The energy minister of Sierra Leone steps down due to electricity crisis

The president’s office of Sierra Leone announced the resignation of the minister of energy on Friday, citing recent disruptions in the nation’s electrical supply as the reason.

Alhadji Kanja Sesay’s resignation’s official causes were not disclosed, and the energy ministry did not reply to an AFP request for comment.

A press announcement from the presidency provided to AFP on Friday evening stated that President Julius Maada Bio had taken over direct control of the ministry, with two other officials providing support.

Sesay resigned a few hours after the government gave Turkish Karpowership and Transco-CLSG group a total of $18.5 million in power payments.

The two producers were due a total of $40 million by Sierra Leone.

Whether Sesay’s resignation had anything to do with the payments was not immediately apparent.

According to an AFP correspondent, power was restored in Freetown following the announcement of the payments, following two months of blackouts.

Since 2018, Karpowership has been providing power to Sierra Leone through a floating offshore unit; but, because of payment difficulties, it has recently lowered its capacity from 65 megawatts to barely five.

“We are pleased to confirm that the electricity supply has returned to full capacity in Freetown,” the Turkish group said in a statement after the latest payment was announced.