By Fatou Sillah
The National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC), a government-owned utility responsible for delivering water and electricity throughout The Gambia, has come under increasing scrutiny due to ongoing issues with unreliable water and electricity supplies.
Many Gambians, across social media platforms and in communities nationwide, express huge disappointment and concern with NAWEC. They emphasize that clean water and consistent electricity are essential for daily life, with many relying on electricity for their livelihoods.
In March 2022, NAWEC signed a power purchase agreement with SENELEC to facilitate the importation of 50 megawatts of electricity through the Soma and Brikama OMVG substations for five years. However, despite this agreement, Gambians remain dissatisfied with NAWEC’s performance.To gauge public sentiment, Kerr Fatou engaged with residents to discuss their frustrations with NAWEC.
Ebrima Ceesay, a Latri Kunda resident, voiced his concerns about the persistent issues with NAWEC.
“Currently, we are very dissatisfied with NAWEC’s operations. They are failing to provide us with stable electricity and water. People now have to wake up late at night just to fetch water. Some individuals cannot go without air conditioning or fans due to asthma and other health issues. The lack of reliable electricity is causing significant problems.”
Talibo Kongira, a notable figure in the National People’s Party and a resident of Latrikunda, shared his concerns about the inconsistent electricity supply.
“We are urging NAWEC to take decisive action because many people’s livelihoods depend on electricity, including welders and those who store food in refrigerators. Additionally, security systems rely on a stable power supply. NAWEC needs to make significant improvements. I visited their offices to investigate the situation and spoke with their management,” he stated.
Sanna Touray from Abuko voiced his frustration with NAWEC’s services, stating:
“NAWEC needs to take a firm stand to ensure that people have access to clean drinking water, which is essential for good health. Without clean water, maintaining good health is impossible.”
Lamin Ceesay suggested that NAWEC’s issues are part of a broader problem with the government and urged for government support to enhance NAWEC’s services:
“The issue extends beyond NAWEC; it reflects broader challenges within The Gambia. The country is struggling because jobs are often given to family members rather than qualified individuals. NAWEC’s problems are intertwined with governmental issues. No matter how hard NAWEC tries, they can’t resolve these problems without government backing.”