Gambian President Adama Barrow has announced a presidential task force to tackle electricity shortages after prolonged blackouts sparked protests in and around Banjul.
“I have set up a presidential task force on electricity supply, chaired by the Vice President, that reports to me directly and publicly provides updates to the nation every two weeks,” Barrow said in a televised address on Tuesday.
“As I speak, there are engineers on our plants without sleep. So work does not stop when the cameras are switched off, and it will not stop until the job is done,” he added.
Protesters took to the streets overnight on Monday, burning tyres and erecting barricades. Police used tear gas to disperse crowds, while some residents reported outages lasting up to 48 hours.
Barrow said electricity access had risen from 36% in 2017 to about 90% today, while acknowledging shortcomings in power generation and maintenance.
“Communities where an electric bulb had never been lit before now have children doing their homework under electric bulbs,” the president added.
“You have the right to express your views honestly. But let us not, in our frustration, tear down what we built with our own hands through public funds,” he urged.
The government says an additional 24 MW generation unit at Brikama Power Station is due to be commissioned by the end of October, while a contract has been awarded for a 50 MW solar plant in Soma.
NAWEC has blamed the shortages on surging demand during high temperatures, technical problems and constraints on imported power.
The unrest comes ahead of a presidential election expected in December, with Barrow seeking a third term.
Source: Viory
