The Gambian Government’s Position on Ongoing Electricity Shortages
In recent weeks, Gambians have experienced frequent power cuts that have disrupted households, businesses, and essential services. The administration of President Adama Barrow has responded by emphasizing that the root causes of the shortage lie outside the country’s direct control, pointing to a combination of global market pressures and regional interdependencies.
Statements from the Presidential Advisor
Ebrima G. Sankareh, who serves as both government spokesperson and presidential advisor on diaspora affairs, addressed the issue in an interview on West Coast Radio. He stated unequivocally that neither the president nor the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) has pursued policies intended to worsen the situation.
“NAWEC does not pursue policies to deliberately frustrate Gambians. This is a situation that neither President Barrow nor NAWEC has control over.”
Sankareh’s remarks aim to clarify that the current crisis is not a result of mismanagement but rather a symptom of broader forces affecting energy systems worldwide.
Global and Regional Drivers of the Crisis
The spokesperson highlighted several external factors that have intensified pressure on The Gambia’s electricity supply:
- Sharp increases in global fossil‑fuel prices, particularly jet fuel and diesel, which have risen by over 30 % in Europe since early 2023 according to the International Energy Agency (IEA, 2024).
- Supply chain disruptions stemming from the lingering effects of the COVID‑19 pandemic and geopolitical tensions, which have delayed the delivery of spare parts and fuel shipments.
- Regional electricity trade dynamics within the Organization for the Development of the Gambia River Basin (OMVG), a framework that links The Gambia with Guinea, Guinea‑Bissau, and Senegal.
Sankareh noted that even industrialized nations are grappling with similar challenges, underscoring the universality of the problem: “There is not a single government on earth that is not affected by these global realities.”
The Role of the OMVG Interconnection
The Gambia’s power system is not isolated; it is physically connected to the OMVG regional grid. This interdependence means that fluctuations in generation or transmission capacity in partner countries can directly affect local supply.
Sankareh characterized the relationship as one of interdependence rather than mere reliance:
“We are not dependent; we are interdependent.”
Data from the OMVG Annual Report 2023 shows that cross‑border exchanges accounted for roughly 18 % of The Gambia’s total electricity consumption in 2022, a share that has grown as domestic generation capacity has struggled to keep pace with demand.
Broader Context: Energy Challenges Worldwide
The Gambian situation mirrors trends documented by global energy analysts. The IEA’s World Energy Outlook 2024 warns that volatile fuel markets and inadequate investment in grid resilience are creating recurrent shortfalls in many developing economies. Likewise, the World Bank’s 2023 Energy Sector Assessment highlights that countries reliant on imported fossil fuels are especially vulnerable to price shocks.
These external pressures are compounded by domestic factors such as aging infrastructure and limited diversification of generation sources. While the government acknowledges these internal constraints, it maintains that the immediate spikes in outages are primarily driven by the aforementioned global and regional forces.
Outlook and Government Plans
Despite the current difficulties, Sankareh expressed optimism about achieving a more stable power supply in the medium term. He cited ongoing initiatives aimed at:
- Accelerating the rollout of renewable energy projects, particularly solar photovoltaic installations, which have attracted funding from the African Development Bank and the Green Climate Fund.
- Upgrading transmission lines within the OMVG network to reduce losses and improve cross‑border reliability.
- Exploring regional fuel‑price hedging mechanisms to buffer against sudden market spikes.
He concluded with a personal aspiration that reflects the broader national goal:
“I hope and strive for a day when you and I wake up every day without sporadic power problems. That is the hope of the President; it is the hope of every true Gambian.”
Realizing this vision will require coordinated action between national utilities, regional partners, and international financiers—a complex but increasingly necessary endeavor in an interconnected energy landscape.
