President Adama Barrow has publicly acknowledged the country’s worsening electricity crisis, pledging urgent action to restore reliable power supply and ease the suffering of Gambians.
In a televised address from State House on Tuesday evening, Barrow admitted that prolonged outages have brought immense hardship to households and businesses. “Fans have stopped turning, children are studying in the dark, mothers are forced to throw away spoiled food, and families are enduring unbearable heat day and night,” he said, calling the situation “unacceptable.”
Admitting Shortcomings:
In one of his strongest statements yet, the President conceded that failures in planning, generation, and maintenance had worsened the crisis. He stressed that corrective measures are underway, while noting that other West African nations are also grappling with similar challenges due to surging demand and reduced hydropower output.
24MW Boost for Brikama:
Barrow announced that a new 24-megawatt generator at Brikama Power Station is in its final installation phase and will be commissioned by October 2026. He described the project as “considerable power for a system of our size” and said it would make a significant difference nationwide.
Solar Expansion in Soma:
The government has also awarded a contract for a 50-megawatt solar plant in Soma. While acknowledging solar’s limitations at night, Barrow explained that daytime generation would ease pressure on conventional plants, improving evening supply.
Task Force to Accelerate Response:
To fast-track solutions, Barrow announced a Presidential Task Force on Electricity Supply, chaired by Vice President Muhammed B.S. Jallow. The task force will report directly to him and provide biweekly public updates.
Progress in Access:
Despite current hardships, Barrow highlighted that electricity coverage has expanded from 36% in 2017 to about 90% today, connecting communities that had never been on the grid. “Children who once studied by candlelight are now doing their homework under electric bulbs,” he said.
Appeal for Calm:
The President urged citizens not to damage public infrastructure in frustration, warning that such actions would worsen the crisis and burden taxpayers. “The peace and stability we have built over many years can be lost in one night if we do not act with caution,” he cautioned.
Assurance of Improvement:
Barrow concluded with a firm pledge: “I will not promise what the Government cannot deliver, but I commit that the electricity supply situation in the country will improve by the end of October 2026.”
He closed emotionally, assuring Gambians that “your engineers are awake, the Government is awake, and your President is awake with you.”
