Maryland County: Barriken Township receives first electricity transformer

Published: March 20, 2026

BARRIKEN TOWNSHIP, Maryland County — Residents of Barriken Township and five surrounding communities are celebrating a major step toward electrification following the donation of a 150-kilowatt electricity transformer that is expected to bring power to the area for the first time.

The transformer was presented to the community on Sunday, March 15, 2026, through an initiative led by local development advocate Eric Wlea Giko.

For years, Barriken residents have lived beneath high-tension electricity lines that run through the town as part of the regional power project linking Liberia to neighboring Côte d’Ivoire. Despite the presence of the transmission infrastructure, the township had never been connected to the national grid. Community leaders say the newly donated transformer could finally change that reality.

Presenting the equipment on behalf of Mr. Giko, Alex Bah Davis, chair of his local office, said the donation came after residents requested electricity instead of a previously planned town hall project. “We broke ground to construct a town hall for Barriken, but the citizens said what they needed most was electricity,” Davis said. “Hon. Giko decided to honor that request.” According to Davis, the transformer was purchased at a total cost of US$20,457.7 and forms part of broader efforts to improve living conditions across Maryland County.

Barriken Township Commissioner Alfred Dossen described the development as a historic milestone for the community. “Today is a glorious and joyous day for the people of Barriken and the nearby towns,” Dossen said. “For years we have seen the power lines passing over our town without any benefit. Now we are hopeful that electricity will finally reach our homes.” District officials also welcomed the initiative. Pleebo

District Inspector Christiana Walker expressed appreciation for the effort and urged residents to focus on the community benefits rather than political considerations. “Let this transformer serve the good of the people here and the surrounding communities,” she said.

Authorities from LibEnergy, the company currently responsible for electricity services in the area, indicated that installation of the transformer is expected to begin soon. Community leaders noted that the equipment will later be formally handed over to the company to facilitate installation and the eventual connection of Barriken and nearby towns to the power grid.

Residents believe that access to electricity will improve business activities, education, and healthcare services while enhancing overall living conditions in the township. The arrival of the transformer represents a long-awaited opportunity for Barriken and neighboring communities to finally benefit from the regional electricity network that has passed through their area for years without providing power.