BAC Councillor Calls for Transparency Over Ownership, Financing of New Generators

By Seedy Jobe

Sheriffo Sonko, the transport councillor at the Brikama Area Council, has called on the government to disclose the ownership and financing arrangements behind the newly arrived electricity generators, saying Gambians deserve clarity over how the equipment was acquired and how it will be paid for.

His comments came a day after Vice President Muhammad B.S. Jallow received a consignment of generators at the Banjul Port as part of efforts to increase domestic electricity generation following months of persistent power outages.

In a statement shared with Kerr Fatou on Tuesday, Mr. Sonko said the generators were purchased by a Gambian-owned private company rather than directly by the government. He also referred to photographs of the generators taken in Dakar and later posted on NAWEC’s Facebook page.

Mr. Sonko said he welcomed the intervention of a Gambian business at a critical moment in the country’s electricity crisis, adding that, according to information available to him, public funds were not used for the initial purchase of the generators.

Whether the generators are new or used, he said, is less important than ensuring transparency and accountability over the arrangement.

Mr. Sonko argued that the private company should receive appropriate recognition for its role and questioned what he described as an attempt to portray the arrival of the generators entirely as a government achievement.

He called on the government and NAWEC to explain who purchased the generators, who owns them, who will operate them, and under what contractual arrangement they were brought into the country.

Mr. Sonko also sought clarification over the “pre-financing” arrangement referenced by NAWEC’s managing director. He asked whether the utility would eventually reimburse the company for the generators, purchase electricity from it under an independent power producer arrangement, or operate under another contractual structure.

“Let the Gambian people know the truth about these generators,” Mr. Sonko said.

He expressed disappointment that government officials had not, in his view, sufficiently explained the arrangement, arguing that political considerations should not take precedence over transparency, particularly as the country grapples with serious electricity shortages.

Mr. Sonko said citizens who raise legitimate questions about public affairs should not be regarded as adversaries, adding that accountability is an essential part of good governance.

He also commended the Gambian-owned company for stepping in during the electricity crisis, saying the intervention presented an opportunity to demonstrate the capacity of local businesses to help address major national challenges.

Mr. Sonko urged the company to deliver reliable electricity while maintaining transparency about its role and contractual obligations.

He cautioned that uncertainty surrounding the generators could fuel confusion and undermine public confidence, saying Gambians need not only a stable electricity supply but also a clear explanation of the financial and operational arrangements behind it.