but not limited to naming and shaming of persons found stealing electricity at the expense of government. The Minister went on to advise Sierra Leoneans who may be involved in illegal abstraction of electricity to report themselves now or risk being investigated, prosecuted and punished for their actions.
As a way of implementing the Ministerโs directive, the Director General of EDSA, Dr. Joe Lahai Sormana immediately constituted a team and commenced monitoring and inspection of especially large energy users to ascertain the appropriateness of their connections.
During one of the raids, the team visited the Diamond Lodge Hotel in Kono and discovered that one of their two prepaid meters that carries the bulk of their load was on tamper mode but still gave power output to the hotel. This technically shows that the meter had been interfered with and settings diverted with the aim of consuming electricity and not paying for it.
The Minister has promised to deal severely with saboteurs who try to undermine government’s efforts to provide sustainable electricity for the people of Sierra Leone
