Japan signs $13.97million power supply grant for Freetown
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Government of Sierra Leone and the Government of Japanyesterday signed the Exchange of Note and Grant Agreement of $13,970,000 towards the project for the urgent improvement of power distribution system in Freetown. (Photo: L-R Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Dr. Ebun A. Jusu exchanging notes with the Japanese Ambassador to Sierra Leone Mr. Naoto Nikai)
The Exchange of Note was signed by the Japanese Ambassador to Sierra Leone Mr. Naoto Nikai on behalf of the government of Japan and the Grant Agreement was signed by the Resident Representative of JICA Ghana Office Mr. Jiro Inamura in respect of the same project.
According to the agreement a 33Kva transmission line will be extended from Wilberforce Primary Substation to Goderich Primary Station, which will be newly constructed through this project and an 11Kva distribution line around Goderich area from Babadori River unto Sussex, and the existing distribution lines will also be rehabilitated as well.
The project component is referred as the Power Supply Master Plan of Sierra Leone (2009) and is formulated as the phase 1 of the construction of a 33Kva line in the Western Area.
Speaking at the signing ceremony on Wednesday 22nd May 2013 the Japanese Ambassador to Sierra Leone Mr. Naoto Nikai said the Government of Japan is funding the project with an amount of Y1,397,000,000 which is approximately equal to US$13,970,000.
L-R Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Dr. Ebun A. Jusu signing the agreement with the Japanese Ambassador to Sierra Leone Mr. Naoto Nikai
The Ambassador said the grant seeks to improve the supply of electricity in Freetown with the aim to improve the living standard of the people in Freetown and also enable them to utilize the electricity provided for economic and socialdevelopment.
He stated that implementing the project would mean improving the lives of people in Freetown and costs of doing business will reduce significantly.
“Japan has been focusing on its assistance towards Sierra Leone particularly on infrastructure and energy supply as part of our support in enhancing not only productivity and growth but also improving the quality of life of the people in beneficiary areas,” Ambassador Naoto Nikai said.
“I am confident that the Government of Sierra Leone will demonstrate a high level of commitment and coordinate effectively with their Japanese counterparts to ensure smooth implementation of the project in a bid to improve electricity supply in the country,” he concluded.
Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Dr. Ebun A. Jusu expressed profound thanks and appreciation to the Government and People of Japan on behalf of the Government and people of Sierra Leone.
She said the grant will be used for the establishment of a power substation at Goderich to provide effective and efficient power supply to Goderich, Juba, Wilberforce and other areas within the West end of the city of Freetown.
She said over the years Freetown has expanded geographically in size with high density in population and therefore the government is constrained to provide social services for the expanding population.
She said “electrification of the country is one of the primary objectives of the Government’s Agenda for Prosperity.”
She said with the intervention of the Government of Japan not so long ago at Hill Station and Regent Area they built a substation to the delight of all the residents in the area and hoped that Goderich area will also soon be electrified.
The Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Dr. Ebun A. Jusu also commended the Government of Japan and JICA for providing safe drinking water to the people of Kambia which was recently commissioned and handed over to local authorities.
She concluded that President Koroma will be attending the fifth Tokyo International Conference on African Development TICAD V (Tokyo International Conference on African Development -TICAD is a major global framework for Asia and Africa to collaborate in promoting Africa’s development), during which he will have an opportunity to personally thank the Government and People of Japan and further cement the bilateral relationship between the two countries.
by Saidu Bah
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