Residents of Bakary Sambou-ya community in West Coast Region, are currently decrying a prolonged power outage that has left many households struggling to preserve food and carry out basic daily economic activities, five days on and still counting.
The community has started experiencing dramatic cuts and prolonged outages since Monday, with many unable to use their fridges to preserve foods they have bought and keep for the ongoing Holy month of Ramadan.
“I have thrown away a lot of fish I have bought because there is no electricity to preserve them,” Abdoulie Gaye, one of the victims, gives the account of his own experience.
According to multiple other accounts given by the community members, the transformer that is currently stationed in the community has been experiencing multiple repairs by the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) since its installation, with some suggesting that it supplies low voltage.”I still cannot use my washing machine. It seemingly lacks the required power to operate,” Gaye added.
At the beginning of this year’s Holy month of Ramadan, NAWEC announced plans to introduce what it called “minimal load shedding”, meaning, small power cuts due to excessive use of electricity in Ramadan and Lent.
Civil Press has tried reaching out to the National Water and Electricity Company but to no avail.
There is currently a growing frustration over the impact the prolonged power outage and intermittent cuts have been putting on Bakary Sambou-ya community members.
”This prolonged power outage and cuts have significantly retarded my business,” Ousman Keita, a shop owner in the community said, appealing to the authorities to quickly intervene.
Buba Sambou, another victim and workshop owner, decries the ongoing incident.
“This has badly affected me. I am unable to do my work because of the prolonged power outage.”
According to eyewitnesses, NAWEC staff have been coming daily but still, the incident continues.