Liberia: LEC, LERC, LME Cited Over Inadequate Electricity

The Plenary of the Liberian Senate has with immediate effect cited the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC), Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission (LERC), and the Ministry of Mines and Energy, Natural Resources & Environment over the continuing inadequate power supply and distribution in the Country, especially Monrovia and its environs. 

Plenary, during its 9th day Sitting of the Special Session, mandated that the relevant authorities appear before the Senate as a “committee of a whole” on Thursday, December 2, 2021, to address the concerns.

The Senate decision was triggered by a reminder from Grand Bassa County Senator, Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence, for the Senate to take a definite action on said matter. It can be recalled that in May of this year, the Senate cited the LEC and its operating partners on similar matters of concern.

Senator Lawrence stressed the need that, going forward, the committee on Ways, Means, Finance & Budget approves the budget of all spending entities on the basis of the submission of their performance report for scrutiny purpose before allotting said funds. 

In a related development, the Senate has mandated the Secretary of the Liberian Senate to officially communicate with  the authority of the Ministry of Public Works for a budget performance report on the expenditure of supplementary funds approved in the special budget (July to December 2021) for the installation of solar lights in four counties.

The Senate’s decision was based on a concern raised by Grand Bassa County Senator, Jonathan L. Kaipay, drawing the Senate’s attention to an approved budget of US$700, 000 in the Special Budget from July 1, to December 31, 2021 for the execution of the solar lights project in the four counties, including Grand Bassa.

Senator Kaipay asserted that since the approval of said budget the implementing entity is yet to execute said project, citing his County (Grand Bassa) as evidence.