Senator seeks US$5M for Grand Kru solar power
Grand Kru County Senator Numene T. H. Bartekwa urged the Senate to allocate funds for solar electricity in five major communities.
Grand Kru County Senator Numene T. H. Bartekwa asked the Liberian Senate on Thursday, November 12, to allocate US$5 million in the Fiscal Year 2027 National Budget for solar electricity in five major communities. Bartekwa stated that Grand Kru is excluded from the government's electricity expansion program, which is active in the other 14 counties. He warned that this exclusion impacts residents and businesses.
The senator said county officials and the Rural and Renewable Energy Agency (RREA) are exploring solar power as a cost-effective solution. RREA estimates US$1 million per community for mini-solar grids, totaling the US$5 million request for Barclayville, Grandcess, Buah Geeken, Sasstown, and Garaway. RREA has assured readiness to build similar systems to the one in Totota, Bong County, if funding is secured.
Bartekwa argued that the lack of electricity contradicts the government’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development. He noted that while other counties receive electricity infrastructure, Grand Kru residents rely on expensive generators. He appealed to Senate Plenary to direct budget committees to consider the allocation during budget deliberations.
Why it mattersSenator Bartekwa appealed to Senate Plenary to mandate budget committees to consider the US$5 million allocation for solar electricity in Grand Kru County.