Accra, Sept. 9, GNA – Prince Ebrahim Sanyang, Founder and Leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) The Gambia, has urged the authorities to urgently address the country’s persistent electricity outages, saying the crisis is disrupting households, businesses and essential public services.
In a statement, he said the situation had moved beyond an operational challenge at the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) and had become a threat to national productivity, economic security and public confidence.
His comments follow protests on Monday night in the capital Banjul and surrounding areas over blackouts that residents say have sometimes lasted up to 48 hours.
The BBC reported that, the West African country had endured persistent blackouts since June, with outages becoming longer and more frequent during the current hot season as soaring temperatures drive up electricity demand.
Frustration boiled over on Monday night, when protesters took to the streets in Banjul and surrounding areas, burning tyres and blocking roads over the prolonged power cuts.
Police used tear gas to disperse crowds in Westfield area as they moved towards the headquarters of the national electricity company, Nawec, the BBC reported.
Meanwhile, The Gambia’s President Adama Barrow on Tuesday urged citizens to remain calm over prolonged power cuts, saying the country was not alone in facing an electricity crisis that had affected several parts of West Africa.
Prince Sanyang appealed for calm amid spontaneous candlelight protests in Banjul, the Greater Banjul Area and the West Coast Region, where residents have been demanding reliable electricity.
“To H.E. President Adama Barrow, I say respectfully; please listen to the people,” he said.
He said restoring power temporarily after public demonstrations was not a sustainable solution, stressing the need for a reliable national energy system.
“Access without reliability is not electricity. A pole, cable and meter cannot transform lives when the national grid remains dark,” he said.
Prince Sanyang proposed an immediate national response to identify and restore idle or underperforming generation capacity, secure contingency power and critical equipment, and protect hospitals, water facilities and other essential services from prolonged outages.
He also called for the publication of accurate information on electricity generation, demand, faults and restoration schedules, alongside accelerated investment in solar generation, battery storage and improved transmission and distribution systems.
He urged the professional restructuring of NAWEC under competent management, with measurable performance standards and greater public accountability.
According to him, regional electricity imports should complement domestic generation rather than determine whether households and businesses have power.
Prince Sanyang said his confidence in contributing to a solution was based on his previous involvement in efforts to attract international investment into The Gambia’s electricity infrastructure.
He said, in 2016, he facilitated engagements involving TBEA, a Chinese electricity transmission and infrastructure company, and Gambian stakeholders on the rehabilitation, expansion and modernisation of the country’s electricity infrastructure.
He said three contracts subsequently secured under the Gambia Electricity Restoration and Modernisation Project (GERMP) involved transmission infrastructure, substations and solar generation and battery storage.
The projects, he said, were worth about US$56.2 million combined. Prince Sanyang said he was prepared to work with the government, NAWEC, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), development partners and energy specialists to develop an emergency electricity stabilisation programme.
“The Gambia cannot continue living from one blackout to another. Our people need electricity. Our economy needs electricity. Our hospitals, schools and businesses need electricity,” he said.
GNA