The Parliament of Sierra Leone on Tuesday 25th July, 2023 debated and approved with unanimity the First Report of the Committee on Appointments and the Public Service in the Sixth Parliament chaired by the Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business, Hon. Mathew Sahr Nyuma. About thirteen presidential nominees were approved by Parliament, including the most successful Minister of Energy in Sierra Leone, Chief Alhaji Kanja Sesay, who the Majority Leader spoke well of his performance in the last Government.

His Excellency President Brig. (Rtd) Julius Maada Bio’s vision for the country in respect of his Human Capital Development mantra is the prioritization of electricity. He therefore entrusted Chief Alhaji Kanja Sesay with the task of manning the energy sector, given his exemplary performance under the late former President Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah’s SLPP Government as Commissioner of the National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA).

HISTORY

As Minister of Energy, Chief Alhaji Kanja Sesay over the last five years implemented several electricity projects around the country, including the Western Area Distribution Network Expansion Project, which is key to helping the New Direction Administration deliver electricity to Freetown and its environs. The Western Area had always been faced with transmission and distribution challenges, but under the leadership of Chief Alhaji Kanja Sesay, the problem is steadily getting under control with the installation of new facilities in various locations including Waterloo and Tombo.

The Bathurst Community, which had never enjoyed electricity supply for donkey’s years, now has a new transformer for the first time in history. The scope and significance of electricity projects such as the Government of Sierra Leone-World Bank funded Energy Sector Utility Reform Project are positively impacting distribution and transmission drives in and around Freetown.

TRANSCO/CLSG

In five years, Chief Alhaji Kanja Sesay successfully implemented the ‘Seven Targeted Districts Electricity Project’ in Kabala, Kambia, Moyamba, Kailahun, Pujehun, Mattru Jong and Bonthe Island respectively.

These district headquarters had been without electricity for over forty years. But thanks to the prioritization of electricity by the New Direction Administration under the watch of the indefatigable, shrewd Minister of Energy. This project was wholly and solely funded by taxpayers’ money and also in line with the promise President Bio made to Sierra Leoneans in respect of providing them with affordable and reliable electricity that will have significant positive social and economic effects on their lives and livelihoods.

Under his dynamic leadership in the energy sector, Chief Alhaji Kanja Sesay in his aggressive and impressive pursuit of the realization of energy dreams of President Bio connected Bo, Kenema and Koidu cities to the TRANSCO/CLSG interconnections with the view of enabling them in general to enjoy uninterrupted electricity. Makeni and Magburaka in the Northeast Region have also not been left alone in his pursuit of the realization of the energy dreams of the President.

DYNAMIC LEADERSHIP

Even President Bio has been commending the hard-working Minister of Energy and International Partners for undertaking a variety of electricity projects aimed at transforming the social and economic lives of people in many parts of Sierra Leone. Indeed, one would be impressed with the strides and conscious efforts made by the Ministry of Energy to increase access to electricity in the nook and cranny of Sierra Leone.

Under Chief Alhaji Kanja Sesay’s leadership in the energy sector, over hundred towns in Sierra Leone that never had the privilege to use electricity supply since independence can now sleep comfortably under uninterrupted light powered by mini solar grids. Therefore, the Energy Minister’s approval by Parliament to continue with his national duties in the new cabinet is a confirmation of his exemplary performances in both the past Kabbah Administration and the current Bio Administration.

By and large, Chief Alhaji Kanja Sesay’s patriotism, kind-heartedness and partisan loyalty as a blue-blooded stalwart in the governing SLPP are no doubt the driving force behind his assiduity, dedication and commitment to national duty.

COMMISSIONER OF NACSA

He has demonstrated such feat throughout his public life with alacrity. When the late former President Kabbah gave him the opportunity to serve his country as Commissioner of NaCSA after the civil war, for instance, the institution contributed massively and effectively to the reconstruction of the country through the construction of hundreds of public facilities that were either destroyed or seriously damaged during the civil war, as well as constructing additional public facilities, such as schools, community centres, markets, health centres, bridges amongst others.

The institution also took care of millions of vulnerable Sierra Leoneans who were desperately in dire need of basic necessities. It is therefore hoped that in the next five years, Mansa Kanja Sesay would achieve his pursuit of the realization of the energy dreams of His Excellency President Brig. (Rtd) Dr. Julius Maada Bio. Therefore, may Allah be his Helper in the realization of those energy dreams that will take Mama Salone to another level of palpable development