By Makutu Manneh
Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, the Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, said on Tuesday that The Gambia’s ongoing electricity and water supply challenges are the result of decades of underinvestment in the sector, as public frustration grows over recent power outages.
Speaking at a press conference, Dr. Ceesay said the current administration had inherited a fragile system that had seen little meaningful investment over several decades.
“If we are to decide, nobody will go without electricity and water in this country, but remember we inherit a bad system. We have not done any significant investment in electricity and water in this country for the past 30, 40, or 50 years. We have added over 50 megawatts to the grid since 2017 to date,” he added.
He noted that the government had added more than 50 megawatts to the national grid since 2017, describing it as part of broader efforts to strengthen the country’s energy capacity.
Dr. Ceesay rejected suggestions that the recent disruptions reflected a systemic failure, arguing that electricity supply had remained relatively stable over the past two years.
“Now there is a challenge for two weeks, and we are calling it a failure?” He questioned.
The minister added that electricity access had been expanded nationwide, while acknowledging that temporary disruptions had occurred in recent weeks. “Some don’t even get to expect it; if it comes, they organize a barbecue because electricity has arrived.”
Minister Ceesay compared The Gambia’s record with other African countries as he noted that in some countries electricity is available only every three to four days, or not at all in some areas.
He also drew comparisons with other African countries, where he said electricity supply can be far more limited, with some areas receiving power only intermittently.
Dr. Ceesay said the government had no interest in prolonged service disruptions, noting that such conditions were not politically advantageous.
The minister appealed for public patience, assuring that efforts were underway to resolve the situation and restore reliable service.
“We are a government that listens to the concerns of the people,” he said, adding that the current challenges would soon be addressed.
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