Africa-Press – Liberia. A prominent businessman in Ganta City has raised concerns about persistent challenges to electricity access in Nimba and Bong Counties, accusing Jungle Energy Power (JEP) of imposing connection fees and related charges that he says effectively exclude low income residents and small businesses from accessing power.
Prince P. S. Howard, a local entrepreneur, expressed his frustrations in an open letter addressed to President Joseph Boakai, a copy of which was obtained by FrontPage Africa. In the letter, Howard argued that electricity in Liberia has increasingly become an exclusive service reserved for the wealthy, leaving ordinary citizens without access to a basic utility essential for economic growth and social development.
Citing recent World Bank assessments, Howard noted that only about 32 percent of Liberia’s population currently has access to grid electricity, a reality he said leaves rural communities and many urban neighborhoods in prolonged darkness. He described the situation in Ganta and Bong Counties as particularly troubling, where high tension power lines pass over busy streets while nearby homes and businesses remain unconnected due to high extension costs.
According to Howard, residents and business owners are often required to pay between huge amount of United States dollars to cover the cost of poles, wires, meters, transformers, and other materials before electricity can be extended to their premises. He said these costs are far beyond the reach of most households and small enterprises in the area.
In his letter, Howard highlighted the human impact of limited electricity access by referencing personal accounts from the community. He explained that many families are compelled to rely on kerosene lamps and generators, while clinics and small businesses struggle to function effectively without reliable power.
He cited the case of the I Care Medical Health Center in Yassornoh, Nimba County, which he said has faced serious challenges during power outages, including emergencies where inadequate lighting has placed patients at risk.
Howard warned that the lack of affordable electricity has far reaching consequences for local development. He said small businesses are unable to refrigerate goods or operate basic equipment, limiting productivity and job creation. He added that health facilities face preventable risks due to unreliable power supply, a concern echoed in global health data linking electricity access to improved health outcomes.
The businessman also pointed to broader economic effects, including investors abandoning or delaying projects because of unreliable electricity and high operating costs. He referenced data from the Liberia Institute of Statistics indicating that youth unemployment in rural areas is estimated at around 50 percent, a situation he said is worsened by limited access to power that could support small industries and entrepreneurship.
In contrasting Liberia’s situation with other African countries, Howard cited examples of successful electrification initiatives on the continent. He noted that Côte d’Ivoire has subsidized a significant portion of rural electricity extensions, contributing to growth in manufacturing, while Ghana’s national grid system supports community wide power access.
He also referenced Rwanda’s Electricity for All program, which has significantly expanded household access, and Kenya’s use of solar hybrid systems to serve off grid communities.
Howard further expressed concern about public safety in Ganta, a major trade hub with cross border traffic from Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire. He said the absence of street lighting has contributed to insecurity in the city, a situation he described as unacceptable given Liberia’s reported iron ore revenues of approximately 1.2 billion United States dollars in the previous year.
In his appeal, Howard called on the government to take decisive action to address electricity access challenges. His recommendations included the establishment of a national electrification fund to subsidize connection costs, the regulation of tariffs charged by Jungle Energy Power and the Liberia Electricity Corporation, free electricity connections for clinics and schools, and the promotion of public private partnerships modelled after successful programs in other African countries.
“Liberians do not seek handouts. We demand fair policies,” Howard stated in the letter. He added that electricity should no longer be treated as a luxury for a few, but recognized as a fundamental right for all Liberians.
Efforts to obtain comments from Jungle Energy Power and the Liberia Electricity Corporation regarding the concerns raised by Howard were unsuccessful as of press time.
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