The Gambia Ministry of Petroleum, Energy and Mines, in collaboration with the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC), has begun a series of completed power infrastructure installations in five locations across the country as part of the implementation of the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Access Project (ECOWAS-REAP).
The inauguration ceremony, which began in Njongon on February 7, 2026, will be held at various locations in The Gambia from February 7 to 15, 2026, during which time other electricity access projects will also be launched.
Gambia’s President Adama Barrow officially opened the inauguration ceremony, describing the electricity access project as an “unprecedented achievement in the Gambia,” noting that through sustained efforts and donor partnerships, the project will bring relief to the people and directly change the daily lives of rural households in the country.
President Barrow also revealed that through ECOWAS-REAP, 52,000 additional households have been connected to electricity, with Gambia’s electrification access rate increasing from 73% to 90%, marking a transformative moment in the country’s development process.
The ECOWAS Regional Electricity Access Project (ECOWAS-REAP), which covers Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Mali, is funded by the World Bank and coordinated at the regional level by the ECOWAS Energy and Mines Directorate through Regional Coordination Units (RCUs), which work closely with each country’s National Project Implementation Units (PIUs). This forms part of ECOWAS’ broader strategy to expand electricity access, deepen regional energy integration and support sustainable and inclusive development across West Africa. In The Gambia, the project covers 292 communities and will connect 52,000 new households to the national grid.
In his speech, Dr. Omar Aliu Touray, Chairman of the ECOWAS Commission, said this inauguration is a crucial milestone in the regional initiative to ensure universal access to reliable, affordable and sustainable electricity for all communities in the ECOWAS region. “This marks the beginning of a new era for our communities, full of potential and foundational to development, stability, human dignity and shared prosperity.”
The President, who was represented by His Excellency Miatta French, ECOWAS Resident Representative in The Gambia, said the success of the projects being launched is a testament to the collective capacity and strong partnership of ECOWAS, the World Bank, the Government of The Gambia, the Ministry of Energy, NAWEC and all other key stakeholders to turn financial resources into tangible results.
He also acknowledged the World Bank’s “invaluable support and dedication to regional energy challenges,” saying, “In addition to accelerating energy access, the Bank is supporting the integration of power grids into the region’s unified electricity market, which will help overcome the region’s major electricity-related challenges.”
Total investment by the World Bank is $225 million, of which $66 million is earmarked for electricity access projects in The Gambia, and World Bank Representative Matar Touray said ECOWAS-REAP will “This project, including the construction of a medium- and low-voltage distribution line in Tor, provides an opportunity to extend modern energy services to historically marginalized rural areas. This project means much more than physical infrastructure and brings hope.” Restore dignity and create new employment and livelihood opportunities for the communities we serve. ”
Commenting on the benefits of the electricity access project to the people of Gambia, the Sheikh Imam of the North Bank Region and Mr. and Mrs. Alkalo agreed that the project will empower the local community, enable students to study after dark, boost the economic activities of the community, while also fostering innovation among the members of the community.
ECOWAS, together with its technical and financial partners, remains committed to supporting The Gambia and all Member States towards achieving universal energy access by 2030.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
