His Excellency Dr. Morie Komba Manyeh, Sierra Leone’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, has called for stronger collaboration in Africa’s energy transition drive while reaffirming his country’s commitment to a sustainable energy future. Dr. Manyeh made this remark during an address at a Policy Roundtable on Empowering Africa’s Energy Transition at Chatham House in London.
The event, organized by the *Circular Economy Powered Renewable Energy Centre (CEPREC)*—a research consortium funded by the UK government—brought together academics, policymakers, and industry leaders from across Africa, including representatives notably from Sierra Leone, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, and South Africa.
Dr. Manyeh welcomed the increasing global focus on Africa’s energy challenges, citing his participation in recent discussions at *Marlborough House* and *Kew Gardens* as part of ongoing efforts to reshape the UK-Africa energy cooperation. He highlighted the pressing need for *collaborative strategies* to address Africa’s energy shortage, emphasizing that inadequate power supply remains a major constraint to economic growth and development across the continent.
Turning to Sierra Leone’s energy landscape, Dr. Manyeh acknowledged the longstanding challenges before outlining the country’s progress and ongoing reforms under His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio’s leadership. He spotlighted the *Energy Transition and Green Growth Plan*, an ambitious initiative targeting 100% electrification by 2040 through an increased focus on renewable energy sources like hydropower and solar photovoltaic (PV).
High Commissioner Manyeh stressed that Sierra Leone’s strategy extends beyond infrastructure, incorporating community involvement in environmental decision-making and climate change education to ensure a sustainable transition. The country’s National Climate Action Plans align with the Paris Agreement, prioritizing renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and climate resilience, he explained.
Dr. Manyeh also referenced Sierra Leone’s regional energy integration efforts through the West African Power Pool (WAPP) and the Côte d’Ivoire-Liberia-Sierra Leone-Guinea (CLSG) Interconnection Project, which facilitate cross-border electricity exchange to strengthen energy security across West Africa.
To enhance governance and attract private investment, Dr. Manyeh underscored ongoing reforms in Sierra Leone’s energy sector. These include the strengthening of key institutions such as the Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC), the Electricity Generation and Transmission Company (EGTC), and the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA).
Further reinforcing the sector’s strategic direction, President Bio appointed Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella, former Director-General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), as Chair of the Energy Governance Coordination Group (EGCG). Dr. Yumkella’s role is to oversee energy policy reforms, support technical operations, and drive investment in the sector.
Dr. Manyeh praised *CEPREC* for fostering cross-sectoral collaboration and knowledge exchange, noting its vital role in identifying country-specific energy challenges and opportunities. He commended the consortium’s support for research, including funding PhD students from the subregion, to cultivate the expertise required for Africa’s energy revolution.
Concluding his address, Dr. Manyeh revealed that Sierra Leone’s energy sector is undergoing significant transformation with promising investment opportunities, particularly in the renewable sector such as hydropower and solar energy. He called on African policymakers, investors, researchers, and the international community to harness collective expertise in transforming Africa’s energy landscape for generations to come. His remarks reinforced the event’s overarching message—*Africa’s energy transition is not just a necessity, but an opportunity to build a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable future*.
Leading the Sierra Leone delegation for the weeklong technical discussions is Professor Kelleh Gbawuru Mansaray, an academic with a PhD in Biological Engineering, specializing in Bioenergy systems. Professor Mansaray is also the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Fourah Bay College.
Working with him is Dr. Robert Moikowa a Visiting Fellow with the Africa Programme at Chatham House. Dr. Moikowa is a strategic planner and social development specialist with extensive experience across United Nations agencies, governments, international organizations, and academic institutions.
