BANJUL, The Gambia — In the wake of mounting public frustration and weeks of nationwide protests over persistent electricity shortages, the Edward Francis Small Centre for Rights and Justice (EFSCRJ) has launched “NAWEC Watch,” a bold new initiative aimed at tracking the Gambian government’s promises to resolve the country’s electricity crisis.
President Adama Barrow, addressing the nation on 8 September 2026, laid out a package of measures to address the rolling blackouts that have disrupted homes, businesses and essential services across The Gambia.
Headline promises include an extra 24 megawatts (MW) of generation capacity at Brikama Power Station, a 50 MW solar power project in Soma and the creation of a Presidential Task Force on Electricity Supply, chaired by the Vice President.
But as Gambians have seen in the past, announcements don’t always translate into results. That’s where EFSCRJ’s NAWEC Watch comes in. The watchdog initiative will closely monitor the government’s delivery on these commitments, scrutinising deadlines, transparency and actual improvements in electricity supply.
A Closer Look at the Presidential Commitments
According to the President’s address, the government plans to commission a new 24 MW generation machine at Brikama Power Station by the end of October 2026. In Soma, a contract has been awarded for a 50 MW solar power plant, with the contractor reportedly mobilising to start construction. Meanwhile, a high-level Presidential Task Force has been established to provide fortnightly updates to the public, and technical teams are said to be working around the clock at power stations nationwide.
President Barrow concluded his address with a firm promise: Gambians will see real improvements in electricity supply by the end of October.
EFSCRJ’s NAWEC Watch: Keeping the Government Honest
EFSCRJ’s NAWEC Watch is setting out a clear monitoring framework. The group will ask:
- Is the Brikama generation machine operational by the promised deadline?
- When does construction of the Soma solar plant truly begin, and when does it start feeding power into the grid?
- Does the Presidential Task Force actually deliver the bi-weekly updates as promised?
- Most crucially, does the electricity supply genuinely improve for ordinary Gambians?
Beyond delivery, the initiative will demand transparency regarding project costs, financing and contracts. And if deadlines are missed, EFSCRJ says government must explain why, and identify those responsible.
“Announcements are not solutions until they are implemented and produce measurable results,” EFSCRJ said in a statement. “We will track these commitments against deadlines, evidence, and outcomes, and report to citizens on whether government delivers what it has promised.”
Protests and Public Pressure
This new wave of accountability comes after weeks of rolling blackouts pushed Gambians to the brink. Frustrated residents took to the streets from Banjul to Brikama, demanding answers and urgent action. Businesses reported losses, students struggled to study by candlelight and hospitals faced disruptions to critical services. The scale of the protests made clear that electricity is no longer a political issue alone — it’s a matter of daily survival.
It was this groundswell of public anger that forced President Barrow to address the nation, and perhaps spurred the rapid rollout of new measures. Whether these promises amount to real change, or become another chapter in a long saga of unmet hopes, will be closely watched — not least by EFSCRJ and NAWEC Watch.
For more information or to support EFSCRJ’s work, visit www.efscrj.org
