President Adama Barrow has inaugurated new electricity infrastructure delivered under the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Access Project (ECOWAS-REAP), marking a major boost to power supply across The Gambia.
The projects, implemented by the Gambian Ministry of Petroleum, Energy and Mines in collaboration with the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC), are being commissioned in five locations nationwide, beginning in Njongon.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, President Barrow described the intervention as a turning point for national development.
“This electricity access project is an unprecedented achievement in The Gambia. Through sustained efforts and partnerships with our development partners, it will bring relief to our people and directly transform the daily lives of rural families,” the President said.
He disclosed that the initiative has dramatically expanded national electrification.
“Through ECOWAS-REAP, The Gambia’s electricity access rate has increased from 73 percent to 90 percent, marking a transformative moment in the nation’s development journey and enabling 52,000 new households to connect to power,” Barrow added.
He said the infrastructure includes new distribution networks, transformers and household connections designed to extend electricity to underserved rural and peri-urban communities.
The ECOWAS Commission explained that the project forms part of the regional agenda to improve energy access, reduce poverty and stimulate economic activity across West Africa.
Energy experts in the country believe the expansion will support small businesses, improve healthcare delivery and enhance learning conditions for schools that previously operated without reliable power.
The ECOWAS-REAP programme is funded through a partnership between ECOWAS, development banks and international donors with the goal of connecting millions of households across member states.
NAWEC officials at the ceremony assured communities that additional projects would be rolled out in the coming months to consolidate the gains already recorded.
The week-long inauguration activities are expected to showcase similar facilities in other parts of the country, underscoring The Gambia’s commitment to universal electricity access.
