Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. Freetown Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr has raised alarms over the severe consequences of looming electricity cuts set to hit the city on June 12, 2025, following a disconnection notice from Karpowership due to unpaid government bills.
Mayor Aki Sawyerr underscored the critical need for immediate action, highlighting the substantial financial burden the power cuts will place on city operations. She noted that keeping the Freetown City Council building operational will require an estimated 1,500 liters of fuel daily, costing NLe 41,100. This amount, she lamented, represents funds that could otherwise be allocated to vital services for Freetown residents.
“Very concerned about the impact the power cuts will have on Freetown’s families and businesses,” Mayor Aki Sawyerr stated. “Keeping the lights and lifts on at City Hall will require 1,500 liters of fuel at NLe 41,100 a day. Money that should have gone towards delivering services to Freetonians.”
The City Hall building, a significant civic and commercial hub, spans 17 floors, including a basement and a roof garden. Beyond the Freetown City Council offices, it houses Audit Services Sierra Leone, the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy and Food Security, and five floors occupied by private sector companies. The ground floor also hosts outlets for six major banks.
Operating the building’s essential services—including seven lifts, an auditorium with an advanced sound system, a 400-tonne water tank that relies on electric pumps, and fire sprinklers—demands a consistent power supply.
The facility is equipped with two 800 KVA generators, though their operation incurs the aforementioned daily fuel cost. While solar panels were installed after the building’s construction, their output is insufficient to meet the total electricity demand.
The Mayor emphasized that these cuts would significantly disrupt daily life and the delivery of community services.
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