NAM Badjie Accuses Government of Prioritizing Politics as NAWEC Crisis Persists

By Fatou Sillah

Bakary K. Badjie, the National Assembly member for Foni Bintang Karanai, has accused the government of prioritizing political spending while failing to find a lasting solution to The Gambia’s persistent electricity crisis.

Speaking during a National Assembly debate on the power situation, Mr. Badjie questioned the government’s spending priorities as households and businesses continue to grapple with unreliable electricity.

“And you people are taking all the money on politics and other related things, but you cannot solve the problem of NAWEC,” he said.

Mr. Badjie also questioned the cost of presidential trips to communities such as Basse for electricity-related ceremonies, arguing that the government should focus instead on ensuring that newly electrified communities receive a reliable and sustainable supply.

He said expanding access to electricity should not, by itself, be celebrated as development if the government cannot maintain the service.

Mr. Badjie said Gambians had endured persistent power problems for too long, particularly since March, and argued that the measures taken so far had failed to provide sufficient relief.

“NAWEC has become a nightmare to Gambian people,” he said. “Since March of 2026, we have been patient. Gambians have been patient for far too long.”

He also questioned The Gambia’s continued dependence on electricity imported from neighboring countries and asked the energy minister to clarify whether the government had outstanding payments to Senegal for power supplied to The Gambia.

Mr. Badjie sought further details about transformers that government officials have said are expected to arrive in the country, asking when the equipment would be delivered and whether it would provide enough capacity to significantly ease the current electricity problems.

The lawmaker said successive governments had struggled for decades to establish a sustainable electricity supply, and he urged the government to move away from temporary interventions and pursue a long-term solution to the country’s energy challenges.