‘Enough Is Enough’: Councillor Kebba Touray Demands Action as Gambians Endure Power Shortages

Councillor Kebba Touray has joined growing calls for urgent action over the country’s persistent electricity shortages, accusing the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) of failing to provide Gambians with a reliable power supply.

In a statement issued on behalf of what he described as concerned citizens, residents, businesses and communities, Touray said Gambians have endured prolonged blackouts, load-shedding and voltage fluctuations for too long.

He said the situation is affecting households, businesses, students, hospitals and other essential services, with small businesses and cold-storage operators particularly vulnerable to losses caused by unreliable electricity.

“Citizens are left in the dark literally and figuratively while being expected to pay for a service that is inconsistently delivered,” Touray said.

According to the councillor, the electricity crisis is more than an inconvenience and has broader implications for the country’s economy and development.

He also questioned whether repeated assurances and tariff increases have translated into meaningful improvements in electricity supply.

Touray is demanding immediate and sustained improvements in electricity generation, transmission and distribution, alongside greater transparency from NAWEC and the authorities.

He called for the public to be given clear information about the causes of the shortages, the measures being taken to address them and realistic timelines for resolving the crisis.

The councillor also demanded accountability for what he described as management and operational failures that have allowed the situation to persist.

Among his other demands is greater consumer protection, including measures to address concerns about customers being charged for electricity services they do not reliably receive.

Touray further called for hospitals, schools, water systems and other critical infrastructure to receive priority during periods when load management becomes unavoidable.

“Reliable electricity is not a luxury. It is a fundamental requirement for dignity, safety, education, health, and economic progress,” he said.

He warned that citizens would continue to speak out and organise until households and businesses can depend on a more stable electricity supply.

“Enough is enough,” Touray said.