By Fatou Sillah
The leader and secretary general of the Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC), Mama Kandeh, has accused the government of exploiting rural electrification projects for political advantage, alleging that the distribution of electricity has been uneven and timed to influence voters.
In an interview with Eye Africa, Mr. Kandeh argued that the electrification initiative is not unique to the current administration led by President Adama Barrow, and should not be used as a campaign tool.
“This rural electrification project would have come with or without Barrow. They should not use that for political gain,” he said, adding that some communities were deliberately overlooked. “We have seen that they give to other communities and do not give to others, so that when elections are approaching, they will put poles in the community.”
Mr. Kandeh also raised concerns about governance, suggesting that President Barrow should step down if he believes his only wrongdoing is holding office.
“If being a president is his only crime, then let him resign, since he admitted that his crime is being a president,” he said.
Turning to public services, Mr. Kandeh criticized the country’s healthcare system, describing it as under-resourced and lacking essential equipment and medicines. He cited conditions at Kanifing Hospital, claiming that basic items such as wheelchairs were unavailable.
“The Kanifing Hospital did not even have a single wheelchair; there are no proper medications in our hospitals,” he said.
He further drew comparisons between the current administration and that of former President Yahya Jammeh, suggesting that the government’s performance has failed to diminish public nostalgia for Mr. Jammeh’s rule.
“Jammeh will defeat Barrow politically if he returns,” Mr. Kandeh said. “Barrow thinks that Gambians cannot think because of certain things he said; he thinks that we are not human.”
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