By Hassan Osman Kargbo
For the people of Sierra Leone, particularly those living in the capital city, Freetown, the issue of electricity has become more than just a minor inconvenience; rather, it has become a matter of life and death.
For years, Sierra Leoneans have been grappling with the challenge of unreliable power supply; but in recent months, the situation has reached boiling point. Power cuts have become so frequent and unpredictable that many residents are struggling to find ways to cope with the daily uncertainty. The incessant blackout is causing widespread frustration, and it seems that those lucky enough to experience power are now paying a heavy price.
At the heart of this frequent power outage problem is the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA), the government body responsible for managing and providing power to the nation. Unfortunately, for many residents, EDSA is a source of mounting anger. They are not only dissatisfied with the constant power interruptions but also with the growing number of incidents where electrical surges and fluctuations have destroyed appliances and caused fires that sometimes ravage entire homes. Such concerns are not just theoretical or abstract for the people of Freetown – they are personal.
In homes across the city, the common story is that the moment the power returns after an extended blackout, it does so with a violent surge that leaves everything, from fridges to televisions, burnt out. Appliances are often left useless, as the voltage fluctuations make them short-circuit in an instant. But the damage does not stop there. For some, the danger of such surges goes beyond the destruction of property. In the worst cases, entire houses have been reduced to ashes in a matter of minutes, leaving families without shelter, possessions, and, in some cases, lives.
Freetown resident Mariama Kamara shares the harrowing experience of witnessing her family’s house go up in flames after an unexpected surge of electricity hit their home one night. “We had been without light for hours. When it finally came, it was like the power was angry,” she explained. “It hit all our appliances at once, and then the fire started. We lost everything, and I almost lost my children. The fire was so quick – we didnt have time to gather anything. Our house is gone, and we are now left with nothing.” Mariama story is echoed by dozens of others who have suffered similar fates.
It not just the residents of Freetown voicing their frustration; the collective voice of the city has become increasingly loud in demanding accountability from EDSA. People are no longer accepting the broken promises of a reliable power supply. In countless interviews, locals speak about the hopelessness they feel when it comes to the electricity situation. “Every time they say they’re fixing it,” one frustrated resident says, “they promise it’s going to get better. But nothing changes, and the blackouts just keep getting worse.”
The anger is not just directed at EDSA’s failure to provide consistent electricity but also at the lack of safety measures that protect citizens from the dangers of electrical surges. The question on everyone’s lips is simple: why are these power fluctuations not being controlled or prevented? And why are residents being left to bear the brunt of a problem that seems to only worsen over time?
For many, this situation is indicative of a broader issue: the government’s disregard for the safety and well-being of its citizens. We feel like we are being punished for something we don’t deserve,” says Ibrahim Sesay, a local community leader. The government isn’t addressing the root cause of these issues, and as a result, innocent people are losing their homes, their businesses, and their lives. We need change.
Despite the anger and the pain, many Sierra Leoneans remain hopeful. They continue to call for better management and maintenance of the power grid, as well as increased investment in infrastructure to stabilize the electrical supply. They also demand that EDSA be held accountable for the destruction caused by power surges and for more stringent safety regulations to protect households.
What is clear is that the people of Freetown can no longer tolerate the status quo. They need answers. They need solutions. And most importantly, they need a power supply they can rely on without the fear of losing everything in a blaze.
The time for action is now. Until then, the citizens of Freetown will continue to live in the shadow of fear, waiting for an electricity system that is safe, reliable, and just.
