Honourable Cabinet Ministers,

Honourable Minister for Petroleum, Energy and Mines,

Secretary to Cabinet and Head of the Civil Service,

Chief of Staff, Office of the President,

Senior Government Officials and Service Chiefs,

The Managing Director of NAWEC,

Members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps,

Our Esteemed Development Partners from the European Union, the European Investment

Bank, and the World Bank Group,

The Contractors,

Project Coordinators,

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is an honour to join you today for the official inauguration of The Gambia Electricity Access networks in the Upper River Region. The occasion marks a decisive step forward in our national development journey. It also strongly reaffirms my government’s resolute commitment to achieving Universal Access to Electricity by the end of 2026, ahead of the global Sustainable Development Goal Seven (SDG 7) target of 2030.

This event is not only about switching on lights but also about fulfilling a promise and delivering opportunity, dignity, and inclusive growth to our people. By the same spirit, it denotes The Gambia’s concrete contribution to Africa’s collective ambition of closing the electricity access gap that still affects hundreds of millions of our fellow Africans.

Before proceeding, I extend our deepest appreciation to our trusted development partners, the World Bank Group, the European Union, and the European Investment Bank. Their financial and technical support has been remarkably instrumental in transforming The Gambia’s electricity sector. It is a partnership that reflects our shared commitment to SDG 7; that is, ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

Being inaugurated today is one of the most impactful interventions under our Universal Electricity Access Programme, which is the Gambia Electricity Restoration and Modernisation Project (GERMP).

Through the GERMP rural backbone investments, a total of four hundred and fourteen (414) communities across the country have now been electrified.

In the Upper River Region alone, two hundred and two (202) communities, including Jah Kunda and Kumbija, are now connected to the national grid.

The GERMP was implemented from 2019 and 2025, with a total investment portfolio of one hundred and sixty-four million, four hundred thousand US dollars (US$ 164.4 million), financed by the World Bank Group, the European Union, and the European Investment Bank.

The core objective of the project was to restore, expand, and modernise The Gambia’s electricity and water infrastructure in ways that support national development priorities while advancing global and continental energy goals.

At its successful completion in December 2025, the project delivered tangible and far-reaching results in the key areas of electricity generation and distribution, rural electricity expansion, institutional strengthening, and emergency water supply interventions.

By addressing our long-standing energy challenges, GERMP has positioned The Gambia as a practical example of how African countries can accelerate progress towards SDG 7 through strong policy leadership and effective partnerships.

Importantly, ladies and gentlemen, the project has already had an immediate and transformative impact on rural communities. Many of them now have access to electricity for the first time, hence reducing inequality, stimulating local economies, and supporting inclusive development.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

Like other regions, the benefits of rural electrification are already visible across the Upper River Region. Communities now enjoy improved refrigeration and healthcare services, as well as new income-generating engagements.

The advantages also include improved mobile phone charging, enhanced digital teaching and learning in schools, and reliable water supply through grid-powered systems. Additionally, the installation of over ninety-five thousand (95,000) prepayment meters is improving efficiency, transparency, and service delivery.

Such outcomes demonstrate that electricity access is not an end in itself but a powerful enabler of progress across education, health, water, agriculture, and enterprise. These are the very pillars of sustainable development.

As Africa continues to confront the reality that over 600 million people still lack access to electricity, The Gambia is determined to be part of the solution. Through sustained investments, regional cooperation, and strategic partnerships, we are proving that universal access is achievable, even for small and vulnerable economies.

I commend the Ministry of Petroleum, Energy and Mines, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, the Ministry of Lands, Regional Government and Religious Affairs, and NAWEC for a job very well delivered.

Again, special thanks are due to our development partners, the World Bank, the European Investment Bank, and the European Union for their tremendous support. We are immensely thankful too to the contractors and project teams for their outstanding contributions to this laudable achievement.

Together, we are lighting homes, powering opportunity, advancing SDG 7, and building a more inclusive and resilient energy future for The Gambia and Africa.

To crown it all, therefore, I have the distinct honour and joy to declare the Upper River Region electricity access network officially inaugurated.

Thank you all for your kind attention.