BLACKOUT HITS PUJEHUN TOWN, RESIDENTS CALL FOR SWIFT POWER RESTORATION

Hassan Juana Koroma in Pujehun

The residents of Pujehun District are enduring a prolonged total blackout that has persisted for over a year. The ongoing power outage has left the community submerged in darkness, reviving fears of a return to the debilitating electricity shortages that plagued the area for two decades. Just over a year ago, on January 1st, residents celebrated the revival of electricity after a long wait. The return of power was a moment of joy and relief, particularly for communities like Massahun, Yonni, Gobaru, and Pujehun, which had been without reliable electricity for 20 years.

However, the current blackout has shattered that optimism, leaving many to wonder if they are regressing to their former struggles.

Local businessman Sulaiman Jalloh, who owns an electronics shop, expressed his frustration with the situation, stating, “Without power supply, we cannot sell our electronics. The introduction of electricity brought relief to towns, enabling people with freezers to sustain their businesses and families. Now, we are back to where we started.” Jalloh detailed the financial strain he faces, spending over five thousand leones monthly on fuel for generators, raising concerns that these ongoing electricity issues could undermine the economic progress achieved in the district.

An anonymous engineer familiar with the electricity distribution challenges in Pujehun indicated that the contractor responsible for the electricity supply has requested payment from the government to continue operations. However, they were informed that funds are unavailable, leading to a halt in services. The engineer stated, “They have decided that they will only resume work once they are paid. If not, the people will remain in the dark.” The engineer further highlighted that many residents lack connections to the power grid, resulting in an underutilized system. “The machines do not have the adequate load they require,” he noted, emphasizing that delays in the delivery of new meters by the contractor have compounded the issue, leaving no new installations to meet the growing demand.

The ongoing blackout is disrupting daily life and local businesses, raising serious concerns about the economic stability of the district. Residents are anxious as they navigate their lives in darkness, underscoring the urgent need for a reliable electricity supply. As pressure mounts on the government to address these pressing concerns, the imperative to ensure that Pujehun District does not revert to the dire circumstances of the past is paramount. Community members remain hopeful for swift intervention and solutions that will restore power supply and foster ongoing growth and development within their community.