Residents of Kambia Town are fuming after being promised electricity, only to find themselves still in total darkness. Despite the official activation of a new transformer, not a single household has received power, raising suspicions about delays and mismanagement in the town’s long-awaited electrification project.

Locals expressed frustration at being assured that lights would come on immediately. “They said they would switch the light on, but we waited and nothing happened,” said one resident, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Dr Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella, overseeing the project, confirmed that while the transformer was indeed “switched on,” electricity could not be transmitted to homes due to “bad workmanship by the former contractors.” “The first place we done light am but we nor able send the current inside the town, because of bad workmanship,” Yumkella said.

A History of Failed Promises
Kambia District has long faced electrification challenges, with many towns still disconnected from the national grid. Previous attempts to provide electricity have been plagued by poor planning, shoddy installations, and delayed projects. Residents say this latest incident is yet another example of promises that fail to materialize, leading some to question whether the project was ever meant to serve the community.

Officials have pledged to hold contractors accountable and rectify the technical issues. But for Kambia residents, weary of repeated delays, skepticism runs high. “Every time they promise power, nothing changes,” said another local. “It feels like a scam.”

As the town waits, households remain in darkness, and trust in the authorities’ ability to deliver basic services continues to erode. The people of Kambia are left asking: when will they finally see the lights they were promised?