Barrow Promises End to Power Outages as Government Orders New Generators, Plans 50-Megawatt Solar Plant

By Makutu Manneh

President Adama Barrow said Tuesday that persistent electricity outages in The Gambia would soon be a thing of the past, citing the purchase of three new power generators and plans for a 50-megawatt solar plant as part of his government’s efforts to expand and stabilize the country’s energy supply.

Speaking at the inauguration of a new road leading to the Sanyang beachfront, Mr. Barrow said the three generators had already been ordered and were being shipped to The Gambia. He said a platform for their installation has been completed.

The government has also completed the tender process for a 50-megawatt solar power plant, according to the president, who said construction was expected to begin soon.

Mr. Barrow portrayed the projects as part of a broader expansion of the electricity sector and predicted that The Gambia could eventually generate more power than it consumes.

“We will have electricity to the extent of exporting it to other nations,” he said. “If human beings can be unwell, then machines too face technical issues.”

His comments come amid public frustration over electricity disruptions, which have placed renewed scrutiny on the government and the National Water and Electricity Company over the reliability of the country’s power supply.

Mr. Barrow acknowledged the challenges but argued that occasional technical problems should not overshadow what he described as significant progress in expanding access to electricity since he took office in 2017.

According to the president, about 35 percent of the population had access to electricity when his administration came to power, compared with 92 percent today. He said roughly 60 percent of the population had gained access to electricity during his nearly decade-long tenure.

The president also contrasted his government’s record with that of previous administrations, saying that only about 35 percent of Gambian communities had been electrified during the 52 years between independence and his election.

Mr. Barrow said his administration’s goal was to reach a point where electricity was consistently available, and consumers’ primary concern would be whether they had enough money to purchase cash power.

The president also used the occasion to defend his government’s record on road construction, telling residents of the Kombo area that several major projects were underway and others were planned.

He said the completion of those projects would significantly improve the road network in Kombo and eventually bring an end to longstanding complaints about poor roads.

“But all these cannot happen at once,” Mr. Barrow said. “It will happen pace by pace in order to achieve this. The patience we have had for 52 years, I believe we can wait a little longer.”

Mr. Barrow pledged that outstanding infrastructure and development needs would continue to be addressed under his administration, while urging supporters of his National People’s Party and its political allies to remain united.

The president’s assurances on electricity come as energy supply emerges as an increasingly important public issue ahead of the December presidential election. His government has sought to emphasize expanded electricity access and new investments in generation, while critics have focused on recurring outages and questioned whether access improvements have been matched by sufficient reliability.

For Mr. Barrow, the new generators and planned solar plant represent an attempt to address both concerns: increasing the amount of electricity available while reducing the disruptions that continue to affect households and businesses across the country.