Date: 25th April 2025

Your Excellency, General Umaru Sissoco EMBALO,

President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau and Chairman of the Conference of Heads of State and Government of OMVG,

Your Excellency, General Mamadi DOUMBOUYA,

President of the Republic of Guinea,

Your Excellency, Mr. Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar FAYE,

President of the Republic of Senegal,

Honourable Minister and Chairman, and all the OMVG Council of Ministers,

The Governor of Bissau, High Commissioner of the OMVG, staff and Officials of OMVG Member States, Development Partners and Members of the Diplomatic Corps,

The Media and traditional groups, Ladies and Gentlemen, Let me begin by thanking our host,

His Excellency, President Mbalo, and the people of Guinea-Bissau for the warm reception and excellent hospitality my delegation and I received since our arrival in Bissau. By extension, I convey to all of you warm fraternal greetings from the People and Government of The Gambia. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, it is with immense pride and honour that I join you for the inauguration of the Antula substation, which is a key interconnection network structure of the OMVG Energy Project.

As some of you know, this is a salient substation powered by the hydroelectric development complex in Guinea, from which The Gambia is already sourcing energy.

The inauguration of this substation underpins my government’s commitment to attaining universal energy access in The Gambia by 2030.

I recognise energy as a spark of dignity. For our people, every clinic fridge that stays cold today, may save a life tomorrow. Every community, street, or house that remains lit, may support a student to read a little longer and uplift the life and dignity of a woman.

Let us protect our assets, therefore, and finalise our remaining power-purchase agreements swiftly and prudently. I urge also that we remain more committed to completing the Sambangalou hydropower plant.

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, the OMVG is an excellent symbol of Sub-Regional cooperation. It is wise that we cherish this legacy and support it wholeheartedly for it to succeed further.

In doing so, we must remember and pray for the founding fathers of the Organisation for their foresight and wisdom.

With this contribution, I take this opportunity delightfully to reassure my dear brother, His Excellency, President Embalo, Chairman of the Conference of Heads of State and Government of the OMVG, the Honourable Minister of Energy and Hydrocarbon of Guinea and Chairman of the OMVG Council of Ministers, Mr. Aboubacar Camara, and the High Commissioner of the OMVG, Mr. Demba Jallow, of my full support. I assure you all of my government’s maximum cooperation in the execution of your new assignments.

Long live the OMVG!

Long live sub-regional integration!

Long live International Cooperation!