By Bockarie Kamara
The Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Energy Hon. Momoh Bockarie formally of Constituency 012 in the Kenema District but currently representing the people of Kenema District in the district Propositional Representative System in the 6th Parliament of the Second Republic on Tuesday 14th July 2026 expressed frustration for official of the Ministry of Energy failure to attend meeting when invited by the Committee.
The Committee on Energy was suppose to meet with officials of the Ministry of Energy and some other agencies under the Ministry of Energy to talk about the electricity status in the country.
Hon. Momoh Bockarie said that is a bit disappointing because they were to have an open discussion around the energy status where they are as a country. They were also to talk about energy theft in the country. He said that the Minister and his deputies were suppose to attend but they failed to attend even though there were representatives of agencies under the Ministry like EDSA, EGTC and also the Chairman of renewable energy Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella.
The eloquent Member of Parliament also said that the issue of having officials of Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDA’s), not responding to Parliamentary calls is gradually becoming an uncomfortable norm. Hon. Momoh Bockarie said that previously they have an internal meeting with the leadership of Parliament and the same topic was discussed. He added that before they started sitting in the Well of Parliament majority of Chairmen brought up that particular issue to the attention of the Leader of Government Business and the Speaker. The Committee Chairman of Energy further that that particular action of MDA’s is rather unfortunate and that is unacceptable.
He continues that they should be seen as partners in development. And there is a reason why Parliament is having Committees and that is not only limited to Sierra Leone but all over the world Parliaments have Committees and the reason for that is to collaborate the development of the Executive having interactions with the various entities at the various committees so that if there are issues existing Legislators will discuss those issues and develop them in to a report and make recommendations and lay the report in the House. He said that the House of Parliament will discuss those reports and recommendations contain therein and then legislations will be born out of those recommendations to enhance service delivery and capacity will be given to entities under the Committee.
He further informed his audience that Parliament has just had a debate on the amendment of Bikongor mini hydro electric power project that was passed under the 5th Parliament of the Second Republic. He went on that during that debate he made it clear that they are still a bit behind regards to having energy suficient the government has to strive a lot.
He said that His Excellency the president Dr. Julius Maada Bio has tried a lot to make energy accessible and he stance on the existing energy structures they have right across the country be it solar mini grids, thermal energy. He assured that they are not there yet but they can actually get there but they are trying to harness all the energy sources and see how they can keep them together to have a very strong sustainable energy supply within the nation.
On his part Hon. Kekura Vandi said that they used to have similar engagement. Hon. Kekura Vandi said that as formal chairman of the Energy Committee he wants to registered his dissatisfaction to the energy sector. He said that during his raign as chairman of the energy Committee he never faced such an embarrassment. He went on that any time the Minister, the Deputy Ministers and the Permanent Secretary are summoned they are always present. Hon. Kekura Vandi said that nothing was kept aside and that is why people called him the Public Relation Officer of the Energy Ministry.
“How can we summoned the Minister and his team and they failed to attend, it’s an afront,” he added. He went on that any moment he invites the former energy Minister Alhaji Kanja Sesay, he is always available but it is not like that now. He advised the Committee Chairman to develop a strategy for the political leaders to be attending to his calls.
Speaking on the side of the leadership of Parliament, Hon. Dickson Momoh Rogers ordered that the Clerk through the Committee Chairman do a letter to the Secretary to President complaining particularly the behavior of both Ministers in that Ministry.
The Honourable Whip of Parliament said that the meeting is a very important meeting and as members of Parliament they are aware of the electricity theft in the country and that is serious contempt. Hon. Dickson Rogers informed his audience that the MDA’s are treating Parliament with levity.
He went on that Parliament through the Committee on Energy wants to put a stop to too much of electricity theft in the country.
Hon. Chief Whip also said that he is in deep sympathy with EDSA because they are not be able to supply the amount of electricity they require in country that is because of the too much electricity theft. He said that he wants people to hear this as a government they have to pay Kar Power, they have to pay Ivory coast, and also Guinea government have to pay them. The sector cannot generate more income to pay their debt, they wanted to see how they can legislate a law that can enforce the stop of electricity theft.
