IPNEWS – Monrovia: Under the Monrovia Consolidation of Electricity Transmission and Distribution Project, the Government of Liberia with funding support from the European Union (EU), has switched on the first public electrification in one of the densely populated, Slum communities, “Peace Island.”
Peace Island is located right behind the Ministerial Complex in Congotown, Monrovia.
For decades of being in darkness, about 1,800 households in the Peace Island Community have for the first-time experienced electricity from the national grid.
According to the Government, various materials which are being provided to ensure power distribution are absolutely free including meters, wooden and concrete poles, as well as wires to connect all of the households.
President George M. Weah and Ambassador Laurent Delahousse, Ambassador of the European Union Delegation to Liberia, the high-power European Union Delegation to Liberia and members of the Donor Community, senior government officials, the Liberia Electricity Corporation Management (LEC) Team, the project implementers, including MBH Power Limited and Intec Gopa, Local authorities of the Congo Town Township and the Peace Island Community dwellers jointly commission the lighting up of the Peace Island Community in Monrovia today.
Speaking before he switched on the light, President Weah quoted few scriptures from Holy Bible, including Romans 13 vs 12: “The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.”
He used the occasion to thank the EU and other partners for their continued support to Liberia. “By working together, we continue to forge ahead and deliver on the promise of the Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development.”
He reminded the people of Peace Island that general lighting is not a luxury but instead a necessity.
He cautioned the residents of Peace Island to take care of the facility and avoid power theft.
Meanwhile, he told the Acting Minister of Public Works, Ruth Coker-Collins, that “Where there is light, there must be paved street. So please make sure to fix the road so it complements the light.”
The 42 million Euros Light Up Monrovia valued Project is expected to electrify about 38,000 new homes in Monrovia and its environs. He added that the Island, like other communities, under the project will get power source from the Paynesville substation and the newly constructed Congo Town substation which is located near the James Sprigs Payne Airport.
Meanwhile, the President named the communities to benefit from the phase one connection include parts of Old Road, which are Key Hole, the Transformer Community, Chugbor, Gaye Town, and America Colonization Society (ACS) Community as well as around Nigerian House, Paco Island, and Congotown Back Road.
The project management confirmed that about 40 engineering students of the University of Liberia and Stella Maris Polytechnic – both males and females, along with LEC staffs — are being provided training under the project to enhance their practical knowledge.
