- Barriken Township and five surrounding communities have, for the first time, received a 150-kilowatt electricity transformer, marking a major step toward bringing power to the area.
The transformer was officially donated on Sunday, March 15, 2026, through an initiative led by Eric Wlea Giko, who recently accepted a petition from citizens urging him to contest the 2029 senatorial election in Maryland County.
Presenting the equipment on his behalf, Mr. Alex Bah Davis, Chair of Mr. Giko's local office, said the donation fulfills a promise made after residents requested electricity instead of a town hall project.
According to Davis, Mr. Giko had initially broken ground for a town hall in Barriken, but community members appealed for electricity, noting that high-tension power lines already pass over the town without providing service.
Keep up with the latest headlines on WhatsApp | LinkedIn
"It is in this light that Hon. Giko has come to respond to your request," Davis said.
He emphasized that Mr. Giko remains committed to improving living conditions across Maryland County, adding that his development efforts extend beyond the Pleebo-Sodoken District to all four statutory districts.
Davis disclosed that the transformer cost a total of US$20,457.70. "Today we are here to present this transformer. This is part of many projects and donations that Mr. Giko is carrying on in the county," he added.
Receiving the transformer, Barriken Township Commissioner Mr. Alfred Dossen described the moment as historic.
"Today is a glorious and joyous day for the people of Barriken and the surrounding towns. I want to extend appreciation to Hon. Eric Giko and his team," Dossen said.
He noted that residents had long hoped to benefit from electricity when transmission lines were extended from Côte d'Ivoire into Liberia as part of a regional power project. Despite being located along a major road and having overhead electric lines, Barriken had never been connected to the grid.
Also speaking at the event, Pleebo District Inspector Madam Christiana Walker urged residents not to politicize the initiative. "Don't play politics out of this transformer. Let it be installed for the good of this community and surrounding communities," she cautioned.
Authorities from LibEnergy, the company currently managing electricity services in the area, have indicated that installation will begin soon. Community leaders say the transformer will be formally handed over to LibEnergy to facilitate installation and grid connection.
Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters
Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox
Mr. Giko previously contested the 2020 and 2023 senatorial elections in Maryland County but was unsuccessful. In 2025, a citizens' group known as Marylanders United for Change petitioned him to run again in 2029, a call he later accepted.
Since then, the two-time senatorial candidate has launched several infrastructure and community support initiatives across the county.
The donation of the 150-kilowatt transformer marks a major milestone toward electrifying Barriken Township and nearby communities -- an improvement residents say will boost livelihoods, businesses, and access to social services.
