President Adama Barrow personally switched on the electricity in Jah Kunda, Wuli District, marking a historic moment for residents who had long lived without power. The event, held in the Upper River Region (URR), celebrated the connection of 202 communities in the region to the national grid, bringing light and opportunity to thousands in remote areas.
Communities including Jah Kunda, Kwonkunding, Sare Teneng, Samba Gabudeh, and Kolibantang erupted in joy as transmission lines were energized. Residents expressed profound gratitude to President Barrow, his administration, and international partners for delivering on promises to make electricity accessible to all Gambians, regardless of location.
Speaking at the Jah Kunda commissioning event, President Barrow highlighted the “Lighting Communities, Powering Development” initiative, led by the Ministry of Petroleum, Energy, and Mines in collaboration with the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC). He announced that these 202 URR communities form part of a broader national effort that has now connected 719 communities across The Gambia. This progress accelerates the country’s ambition to achieve universal electricity access by 2026—four years ahead of the global Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7) target date of 2030.
President Barrow expressed pride in his government’s focus on transparency, efficiency, and inclusive development. “Universal access to electricity is possible, even for grassroots nations with limited resources,” he said, emphasizing that reliable power is essential for economic growth, education, health services, and reducing rural-urban migration.
The initiative is a key component of the Gambia Electricity Restoration and Modernization Project (GERMP), specifically its Backbone Phase 2, which constructs medium- and low-voltage distribution networks to serve underserved households in the North Bank Region (NBR) and Upper River Region (URR). The EU Ambassador to The Gambia, attending the event alongside President Barrow, underscored the project’s impact amid rising energy demand, which is growing at 5.5% annually. “This promises to transform electricity access in rural communities, ensuring vital sectors such as education and health services, and individual households, benefit from reliable power,” the ambassador stated.
The GERMP receives substantial international support, including €105 million (approximately 12 billion dalasi) from the European Union, comprising a loan from the European Investment Bank, and €36 million (nearly 2.7 billion dalasi) from the World Bank. Representatives from the European Investment Bank, European Union, and World Bank commended President Barrow’s leadership in delivering high-quality infrastructure that empowers rural economies and builds a sustainable future.
This rural electrification drive, officials say, reflects the Barrow administration’s commitment to bridging the urban-rural divide through transformative projects. As lights now shine in homes across URR, residents see not just illumination but a brighter path toward development and prosperity.
