By Fatou Sillah
The Majority Leader and National Assembly Member for Kantora, Hon. Billay G. Tunkara, has defended the government’s record on electricity investment, stating that more than $200 million has been committed to the energy sector since 2017.
Speaking during a parliamentary debate on the ongoing electricity crisis—raised as a matter of urgent public importance by the Member for Latrikunda Sabiji—Hon. Tunkara rejected claims that the government has failed to invest in power infrastructure.
“It is very misleading for one to stand in this chamber saying that the Government did not invest in the electricity sector; that is misleading,” he said.
The Majority Leader outlined a series of projects and financing initiatives aimed at strengthening electricity generation and distribution across the country. According to him, these include a $22.5 million electricity expansion project launched in 2017, the replacement of generators in Brikama valued at €2.1 million, and an additional €85 million secured in 2020 under the Jambur–Airport–NAWEC (JAM) project.
He further cited €85 million invested in solar storage grid systems, as well as over $55 million under the JAM and ECOWAS-supported projects. “In total, more than $200 million has been invested in the power sector,” he stated.
Hon. Tunkara added that these interventions have significantly increased the country’s electricity generation capacity, which he said has risen from 25 megawatts to 80 megawatts.
“We took this country from 25 megawatts to 80 megawatts, so that is an improved trajectory in terms of providing electricity supply,” he noted.
He also dismissed assertions characterizing The Gambia as a failed state due to the current electricity challenges, describing such claims as inaccurate and unhelpful. Instead, he called for unity and collective responsibility in addressing the crisis, emphasizing that all citizens are affected.
“It is a triumphant moment for us to stand resolute as Gambians, one people, one nation, to stand with the Government to appreciate and compliment the effort of the Government.”
Highlighting the widespread nature of the power outages, Hon. Tunkara noted that he, too, has been affected. “I myself went two days without electricity,” he added.
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