By Fatou Sillah
The National Assembly Member for Latrikunda Sabiji, Hon. Yahya Menteng Sanyang, has described the ongoing electricity crisis in The Gambia as a “full-blown economic and social emergency,” warning that persistent power outages are inflicting severe hardship on households and businesses nationwide.
Raising the issue as a matter of urgent public importance before the National Assembly, Sanyang said millions of Gambians—particularly in the Greater Banjul Area and the West Coast Region—are experiencing prolonged blackouts that are disrupting daily life and undermining economic activity.
“As we sit in this august assembly, millions of Gambians across the Greater Banjul Area, the West Coast Region, and beyond are being subjected to unendurable darkness. This is no longer a mere inconvenience; it is a full-blown economic and social emergency,” he stated.
Sanyang highlighted the impact on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), describing them as the backbone of the economy and among the hardest hit by unreliable electricity supply. He noted that many business owners are struggling to remain operational.
“Our small and medium-sized enterprise, the lifeblood of our economy, is collapsing. Tailors, mechanics, hairdressers, and corner shop owners are watching their livelihoods evaporate because they cannot power their businesses,” he said.
He further lamented the economic losses faced by households, stating that millions of dalasis are being lost daily as perishable goods spoil due to a lack of refrigeration. According to him, families are being forced to discard hard-earned food supplies at a time when the rising cost of living is already placing significant strain on citizens.
Sanyang attributed the crisis to years of inadequate investment in domestic electricity generation, arguing that the country has become overly dependent on imported power.
“But let us call a spade a spade and not a garden tool; this crisis is the direct result of this government’s chronic lack of investment in our domestic energy sector,” he said.
He added that successive neglect of local generation facilities, including those in Kotu and Brikama, has weakened the country’s energy independence. “For years, this administration has neglected local generation capacity at facilities like Kotu and Brikama, choosing instead to outsource our national security and sovereignty to cross-border networks,” he stated.
The lawmaker also criticized official descriptions of the situation as a temporary disruption, calling such characterizations misleading.
“To call a systemic breakdown that paralyzes hospitals, schools, and markets a mere temporary glitch or a two-week challenge is a gross misrepresentation of reality,” he said.
Sanyang called on the government to take full responsibility for the crisis and to present a clear and transparent plan for restoring a stable electricity supply.
“I call on this honorable house to demand an immediate, transparent roadmap from the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy and NAWEC on how they intend to stabilize the grid before mid-June and a comprehensive strategy to urgently upgrade our local generation capacity,” he said.
He concluded by emphasizing the expectations of citizens, stating that Gambians deserve reliable electricity in return for their financial contributions.
“Gambians pay their taxes; they pay for their cash power, and they deserve reliable electricity, not excuses and certainly not misleading propaganda,” he said.
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