It was absolute jubilation as residents of Peace Island ran amok in celebration of the switching on of Electricity in the impoverished Community, the first of its kind in fifteen years.
The Ceremony took place in Congo Town, near the Liberian Capital, Monrovia.
The switching on Ceremony was graced by the Liberian President, Dr, George Manneh Weah, and the EU Head of delegation; Ambassador Laurent Delauhousse when the later reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to the growth band development of Africa’s oldest Independent Country, Liberia.
The Liberian Leader and the EU Ambassador officially switched on the first Community to be electrified under the Monrovia consolidation of electricity and distribution project popularly referred to as “Light up Monrovia” (LUM) project.
Electricity is essential to the people generally; especially the vulnerable component of any population and therefore, the EU’s prioritization of this project has won the admiration of the people of Liberia for which they will forever remain grateful to the EU and its taxpayers.
The people of Liberia, especially those in Slums had asses to electricity up to 1990 when the Civil War took hold of the entire Country. The Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) following the outbreak of hostilities, was not in a position to provide electricity to all areas where electric Poles and Wires were running most especially to areas where the electricity facilities or materials such as transformers, light poles wires, and others were either stolen or destroyed
Also destroyed included the Mount Coffee Hydro Plant where Electricity was generated. Fighters of the various Warring factions destroyed and stole several essential components of this much-needed facility which has been utilized over the years to provide a greater portion of electricity to Monrovia and its environs without any justification.
After these facilities were destroyed they required proper planning and coordination to make them functional. Without funding, such adventure was difficult to undertake and it kept the Nation without fully fletched electricity as successive governments were faced with numerous domestic issues to single-handedly concentrate on making Light available to a considerable portion of Monrovia and its environs.
Hence in other to provide electricity most especially at prewar level a lot needed to be done or accomplished. The case of fixing the problem of light was now shifted to the goodwill of the donor community.
Many took various steps to address the problem of light and here the EU stood firm in addressing this critical and essential National task.
The EU and its partners strategized and formulated a plan to bring light to the people of Monrovia, a project that came to be known as the Monrovia Consolidation of Electricity Transmission and Distribution or (Light Up Monrovia) Project for short.
The EU under its 11th European Development Fund (EFD) is funding this loan project which is now benefiting several communities in Monrovia and its environs as they are currently receiving the needed electricity from LEC through the National Grid.
The first phase of LUM Project covers Central Monrovia. Capitol Hill, parts of Sinkor including Jallah Town, Saye Town, Old and New Matadi, Airfield Communities, Lakpazeee Fiamah, and Spring Field Community through Congo Town among others.
Performing the switching on, the Head of the EU Delegation to Liberia, Ambassador Laurent Delahousse said, “The EU representing 450 Million citizens mandated my colleagues and I to support the development of your country and to deliver the needed to the people of Liberia.”
“It is an honor and privilege to take part in the ceremony for the first electricity connection on the Peace Island since it was established,” the EU Head of Delegation intoned.
On the availability of electricity to the population, the EU envoy said “Today, the benefit of electricity is reaching a new part of society together with the economic growth that power brings. “I cannot emphasize though the positive consequences for the promotion of social and human development for women and children.” Said the EU diplomat.
The EU envoy told those in attendance that USD 63 Million was expanded by the EU on the Monrovia Consolidation of Electricity Transmission and Distribution Project in supporting the Government of Liberia to meet its developmental goal by boosting or extending the supply of electricity to all households or citizens.
He called on Liberians to take ownership of the LUM Project by stressing, “Yes people want power, people need power, but I am reaffirming that that illegal connection to the electrical grid is unjustifiable.”
The EU Head of Delegation sounded the warning about illegal connections and power theft which also places the beneficiaries in harm’s way as the lives of many innocent people will be placed in danger to the illegal connection or overloading of the National electricity grid.
Hence, Liberians need to take heed and take note of this clarion call made by Ambassador Dellahousse against acts that could undermine the EU – Liberia Cooperation.
Surely if the dwellers in the various communities heed the Ambassador’s call, the facilities provided will be properly utilized and a vast majority of the population will rape the benefit.
The professional and dedicated services being provided by the LEC and the project’s implementer, MBH Power Limited as well as Intec Gopa in effectively implementing the LUM Project