Sierra Leone’s Minister of Energy, Cyril Arnold Grant, has acknowledged that the country’s electricity system cannot currently deliver 24-hour power supply to all citizens, an admission that has refocused public attention on the institutions responsible for energy planning, contracting, regulation, and service delivery.
While the minister has promised a phased and realistic recovery plan, evidence from the sector points to systemic failures across multiple state institutions, leaving Sierra Leone with mounting energy debt, unreliable supply, and limited accountability.
According to the Ministry of Energy, Sierra Leone owes nearly US$50 million to Karpowership and approximately US$20 million to another foreign power supplier, in addition to arrears owed to solar power companies and outstanding electricity payments to the Government of Guinea. These debts were accumulated through Power Purchase Agreements negotiated and approved by the Ministry of Energy in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and implemented through the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority, EDSA. Despite the long-term financial implications of these agreements, many contract details have not been made publicly available, raising concerns about transparency, value for money, and parliamentary oversight.
Under Sierra Leone’s governance framework, major energy agreements are expected to undergo scrutiny by Parliament, particularly through its Committee on Energy and Water Resources. However, civil society organizations say parliamentary review of emergency power contracts has often been limited or retrospective, reducing effective oversight. The Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission, EWRC, mandated to regulate tariffs and protect consumers, has also faced criticism for weak enforcement capacity, as electricity prices continue to rise without corresponding improvements in supply reliability.
The Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority remains at the center of the sector’s operational challenges. Independent assessments have repeatedly pointed to high technical and commercial losses, power theft and illegal connections, faulty or absent metering systems, and weak enforcement and revenue leakage. Despite periodic leadership changes and restructuring efforts, EDSA has struggled to meet its financial obligations to power producers, contributing directly to the country’s growing debt.
On the generation side, the Electricity Generation and Transmission Company, EGTC, oversees state-owned generation assets, including the Bumbuna Hydroelectric Plant. Heavy reliance on Bumbuna has left the country exposed to seasonal fluctuations, particularly during the dry season. Although EGTC has been tasked with expanding generation and diversifying energy sources, progress on large-scale renewable projects has been slow, leaving thermal and imported power as costly stop-gap solutions.
Institutions tasked with accountability, including Audit Service Sierra Leone and the Anti-Corruption Commission, have previously flagged weaknesses in public financial management and procurement processes across state-owned utilities. However, there has been limited public disclosure of audits specifically examining energy sector contracts, debt accumulation, or performance failures, fueling calls for forensic audits and comprehensive contract reviews.
Minister Grant has pledged to renegotiate unsustainable power contracts, strengthen EDSA’s revenue collection systems, reduce system losses, expand solar and other renewable energy sources, and improve coordination among energy-sector institutions. Analysts caution that meaningful reform will depend on clear accountability among the Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Finance, EDSA, EGTC, EWRC, and Parliament, supported by transparent reporting and enforceable oversight mechanisms.
As Sierra Leoneans continue to endure frequent blackouts and rising electricity costs, the central question remains unresolved: which institutions will be held responsible for past decisions, and what safeguards will prevent a repeat of the same failures. Until those questions are answered, critics warn that the goal of stable, 24-hour electricity may remain out of reach.
