By Chernor Alimamy Kamara
The United States Government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation, (MCC) has assured the Minister of Energy in Sierra Leone of the Corporation’s determination to help advance the development of the country’s first energy-based Compact Programme. This was made known when a high-powered delegation from the Corporation visited the country to discuss about the energy sector.
The MCC’s Board of Directors selected Sierra Leone in December, 2020 as eligible to develop a Compact, which saw the Government of Sierra Leone request that MCC and the Sierra Leone Compact Development Unit (SLCDU) develop a compact that directly addresses the lack of affordable and reliable electricity in the country.
MCC Principal Deputy Vice President of Compact Operations, who was also head of the delegation, Kyeh Kim said this was her first visit in Sierra Leone and was delighted to have led such a high-level team to the country.
She commended the government of Sierra Leone for the quality of the project proposals and its sheer determination in alleviating the energy constraints in the country. She observed that there was a critical need for reliable energy in Sierra Leone.
Kim assured that through effective and efficient collaboration, MCC would bring its years of experience on energy in the sub-region to bear positively on Sierra Leone’s energy aspirations.
She reiterated the commitment of the MCC in partnering with Sierra Leone, given the country’s continued progress on the scorecard, which she said was her hope that the gains made would be consolidated.
Minister of Energy, Alhaji Kanja Sesay underscored the crucial importance of energy, and how its reliability and affordability remain the bedrock of the government’s aspirations. He said he was quite pleased with the fact that the priorities identified by the government were in tune with the MCC’s initial assessment of the sector.
He said his ministry has improved in electricity generation, transmission and distribution and commended the corporation for not only working towards addressing these areas that the ministry was keenly focused on, but for also providing assistance to the reform endeavors in the constituent utilities of the ministry.
The minister said that private sector participation in the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) was a key government reform. He said the reform was facilitated by the government with support from the World Bank with a view to helping the utility become much more efficient and sustainable.
MCC is an innovative and independent U.S foreign assistance agency that is helping lead the fight against global poverty.
It was created by the U.S Congress in January 2004 with strong bipartisan support and has changed the conversation on how best to deliver smart U.S foreign assistance by focusing on good policies, country ownership and results.
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