Published: November 13, 2026
MONROVIA — Grand Kru County Senator Numene T. H. Bartekwa has called on the Liberian Senate to intervene in what he describes as the exclusion of his county from the government’s nationwide electricity expansion program, requesting US$5 million in the proposed 2027 national budget to construct five mini-solar grids across major communities.
Bartekwa, who chairs the Senate Committee on Concessions and the Grand Kru County Legislative Caucus, said Grand Kru remains without ongoing electricity expansion projects while the government continues extending power infrastructure to other counties.
His concerns were contained in a communication dated Nov. 10, 2026, addressed to Senate President Pro Tempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence and read during Thursday’s Senate session.
Speaking with legislative reporters following the session, Bartekwa emphasized that Grand Kru must not be sidelined as the government expands electricity access across Liberia.
In his communication, the senator said the county risks being isolated from the government’s efforts to expand electricity access nationwide under President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s ARREST Agenda.
“I have the honour to convey my compliments and herewith bring to the attention of this Plenary a potential threat of Grand Kru County gradually becoming isolated in the laudable efforts of this government in providing electricity in almost every county,” Bartekwa wrote.
He claimed that electricity infrastructure development, including the installation of poles, transmission lines and connections to homes and businesses, is taking place in the country’s other 14 counties, excluding Grand Kru.
“Indeed, pursuant to the ARREST AGENDA of this government, part of which is to bring Electricity to every part of the Country, the government is currently active in every county planting poles, running transmission lines and connecting homes and businesses for the full provision of electricity except in Grand Kru County,” he stated.
Bartekwa commended the government for its electricity expansion efforts in other counties but urged the administration to extend similar interventions to Grand Kru.
“While the people of Grand Kru wish to congratulate the government for these laudable efforts of providing electricity to the other fourteen counties, Grand Kru wishes to remind the government through the Liberian Senate of its isolation from the provision of electricity in the country,” he wrote.
The senator disclosed that the county’s leadership had engaged the Rural and Renewable Energy Agency (RREA) to explore solar electrification as an alternative means of providing electricity to residents.
According to Bartekwa, RREA estimated that constructing a mini-solar grid in each of five major communities would cost approximately US$1 million, bringing the total proposed investment to US$5 million.
The communities identified for the proposed electrification projects are Grand Cess, Buah Geeken, Sasstown Down Beach, Garaway Down Beach and Barclayville, the county’s capital.
“According to the RREA, it will require an averaged amount of US$1,000,000.00 (ONE MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS) each to build a MINI-SOLAR-GRID in five of the county’s major communities including Barclayville City, the capital of the county thus making it the total of US$5,000,000.00 (FIVE MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS),” Bartekwa stated.
He said the proposed installations would provide electricity to homes and businesses in the selected communities.
Bartekwa further disclosed that RREA had assured the county’s leadership of its willingness to construct solar power systems similar to the existing installation in Totota, Bong County, once funding is made available.
“The Rural & Renewable Energy Agency has assured the county administration to build a similar system like what is currently in Totota, Bong County, in each of the five communities in Grand Kru County when the funds are provided,” he wrote.
The senator said the lack of electricity infrastructure continues to affect residents, particularly households and businesses that depend on generators.
He also disclosed that some residents have begun questioning the effectiveness of their elected representatives because of the county’s exclusion from ongoing electricity expansion activities.
“Madam Pro Temp and fellow colleagues, it is important to stress here that this situation of Grand Kru County being left out of the electricity provision in the country is a very serious problem to our people as they are now beginning to question our representation on their behalf,” Bartekwa stated.
He called on the Senate to empower its relevant budget committees to ensure that the requested US$5 million is considered during deliberations on the proposed 2027 national budget.
“We are therefore asking the Senate Plenary to kindly intervene by empowering its appropriate budget committees to provide the requested amount in the 2027 National Budget so that our people can be safe from the existing high cost of generators to run their homes and businesses in the county,” he wrote.
Bartekwa’s request comes as the government submits its proposed US$1.54 billion national budget for fiscal year 2027.
He wants the Senate’s relevant budget committees to consider allocating US$5 million to build the proposed mini-solar grids.
During his engagement with legislative reporters after Thursday’s session, Bartekwa reiterated that Grand Kru should not be sidelined from the government’s electricity expansion program.
He maintained that the proposed solar projects would help reduce residents’ dependence on generators and extend electricity access to the five identified communities.
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