The people of Sonyo in the Bole municipality are crying out for help as they endure a total power outage that has befall the community after a rainstorm broke some electricity poles last Sunday 27th April, 2025 causing the only tranformer serving the Sonyor community to fall.
Sonyowura Adamu Kanyiti, the paramount chief of the Sonyo Traditional Area, made a heartfelt appeal to authorities to intervene and restore electricity to his community when Spear FM’s news team visited him at his palace on Sunday, May 4, 2025.
According to Sonyowura Kanyiti, the power outage has had far-reaching consequences, affecting businesses, households, and even public health, as traders in perishable goods, such as cold or seafood, are struggling to keep their products from deteriorating, while grinding mills lie idle, making it difficult for women to prepare food for their families.
The Sonyowura expressed concern about the potential health risks associated with the prolonged power outage, citing the increased risk of cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM) as people are forced to sleep in warm, poorly ventilated rooms. He also lamented that the lack of electricity has disrupted communication, as his mobile phone has been off, making it impossible for the Yagbonwura, the overlord of the area, to reach him.
Sonyowura Kanyiti specifically appealed to President John Dramani Mahama, Savannah Regional Minister Hon. Salisu Be-Awuribe, and MP for Bole-Bamboi Constituency and Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Hon. Yusif Sulemana to intervene and restore power to Sonyo. He also urged the authorities to expedite the process of appointing a Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the Bole Municipality, which he believes would facilitate quicker response to such issues.
The Sonyowura explained that the absence of an MCE has hindered the community’s ability to address pressing issues like the power outage, emphasizing that the MCE would have been his first point of call in this situation. He hopes that with an MCE in place, the community would receive more prompt attention to its needs.
(Cue Audio of Sonyowura on power)
As the people of Sonyo wait with bated breath for relief, the Sonyowura’s appeal serves as a reminder of the critical role that electricity plays in modern life and the need for effective governance to address the needs of communities.
