The Gambian government has stated that the country’s ongoing electricity supply challenges are largely being driven by global and regional factors beyond the direct control of the administration of President Adama Barrow.
Government Spokesperson and Presidential Adviser on Diaspora Affairs, Ebrima G. Sankareh, said neither President Barrow nor the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) is deliberately responsible for the persistent power outages affecting the country.
Speaking during an interview on West Coast Radio on Tuesday, Sankareh explained that rising global energy costs and supply disruptions continue to place pressure on electricity systems worldwide.
“This is a situation that neither President Barrow nor NAWEC has control over,” he stated, adding that the challenges confronting The Gambia’s power sector reflect broader global conditions affecting many countries.
According to him, governments across the world are currently struggling to navigate similar energy-related difficulties.
Sankareh further noted that The Gambia’s electricity system operates within the regional Organisation for the Development of the Gambia River Basin (OMVG) network involving The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Senegal.
He stressed that the arrangement represents regional interdependence rather than dependence on external electricity supply.
Despite the current difficulties, Sankareh expressed optimism that the country would eventually achieve a more stable and reliable electricity supply.
He said ensuring uninterrupted electricity remains an important aspiration for both the government and the Gambian people.