Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. The political leadership structure of Sierra Leone’s energy sector has undergone another significant change, with President Julius Maada Bio appointing a new substantive Minister of Energy, Mr. Cyril Arnold Grant.
The move effectively removes Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella from his previously assigned role as the overall leader of the sector.
Dr. Yumkella, a former Director-General of UNIDO who had been tasked by President Bio to oversee the energy sector for the past 14 months, publicly reacted to the appointment on Thursday, offering congratulations to the new minister while acknowledging his departure from the role.
“Congrats to Mr. Cyril Grant on your appointment as the substantive Minister of Energy. Cyril is a consumate technocrat with a solid technical knowledge of the energy sector,” Yumkella wrote.
“Thank you President Julius Maada Bio for giving me the opportunity to manage the sector for the past 14 months, and wading through the various crises,” Yumkella added. “With M300 we have now established a vision and mission for the sector.”
The appointment marks the end of Yumkella’s leadership role in the energy sector, which began in August 2024 when President Bio appointed him as Chair of the newly established Energy Governance Coordination Group. In December 2024, his role was expanded when the President directed both the Deputy Minister of Energy 1 and Deputy Minister of Energy 2 to report directly to him, effectively making him the sector lead.
During his tenure, Yumkella was tasked with enhancing coordination among key energy entities including the Electricity Generation and Transmission Company (EGTC), the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA), and the Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC).
Kandeh Yumkella is not eligibile to serve as a Minister due to constitutional restrictions.
The new Minister of Energy, Cyril Arnold Grant, whose appointment was announced on November 6, 2025, now assumes full responsibility for the ministry, pending parliamentary approval.
The appointment signals a new chapter in the government’s efforts to address the country’s persistent energy challenges and advance its national development goals.
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