By: Jeremiah Sackie Cooper
Gmail:Jeremiahcooper105@gmail.com
Liberia: With notable inconsistency in the supply of Electricity across the country, the House of Representatives has begun a full-scale investigation to determine the reason for the low electricity supply.
On Tuesday, February 13, 2023, the plenary of the House of Representatives ordered its joint committee on state-owned enterprises and Public Utilities to investigate the reported low supply of electricity by the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC).
The House’s decision was triggered by a communication filed by Isacca Bannie, Representative of District #1, Grand Bassa County.
Representative Bannie in his communication to the Plenary of the house emphasized that there is an unfair and flickery power supply by the Liberia Electricity Corporation- LEC across the country including the capital, Monrovia.
According to the Grand Bassa County District #1 Representative, such act is dangerous as it has the propensity to cause death and other forms of inconvenience for Liberians.
“Honorable Speaker and distinguished colleagues, I have observed with keen
interest the inequitable and inconsistent power supply by the Liberia Electricity
Corporation (L.E.C) in Monrovia and its environs. Such practice has the propensity
to destroy lives and cause other forms of inconveniences”, he said.
He requested the Honorable House of Representatives, to invite the Management of the Liberia Electricity Corporation, to provide reasons for such embarrassment and state the remedies.
“Predicated upon this, my esteemed colleagues, I write to request this Honorable House to invite the Management Team of the Liberia Electricity Corporation to provide reasons for such embarrassment and state the remedy” Representative Bannie added
About 34% of urban areas have access to electricity with almost absent electricity in rural areas between the period of December and April (Dry season).
Today, Liberia is one of the Countries with the lowest electricity access rate in the world, with 6.7% of the Liberian population having access to electricity.
Meanwhile, the House’s Committee joint committee on State Owned Enterprise and Public Utilities is expected to report to plenary within one week.